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My Philosophy and Code of Ethics as a Belly Dancer and Teacher. Teaching 1. First and foremost, I want ALL of my students to have FUN! Belly dance can be a great creative outlet for anyone whether you aspire to being a, "living room," dancer or a professional dancer. 2. I believe everyone has this dance in them! And I don't discriminate EVER! 3. It is important to know what you want out of my classes. Some students just want some FUN low impact exercise, some want to perform, but not professionally, and others still want to become professional level dancers. While my expectations are essentially the same for all students; students who wish to move on will have to put in a bit more work. Don't be afraid to tell me what you want! 4. I do not own my students. Nor do I expect my teaching style to be for everyone. There is nothing wrong with shopping around to find the instructor that best suits you or to even take classes with two teachers at once. 5. I require 16 weeks of belly dance experience before you come into my Intermediate class. There are some exceptions, but this all depends upon how quickly one learns and sometimes how comfortable I believe a student is compared to their first classes with me. I will NOT under any circumstances tell you you are ready just to keep you around. Just know that once you get into my Intermediate class YOU WILL HAVE EARNED IT. 6. If you think you may be ready to move into Intermediate, don't hesitate to speak with me about it. I am always watching my students development and will most likely let you know when you are ready. BUT it never hurts to ask! 7. Intermediate students do have the opportunity to perform at small shows from time to time. This offers you a chance to get out there and see how you do in front of a friendly audience. However, you are never required to perform, so don't feel pressured to do so. Keep in mind, performing with me means purchasing costuming and setting aside extra practice time. I try to make this as inexpensive as possible! 8. As with ANY art, belly dance will sometimes frustrate you. Even dancers with decades of experience run into creative brick walls and "now what?" moments. Don't let a hard movement or new concept bring you down. Just stop, take a deep breath, or even sleep on it. Know too that it WILL happen again in the future! It's part of the learning we all have to do and will make us and our dancing stronger in the long run. 9. Just because Susie Janine Doe standing next to you gets every movement right off the bat, that doesn't make you a bad student. This dance takes different lengths of time for everyone. Some students will walk in and get everything right the first time, others will have to work harder or longer to achieve the same result. Keep trying, keep practicing, and keep having FUN and you will find this art form rewarding. Becoming a Professional 1. It is a sad truth that many dancers don't receive enough guidance and training before going pro. And belly dancers are constantly fighting to receive respect and decent pay. I can't make you do anything, but I can urge you to assess your skills honestly before you dance for pay. It takes countless hours of practice and research before you are ready. It takes an insatiable desire to always become better than you are now. It takes money to promote yourself, project a professional image, and continue your training. If you are interested in going pro, please consult with me (or your teacher) for an assessment and guidance. Let me help you with knowledge I didn't have when I started out! 2. Undercutting is a practice which runs rampant in our community ALL over the globe. If you offer to dance for free or for less than the going rate in your area, you are undercutting. This means a dancer who is trying to make ends meet is losing out not only on that gig, but possibly on others that may have initially paid what she's worth. If you are not confident enough in your abilities to command a decent rate, then you are not ready to perform as a professional. If you are interested in seeing the going rates in your area, please refer to: Samira Shuruk.com 3. Do NOT under any circumstances attempt to find work at a restaurant that already has a dancer! Most restaurants, especially in the Louisville Metro area, can not support more than one dancer. It's best to contact the dancer who already works there and offer to substitute for her or even fill in on different days of the week. This is a good way to gain performance experience without undermining the ethics of the dance community. 4. So you are ready to go pro, you have good photos, nice costumes, a website in the works AND you just got your new business cards that say you're a belly dancer! You can't wait to hand them out! It's never a good idea to go to a dance event and hand out your business cards if you aren't performing there. Keep in mind, that show is showcasing the performers in it. It is their time to shine! If you just have to give your card to someone, find the person who planned the event and let them know you're interested in participating in a future event. 5. When entering the realm of the professional dancer you have to weigh your options. Business itself is a dog eat dog world, but the ethics of the dance community are different. Do your best not to step on another dancer's toes as this may effectively reduce (if not destroy all together) the opportunities you have in the future. Just about EVERY dancer has made ONE ethical mistake, but our community will notice if you make a habit of it. Ask yourself if you want just the money and attention now? Or do you want to take your time to develop as a dancer AND make what may be life-long friends along the way in addition to growing your business? Belly dance is something you can enjoy forever and in many different ways throughout your life. Don't cheat yourself by cheating others. If you are unsure about something, ask your teacher! It's better to ask what may be a silly question now, than to pay for doing something downright dumb later! 6. If I should ever have a student who becomes a professional, I'd like for them to be PROUD of their abilities and AWARE of what their dancing is worth. I'd like them to always wonder how they can become better and how they can learn more. I'd like them to evoke a sparkle in the eyes of their audience members and bring with them an energy that only a dancer who LOVES what she's doing can. Happy Dancing! Taletha |
