Refresh , Reclaim , Rebuild
By Stasha Vlasuk
Welcome to the New Year ! Though we experienced upheaval during the pandemic , we have gradually started buzzing again . In the past six to eight months we have changed . We are in a new phase : we have transited a dividing line . “ Before the pandemic ” and “ during the pandemic ” are almost part of our daily conversations , confidently referring to “ a time before now ”. As our belly dance world opens back up after being so locked down due to Covid , the challenge becomes how to re-engage with the local community at large , how to share our love of this dance , this music , this food , this culture . It ’ s crucial for dancers , musicians , event producers and restaurant owners : how do we refresh , reclaim , rebuild our connections ?
I ’ ve spoken with a collection of folks across the belly dance continuum whose wisdom , insight and inspiration may go a long way for those in our community still “ working on it ”. I asked them about their efforts , their goals , their challenges and successes . Where is our audience , how do we reach our audience , how do we engage them ? I found each person I spoke with as convincing and committed as ever . Every single one of them was brilliant , and wonderfully alive . ( delightful conversations were edited for length and clarity )
She focused on marketing , suggesting “ a different outreach to a different market ,” using Phaedra and Karim Nagi ’ s outstanding public performances as examples . She suggested performing at similar alternate performance spaces : public events , festivals and wine festivals , fairs and renaissance faires ( I ’ ll add : park events and farmer ’ s markets ). She has attended successful restaurant events featuring a troupe of dancers , a singer , and open floor dancing . “ Success comes by constantly doing things all the time , all year , like Isis . Kaeshi Chai does a really good job of staying visible by posting almost daily about her dancing , workshops , and shows . However , she only has about five or six people in her inperson classes . Most everyone seems to have just three to six people for in-person classes . Teaching via Zoom is still attracting more students as it ’ s not limited by geography . For our ( RSL Productions ) recent event with Amaya , a film premiere for Great American Dance Icons , we had 10 people attend her workshop and about 20 people attend the premier and gala show . We ’ ve had between 15 and 40 people attend studio shows in the past .”
Teacher , stellar performer , writer and event producer , Ma * Shuqa Mira Murjan , is a trustworthy and reliable observer of current happenings . She participates in many belly dance festivals while also assisting her photographer husband , Carl Sermon , as he chronicles those events .
She asked me a fundamental question : “ How can one appreciate if they don ’ t have the personal experience , education and history to appreciate ?” She then detailed myriad ways to “ get people ’ s attention , then inform them ,” highlighting those she feels are successful . “ Aziza ’ s January retreat and Amaya ’ s retreats have repeat visitors , those who want to feel community with others .”
Ma * Shuqa teaching . Photo by Carl F . Sermon
January 2023 � The Belly Dance Chronicles 37