The campaign "Stop Ballet within Bellydance"

This image was the most popular in the last months against Ballet within Bellydance.
One of the most polemic subject in the last years. There was no group, forums and groups of friends that wouldn't talk about this polemic mix of styles.

Ballet is part of bellydance since 1930's when Europeans influenced Bellydance adding Classic Ballet technique into this tribal and street style. The idea in that period was to professionalise the dance to be seen in theatres and musicals. Badia Bassabai, the dancer who opened the first Cassino in Cairo with public shows of Bellydance, also had added ballet into bellydance to be able to choreograph peaces to the public and make it more sellable.

Ballet for long time was necessary to develop technique, posture and add professionalism in belly dancing. Nowadays everyone is noticing there are too much ballet into Oriental Dance and even Folkloric styles, which most professionals don't agree. We can see some dancers, with ballet background with stiff arms and strong moves from ballet. But we also have to agree that these elements might be bringing more ideas, new steps and another way to bellydance. It worked in early 1930's why won't work now?

I do agree that Bellydance is a cultural dance and must be performed like its origins respecting the folkloric and historical side. However I believe all these new elements from ballet can contribute positively in our dance, considering that Ballet is the first form of technical dance ever registered.

The correct I would say, everyone should learn classic music if one dance want to play rock in roll and everyone should learn ballet if one day want to dance hip hop... Does that make sense???? What I want to say is that Classical form of art is always more complex, studied and precise and YES can contribute to folklore and popular styles of music and dance.

However, I have to agree with most of Facebook and Twitter comments saying that "When is too much is too much!!!"

Are you dancing bellydance or Ballet wearing Egyptian costume?

So, I believe classical art must be studied by everyone to understand art and learn to appreciate the beauty of it. However, once you decide to do bellydance, study it with love and all your passion. Integrate in your moves the passion of this culture and the love of these songs and only Belly Dance...

About last post! Subconscious judgement.

Oh Gosh, never realised so many people would read the last post and find themselves in that situation. What a coincidence? So I suppose a lot people must study first and then find a job. Or better, take the job of other professionals instead.
Anyway, when I wrote that was inspired in daily auditions between 4 restaurants I work at and surprisingly a few dancers recognised themselves in that situation and called me to ask why write about them? What?? Wasn't exactly about them, was a general comment with something that keep happening and we want to change.

The case is that girls are impulsive and right away said: Why to write about me? I don't study because I am learning with youtube? I can't study because don't have money? I can't study but I have done a lot? bla bla bla.. What I can do with that? That is just excuses that won't help at all.

We give the job and expect improvement, however no improve no job! Because there is a lot girls out there that have been studying for at least 10 years, hardly and spent a lot money on that. So it is not fair you take the job if you have no knowledge enough and "recognise this". If you recognise yourself I suppose your subconscious is telling you the true and yourself are taking the responsibility to get off the professional works yourself! So no one has to fire you, because you did yourself.

I wish all girls starting in this business have a look at the "big picture" and not only what is around them. I hope they take the advices and improve, keep studying hardly, or honestly... get a life! don't waist your time in something is not for you.

Dancers can't stop to learn!!!!

I know this sounds just obvious but some people don't get it.
I am lucky I born in a third world country where people really take serious every single thing they do. If someone choose to do belly dance for hobbie, you can make sure from this classes will grown many potential professionals. In third world countries everything works like that, because people just choose something to do when is really engaged with that and they will give their blood to realise it.

Unfortunately living in london I've seen strange thing. Classes drop in every where, teachers that have no clue about anything what they are teaching. Girls that come to audition and have no idea what is belly dance, have never ever taken regular classes and want the job. Eventually they take the jobs because they are pretty, but trust me, it won't last long.

That is what countries with good economy makes on us. Everyone hunting for fast/shit learning just to make money, with no love and passion for anything they do.

Working for a well known restaurant in London, I've learn one dancer went for audition, didn't get trough but is still bugging for the position. Strangely is that our manager asked her if she is studying and she said is practicing at home!!! come one, this girl have ever taken any class and can't make one simple basic step properly. It is so shame!!! The most sad is that my manager told her that she should LEARN, proper learn, taking regular classes etc... But she have million excuses and bad choices.

This dancer kept saying is learning on her own trough youtube. Com'n, who can learn with theirselves when they don't know absolutely anything to start on.

We did needed this girl, she would have many shows regularly if take serious. But this girls doesn't seems to have clue the importance of learning. So the life will have to show her in a hard way.

If I could give you guys one single advice would be: Don's stop to learn!!!!!! That is you guarantee.

Beauty and lucky one day gone and the knowledge will save you.

Best of luck to all hunting for belly dance job but please don's stop to take classes ;-)