Choosing Your Bellydance Teacher / Class

-- is like choosing your hairstylist and your trainer. It's a very personal relationship because someone's expertise about your body affects you emotionally. For the best fit you need to make an informed choice between immense variation, so ask questions. My Values lean toward non-judgemental competence, connection and empowerment so my opinions below are naturally biased. Find someone whose priorities fit with yours. Basically, I wrote this because if you're learning from me I hope it's not just a convenient time/location. This is to help you make an informed choice.

With teachers there's a spectrum: non-threatening but sloppy at one end with the technically adept dragon-mistress at the other. Typically, it's a tradeoff of emotionally safe for technically competent. Sadly, you can get stuck with neither advantage (but both drawbacks - a sloppy overlord with good marketing can still get many students). In most endeavours its hard to find a leader who can get the most out of people in a way that they thrive. For our industry here's why:

Non-Standardized Means Immense Variation

  1. Depending on whom you ask, one move can have many names; one name can refer to many moves. This puts up artificial walls between groups so movements are hard to discuss slowing development of the individual and community. Weird, huh?
  2. Teaching certification and standards are not widespread. So teachers can vary greatly in their:
    1. instructor training (if any),
    2. dance expertise (what they know),
    3. dance ability (what they can do) and
    4. ultimately, in quality. Many advancing students don't realize this  - they take classes from one school, get bored, start teaching and spread their limitations further. Fortunately, top-level teachers have degrees of overlap from several recognized influences.
  3. Consequently, every offering can differ greatly by
    • what is taught (content),
    • when it's taught (sequence),
    • how it's taught (methods) ,
    • and why (intention/focus).

Checklist

  • Content and Focus: ask what what is being taught and why (objectives). ie.
    • Oriental stage expression vs.
    • prop mastery (finger cymbals, veil) vs.
    • folklore theory (Khaleegi, Milaya Lef) vs.
    • recent fusion trends (American Tribal)
  • Methods/Practices:
    • combinations -> choreography -> improvisation. I feel this is a natural order that when rushed ruins quality.
    • mirrors are absolutely critical for visual learning - reflective windows are workable but not ideal.
    • individual feedback is absolutely critical
      • how do you know if you're moving correctly?
      • how do they guard you from the demoralizing frustraton of
        1. learning wrong habits that
        2. take forever to unlearn and
        3. RElearn correctly? That's three times longer with a dash of rage - fun, huh?
      • is feedback...?
        • gentle (on the ego)
        • detached (not personal but based on movements)
        • prioritized (taking you on a path not overwhelming you all at once)
        • focused on actions (not judgements)
        • well-reasoned (with clear purpose not abuse of power)
  • Experience:  in a loose order of hierarchy:
    • Directors/Trainers of Arabic dance troupes are the elite along with
    • former troupe/career dancers who hit stardom in Cairo super-hotels and Beirut marquee productions
    • very authentic performers of international profile who dance to Arabic live bands and for Arabic audiences.
    • paid professionals for regional special events have some street credibility. The arts, entertainment and cultural markets naturally produce a level of quality.
    • Knowledgeable enthusiasts can be very funny, charismatic or inspiring.
    • Lastly: the supremely convenient (time, location, price?) with little if any training, or experience outside a single dance school/instructor. At the very least these people should be non-threatening and mild-mannered - more at bottom.
  • Training: did they learn from a few significant influences hopefully from the upper scale of above. What about their recent professional development? When you read Learning Tips you'll see how 'lose it if you don't use it' really applies here.
  • Personality: most importantly, is their ego balanced and managed so their baggage stays separate from yours? Diva power-tripping is common. Are the benefits worth the trouble? With recommended dvds you have more options despite inadequate local offerings - product reviews upcoming.


Also see: Bellydance Learning Tips - Wisdom for Students.