Tips for new belly dancers starting out 2 - unsupportive teachers

I base my articles on my own experiences as a previous belly dance student, A current community belly dance leader and a professional performer. The articles are meant as a guide to help belly dancing students , Semi pro's and performers. Take from them what you will and enjoy. - Copyrighted please ask permission to use.

Tips -  For New Belly Dancers Starting Out - unsupportive Teacher

I decided to write these informative blog posts and articles for you new dancers and students who are just starting out or thinking about starting up without any guidance or support from your teachers. Keep reading to find some tips that will help you through your own process.

The majority of belly dancing teachers have genuine concern for their students. They want to see you do well and are supportive if not helpful to you. The minority of belly dancing teachers are toxic, Ego fueled greedy and abusive who are only concerned with their pockets and their power over you.


1. Maybe Your Teacher Thinks You Are Not Ready
A genuine teacher may honestly believe you are not ready to start dancing professionally or teaching. If this is the case speak with your teacher privately and see what she can do to help you further. If you are serious about looking for paid gigs or restaurant work it is so much easier with some guidence from some one in the know. You can also train with other teachers to get more training and to get a good view point of how different teachers teach and perform. It is hard to hear criticism about yourself but believe me you are better a teacher or another dancer who you trust critique you over the general public. Construction criticism can teach all of us a thing or two. Be open as long as the people you listen to are genuine, Not biased, Envious or abusive you will be fine and get to where you want to go in the right time. There's no rush. Enjoy being a student because there is a lot of responsibility that comes with the job of a professional.

2. Market Saturation
Maybe your teacher believes there are too many dancer looking for work in the area and that it wouldn't benefit you or the other dancers who are already working full time. You could do some market research and see where you might fit in elsewhere. If there is a city close by or a busy town that doesn't have too many dancers competing and Undercutting to gain jobs you could make your mark there.  Make sure you find out your demographics. I do believe that some people put dancers off due to fear of competition, Greed, Power and ego. Truth is we are all in the same boat. As long as you stay humble, focus, respect the others and deal with negaitivity constructivly there shouldn't be a problem. Find out motives before you make you decision.


3. Toe Stepping
Maybe your teacher doesn't agree with your future ethics because you may not understand ethics just yet. Sometimes inexperienced people don't understand how setting up buisness close to their teachers, Friends, Rivols, Associates how it can get peoples backs up, People start to question your motives whilst you are just potting around happy to be trading next to your mates. It can get really uncomfortable for all involved. Its a little similar to someone stepping on your toes in every day life. You wouldn't dream about coming onto you friends husband. Okay not quite the same but wjen you are self employed trying to run a buisness and some one you know puts themselves in fromt of your customers its like taking foid from off the table. Toe stepping can be deliberate, underhanded, or by accident. It takes the friendship, The respect to a whole new different level. Check to see where you might fit in at least three miles away from your teacher and others. As long as you are not looking to set up a class on your teachers door step there is no need for concern. It has always been a rule in the dance buisness to stick the ethics of the three mile radius unless you are in a city or popular busy town with a class that doesnt clash with other teachers classes. As long as you class is three miles or more away there should not be a problem. If your teacher makes it a problem it's probably because she is either feeling threatened, Jelous or greedy and wants customer to travel to her from them areas. Truth is everybody hasn't got a car or money to travel three miles and good loyal students who have a genuine interest or who may benefit from your class will be missing out. Discuss this with your teacher


4.Toxic Teacher
It has  been documented many a time that a teacher can be toxic. Meaning she has serious problems and you are there to serve a purpose. Ussually the purpose is to make money or ideas out of you, To exert power of people as some sort of ego massage. Once you gain experience, Attention, Opportunity and step into your own well deserved power is when she is most likely to show her true colours. You probley never noticed anything major before because any problems at class involving other girls that where kicked out didnt involve or effect you. Them girls must have done wrong, Why else who the teacher ban them from class. She is a teacher afterall..... Why would a teacher do that. You start to hear rumours about her being jelous and wrathful to other talented, beautiful dancers and students but you didn't think they where true until you heard her lie and gossip about the others. You remember the time you Felt uncomfortable at her response ot feel her coldness when some one complemented you that time at the student showcase. You leave move on and dance opportunity comes your way. You gain some negative Trolls online and learn that the IP address belongs to your teacher who has made you her rivol.
It could be your very own teacher has other plans for you and the odds are they don't include you gaining Gigs or starting up your own class. You will notice your teacher toxicity when her competitors are mentioned and she speaks in an aggressive or threatening manner. She may bully the class, Dictate and believe herself to be higher than you, Higher than everyone, Higher than humanity. She may degrade you as an individual or any work or ideas you brought to the table. You should learn quickly that she is boss, The Queen bee, The Goddess, she is the best, she wants all of the students, All of the admiration, All of the attention, All of the and she wants to be the only one and your very precense may threaten her. Chances are if you are strong you'll walk or be kicked out sooner rather than later. If you have problems or are oblivious you will learn all of her coercive control and psychological abuse. And if you dare to join another teachers class or start up your own belly dance  buisness be prepared for all hell to break looss.Expect her to stoop lower than low. She has no tolerance, No self control, no thought for the feelings of others. She will do anything to get rid of you. Harrassment, Stalking, Sending her advertisers to your class, The list hoes on. Sounds crazy....well guess what... It ussually is. My advice is do not rise. Push ahead, keep your dignity and be professional. If her attention is consistently focused on you it's probabley because she isnt as busy as she makes out and is uncomfortable you are doing well after she tried to sabotage your effort or ruin your good reputation...after you do well without her help.  Shes dedicating her time on you, You must be special.


5. End Note
You do not need permission to get professional Gigs or start teaching classes if

- you have been paying and attending classes on a regular basis for five years
-your teacher has had you shadow her and perform or assist in teaching several times
- you have been paid by your teacher to dance at professional Gigs, events or restaurants
- you have danced in student showcases. Haflas, community events and various venues
- The class you propose to teach is out of the three mile radious
- Your Dancing is good enough to dance at a basic entertainment gig like a restaurant or Bellygram
- your Dancing is just as good or better than your teachers \ other teachers. Dance students and dancer tell you so
- An Arab or Turkish person who knows about their dance says you are good enough
- if you feel you are good enough after years of training
- you have at least one professional costume and a variety of music choices
- you can dance to at least 4-7 songs with ease. With and without choreography