This is going to be one of things that we don't like to say out loud...at least when it is not whispered behind our hands and preempted with a pseudo-pitying "Ahhhh shame....". I am nervous about this post sounding mean-spirited, and I want to assure you before I get into it that it is not. Or at least not intended that way. Or maybe if a post is mean and the writer knows it is mean then it is intended as mean-spirited...but surely...ok enough waffling, I will just get to it, shall I?
How this came about is that the weekend before last was the International Oriental Dance Festival. This festival is a huge event on any Cape Town belly dancer's calendar- and even a few international ones- and one we start working towards pretty much from January. This year we were lucky enough to perform on both the Saturday and Sunday and although I didn't get to see as much of the performances as I would have liked, it was still a great day.
However, there was one performance I did see. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that it was one of the most abysmal things I have ever seen in my life. I would never mention who the dancer was (to be honest I didn't get her name) but her dancing was absolutely shocking and watching her performance made me die a little inside. The worst thing (or maybe the best thing?) was that she was completely unaware of the fact that her performance was atrocious. She was having a great time and thoroughly enjoying herself- in fact, she seemed to thrive on stage.
It was not that I didn't like the style or the music or that it just wasn't to my taste. No, I wish it was one of these things and I could diplomatically say: "It was not my cup of tea". It was her dancing itself that was terrible. I am sorry, there is just no way to sugarcoat it.
So my issue is this- at what point in our dance career do we feel we are good enough to take the stage? And if that point never comes, do we say: "To hell with it!" and take it anyway, or should we sit on the sidelines, never allowing ourselves to enjoy our moment in the sun?
I am in two minds about this. Have you ever watched someone auditioning on Pop Idols, X-Factor or one of those dreadfully addictive reality shows and thought, "Hell...why didnt her parents/ friends/ boyfriend tell her she couldn't sing and save her embarrassing herself in front of the whole country? Surely if your loved ones can't be honest with you, then who can? And I am not talking about those singing slightly off tune...I am talking about the ones that cause you to crinkle up your face with equal parts horror on their behalf and equal parts morbid fascination, as they belt out an unrecognizable rendition of Whitney's "I will always love youuuuuu" Of course, these are the very same people that always glare at Randall/ Simon/ Hated (yet usually bang on the money) Judge in shocked defiance when they are told that they are, in fact, not going to be the next Adele and that they should maybe re-look at their future career. This is usually followed by them cursing the judges and storming off with an unsolicited, "You will be sorry! I will never give up on my dream!"....and you kind of hope that somewhere down the line they, in fact, do.
Now this woman was a strong contestant for the belly equivalent of the Idols Bloopers awards. But she didnt seem to realise it. In fact, I have seen her do this dance before and she seems to thoroughly enjoy it. There is definitely no lack of confidence there.
Although there is a time and a place for new dancers to perform, I firmly maintain that to take on a stage is an honour. Being allowed to perform for an audience is an honour, and with that priviledge comes responsibility. You are representing the art form as a whole. I am not talking about a troupe dance or dancing for fun at a haffla- this will change the dynamics- I am talking about performing as a solo act on an international stage.
There is a fine line between having big dreams and believing in yourself and being realistic about your talents of lack thereof. The question is, where do we draw this line?
There are varying standards in belly dance, and everyone has their own taste and opinion of what they find to be good. I definitely dont think I am the world's best dancer, or that I am God's Gift to my audience. I constantly doubt myself and my ability. But I do think I am realistic about what I can and what I cannot do- of my strengths and weaknesses- and if I am performing for an audience I make sure I play within my areas of strength and what I feel I am good at, and stay away from my murkier areas. There are different contexts and occasions where one can experiment and try something new...and sometimes, it works. But I do feel that unless we are 100% confident about our performance, it is maybe not fair to inflict it on our audience.
And then, the other side of me (the much nicer little angel on my shoulder) thinks that I am being a bit of a self-righteous biaaaatch. If someone loves to move, who am I to say that they cannot get up on a stage and dance their heart out? If it makes them happy and they are doing it for them, who cares what I, or anyone else for that matter, may think? And even a hard-assed critic like myself always loves seeing the joy light up someone's face when they are doing what makes them blissfully happy.
I guess the bottom line, and why I feel the way I do comes down to this: For me, performing is actually about giving. You are giving of yourself to your audience and you are doing it for them. Great if you are enjoying it too! But they are your first and foremost priority and dancing for them should be treated like the honour it is. Performing for an audience is actually a favour they are paying us- they are giving us their undivided attention and we better damn well make it worth their while...because they dont have to watch us.
