5 Things You Should Do When You Go To an Oriental Dance Festival

If, like me, you love to go to Oriental Dance Festivals, and you want to make the most of it, here are my 5 tips for you:

Me and my friend Katya Kiipli, in Dance Weekend in Warsaw 2017.

1. Share apartment with dancers that you don’t know yet! If you are travelling to another country, this is the best time to get to know new dancers: learn more about their work, and the world of Bellydance in their country. The best way to do this is actually to go alone and share apartments with dancers you don’t know. Typically, I talk with the organizers and ask them to fix me up with other dancers that want to share room as well. If you don’t get along with the girl, you will be in the festival only for a few nights (4 at the top), it won’t be unbearable believe me. In case you do get along, you will make a belly friend and share tons of information with each other: tips on dancing, on teaching, on running your business… I just love to do this. That’s how I got to know my belly friends Katya Kiipli from Ireland and Eleni from Greece/Australia.

My performance as a guest artist in the International Gala of Oriental Dance Weekend 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal.

2. Show your dance! Going to a festival is a new opportunity to show your art to new people, who otherwise won’t get to know your dance. So make sure you either perform on one of the gala shows or participate in the competition. Not only will the audience get acquainted with your dance and some will love and start to follow your work, but also you will enjoy a great time with all the other dancers in the backstage. And yes, more networking, and new material to promote your work – which is my next advice.

3. Always buy your videos and pictures, even though they cost a lot. I know that you are spending tons of money on plane ticket, accommodation, workshops, gala show ticket, and other stuff, but really don’t disregard the importance of purchasing videos and pictures of your performance(s). When you go to a festival you are doing an investment: on your evolution as a dancer, going to the workshops to learn, performing in the gala and/or competing,… posting your videos and pictures of the festival in your website and social media when you return from the festival is a great way to make that investment yield. Not only will you have lots of new material for your fans (who are always eager to see more), but also new people will see it and know you have been in the festival, maybe they were there and liked your dance but didn’t know your name or didn’t follow you right away, but know that they saw your video on youtube or your picture on Instagram, they know your name and they will follow your work.

4. Choose the front row for the Gala Shows! It’s imperative that you watch the gala shows, especially the international one: I have learnt so much just by watching the performances of master teachers. When I watch them, I don’t just enjoy them, I am analytical, I’m studying how they use the stage and how they interact with the audience. Only watching them live (and not a video on youtube) can you feel their energy, see what they are saying with their eyes, see the simple details that make all the difference. It will be easier to do this if you are sitting on the first row. Try your best to be there! You don’t want to see the show, the veils, the wings, the beautiful arms, you want to see the technique and that my friends is only possible by sitting in the first rows where you can see the feet, the hip, the expression, at its purest, at its best. Believe me, if you want to really learn go to the first row.

5. Be as much involved in the festival as you can! I know the festivals are expensive especially for oriental dancers but try to make the most of it. If there are parties, gatherings, dinners, try to go as much as you can and talk with whoever you would like, don’t be shy. Everyone there shares the same passion, and everybody is there for the same reason, so there is no constraint whatsoever, just go and say hi to a dancer and ask her about their experience, the workshops she has undertaken or will undertake, if she enjoyed the gala show or if she is going to be there; there are infinite topics, just be involved.

Do these and I am sure you will have a blast!

And if you want to know more tips, but this time about the 4 Things I Always Carry When I Travel To Dance Events, read this post!