Standards

Standards are important and I do feel that we should be trying to work together as a community to raise awareness of this in the UK. This is something that we need to work on to protect our art form, and to help erase certain misconceptions about the dance that we so often see in the media. I should stress though that this article is about standards of dance and not about codifying the movements - that's a separate issue altogether. There are many problems to be overcome in this area particularly with a dance form that relies so much on oral tradition. Account needs to be taken of the fact that even today many students are often encouraged by their instructors (and quite often without encouragement) to venture in to 'professional' status many years before they are ready. In the past I have had to sit back and watch students leave my classes and set up their own near by after only a couple of years experience. In two instances they had been with me less than a year!

This makes it very hard for Middle Eastern Dance to be accepted in any way as 'serious' by other more established dance forms. This is coupled by a growing number of people who feel they have some kind of 'right' to perform in public regardless of skills or training and if that person is a good entertainer and they dress appropriately they may be able to get away with it. Whether we like it or not Middle Eastern Dance is part of the entertainment industry and that means accepting some of the stereotypes that go with it if you want to work in it. Even big Hollywood names get a reminder of this from time to time - remember all the fuss a few years back when Julia Roberts turned up at a UK film premiere with visibly hairy armpits? We need to adhere to certain professional standards when it comes to presenting our dance to the public and in my opinion far too many dancers don't appear to think that's important.

I do feel that many teachers are reluctant to tell students who don't make the grade, for whatever reason, that they are not ready to work in the public domain. The appropriate platform for these students is haflahs, student recitals, community events, etc. In the long term you do no one any favours by encouraging them to perform for the general public when they are not ready, or just plain unsuitable. I get around this by making sure that all my students get the chance to dance at student events (annual recital, haflahs, Christmas party etc.) where the audience will be made up of the students' friends and families. That way everyone is happy and YES I do tell my students if I don't think they are ready for the unpleasant realities of the entertainment industry.

Other areas that need to be addressed are the apparent lack of enthusiasm so many dancers have to push themselves harder to achieve higher technical or performance skills. Many are content to stay within their 'comfort zone' - they know what they can currently dance and are happy to stay at that level. Advanced Level workshops are woefully poorly attended in the UK. Sometimes I am lucky to have 6 dancers in one! Yet I know that many of those who opted for a more general level workshop are more than capable of learning from the advanced one. Then there is the problem of so many dancers who appear to think that wearing make-up is an option, rather than a necessity! We also need to see a big improvement in presentation and performance skills. I've seen many a good dancer who has spoiled a number by not smiling enough or making good eye contact with her audience, and don't get me started on those who do not know how to make an entrance or exit!

I've also seen some incredible performances that were completely ruined due to either poor costume choices, or in the case of some troupes - cheap ones that detracted from the overall effect. It is possible to shop around for bargains, without ending up looking like you picked a costume that no one else would buy! Many retailers offer generous discounts for troupe orders, which may be even better if you also order individual costumes at the same time. I think that we have yet to reach the stage where it is recognised that not only do you have to work hard on your dancing at home and in class. You also need to invest money in good costuming, tuition at workshops and by going to see high quality shows. It is really true to say that you will reap the rewards of such a good investment.

I feel we are moving forward though. We've had the inspiration of Beata & Horacio Cifuentes and the Bellydance Superstars here in the UK this year. Both shows demonstrating what can be achieved with a little hard work, and how exciting it can be when it all comes together!

This article first appeared in Taqasim Magazine. Updated 15/11/2004