By the title of this post, you'd think I'm about to share with you all kinds of bellydance workshops that are about to happen. It's just the opposite. With the trend that is happening these days, I'm about to share with you all the bellydance workshops that are about to NOT happen. Why? Because enrollment is low.
For those of you that know me personally, I'm a quiet person. I don't typically speak out of turn. I'm also not one to impose my personal opinions on other people because I believe everyone is different and is entitled to his/her own opinions. We just need to agree to disagree!
But seriously. For a while, bellydance workshops were selling out. You had to book early in advance to get in. These days, at least in the South, it appears that dancers are not signing up for workshops. Sponsors are canceling workshops or diminishing the events down to just a few hours of instruction. It seems like if there isn't a competition as part of the event, then there's no incentive to attend.
I know times are tough, but why is this happening? Soon enough, there will be a lack of workshops. We will be hurting for so-and-so to come out to teach. You may have the best bellydance teacher in the world, but recognize that there are so many fabulous teachers out there. Bellydance isn't just about learning a move, a combo, or a choreography, it's also about community. Just because you don't know such-and-such teacher, doesn't mean that you won't learn anything. Just because you don't dance the same style as or aren't interested in that style of bellydance doesn't mean you shouldn't go.
A few years ago, I was living in New Zealand. I was teaching. I was performing. Someone was hosting a weekend of workshops with this lady that I had never heard of. I looked at her website. I looked at Youtube and saw her video clips. I was wavering back and forth about going. Finally, I bit the bullet and signed up for the Sunday workshops. Boy was I glad I did. Her name was Orit Maftsir. She's from Israel. I could understand her because she spoke perfect English. She was fabulous. She was juicy. She was sassy. She was inspirational. I walked away from the Sunday workshops regretting that I didn't sign up for the Saturday ones. Don't be like me. Sign up for workshops.
Don't limit yourself. Broaden your horizons. Get inspired!
Of course, I would be much more help if I had a listing of all workshops coming up in 2011... but I do not. Just a few off the top of my head:
Start saving your Christmas money for these awesome events!
I know I am!
Lily
It's the same here in Switzerland! Of course we are spilt with MANY workshops and great teachers coming here - but theoretically our dance community would be big enough to support all of them. Some people are just too lazy (and no, we can't blame it on economics anymore when sales for new cars are going up again *grin*).
ReplyDeleteWhat I personally find most irritating is when people only book workshops 2 or 3 days in advance instead of some weeks. It's like people don't want to commit and always wait if something "better" isn't going to come up...
BTW, lily, All of that hard work is paying off. You are a fabulous Dancer. I was in a workshop with you in Dallas W/Nour. (Summer 2010)
ReplyDeleteIt was a tough choreography, lots and lots of Fast spins and difficult transitions. You know the one.~lOL~
Thanks for "getting it" Nour let us film ourselves; remember? luckily between you and the Russian Girl, can't remember her name, I got most of it.
Yes, Support your local Workshops for sure and MORE, if you can.*smiles*, Selena Kareena