And that is something that we should never forget.
I really like this post. You couldn't have said it better. :)
ReplyDeleteYay! A new post! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose this dancer was dancing in little gold shorts and high heels? :P (ooh, that was bitchy of me!)
I think that it is the teacher's responsibility to tell their students when (if!) they are ready for the stage. I firmly believe that not everybody is ready for the stage and some people should attend the "intermediate" classes, but perhaps not the performance practices.
Hafla's and Studio shows are meant for showcasing the entire studio. In a professional/festival environment where you are representing not only your studio, but belly dance itself (what if somebody walked by, saw this woman dancing and went "ugh. So THAT'S what belly dance is!") you cannot really afford to put a bad dancer on stage.
On the other hand, the festival is open to everybody and the gala evening is the "real" show.
It's a difficult line of thought to walk along, but as somebody once said "I don't care whether you do fusion, cabaret, Egyptian or folkloric styles - I just don't like shit dancing!"
I think the saddest part for me is hearing that this woman was doing a solo. I understand (all too well!) that group dances do not play to all the performers strengths all the time, but rather to the strengths of the choreographer or with one dancer in mind. But with a solo you almost have no excuse... you design your solo (change it if it's somebody else's choreo) to YOUR strengths and therefore it should be your strongest performance.
Eish. So much to say on this topic, but I don't have the skill to be diplomatic here. :)
I hear what your saying and I have to agree with you to some extent. I danced on stage for the first time at this festival (group dance) and though I didn't feel completely ready, I think it was important for me to just get over myself and my fears and do it. However, a solo performer repeatedly putting on a bad show does nothing to enhance the art form and I think that someone more experienced should have the courage and integrity to kindly tell her as much
ReplyDeleteHi... thanks for voicing this.... I agree with some of the above in that when you are new to the dance form and not thaaaat ready for full performance the best thing is to perform in a group, and festivals like this are perfect for this. Granted I haven't been to the festival yet as I live in Durban, but I know the type you speak of... it took me years (like 9) (partly because i didn't feel ready and partly because at my previous studio i was never given the opportunity)to do my first solo. granted that is fairly unusual, but I feel that studios should judge when students are ready to do a solo, and to give them a soft and gentle place to do it in first such as a hafla. THEN they can go on a bigger stage or at a studio showcase etc. I think dancing can be subjective... I definitely feel tribal fusion resonates more with me than Egyptian and Turkish styles and I may not get all the details when watching a dance of those styles.. but gee whizz i can tell ya if a dancer or dance is crap:P I am under no illusions to what my strengths and weaknesses are, and try all the time to work on them... but I also don't mind hearing constructive criticism if it helps me to grow... unfortunately most bad dancers don't know what constructive criticism is and carry on oblivious to their own faults! It is a sad part of our dance form!
ReplyDeleteWell put!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a tricky subject & you navigate it well... it's a confounding thing that we've all seen-- it's also probably the main reason why there are time limits on performances where anyone can sign up to dance! : )
I don't think the post is mean. If the standard of dancing was overall good (which it seems it was) and if it was a huge event....now, how do I put this without sounding mean myself...but are you sure that this was not a Special Needs contestant? In which case, respect to her, and it is fabulous that she enjoys dancing. If not...well...the teacher needs to be spoken to!
ReplyDeleteWell - as long as bellydance is sold as something "anyone can do" there will be unskilled people performing, releasing "their inner goddess and quoting things like "Great dancers aren't great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.”
ReplyDeletePersonally Id prefer that the difference between hafla's/community events and international shows be clearer.
then again one persons messy paint splat is another persons modern art.
Alison - posted as anonymous cos my google acc is giving me problems
Very well said! I think it's a friend/family/teacher's responsibility to be honest with someone about their skills. It does nothing for Belly Dance as a whole if it's performed poorly.
ReplyDeleteI think at a hafla where it's among friends you can branch out and do it just for the love of it but in public venues where someone may think you're an example of Belly Dance at it's finest, it's better to be sure you're putting your best foot forward.
Other dance forms don't face this problem as beginner ballet dancers are generally kids and if you're not good enough to do it professionally your teacher will definitely tell you to consider something else.
It's tough but I'd much rather be told if something's not my forte then carry on obliviously because "my mom thinks I'm great". ;)