1 . Trust your gut : Your gut instincts resonate with your true self and compel you toward or away from everything you encounter . What drew you to belly dance in the first place ? Can you remember the first urges that led you to look into classes ? Identify the initial reason ( s ). Why belly dance and not something else ? What was the first thing you did to try belly dancing ? It all started with an instinct followed by an action step . Whether conscious or not , this combination then repeated , as you moved forward on your dance journey , until you arrived at the point where you are now . Hopefully , you have not forgotten your initial reasons to be a dancer and have in fact expanded on those reasons . Now that you have a base , consider where you are going with it . Deep down inside your gut , whether or not you admit it to anyone else , do you ever dream big ? For most of you , belly dance is a hobby that is enjoyed in your spare time , but come on , how long do you think that hobby will intrigue you if you don ’ t evolve within it ? Dreaming big is a great thing ! Don ’ t doubt yourself . Be honest with yourself . What do you truly want to be when you grow up ? After you admit it , you then need to …
2 . Think outside the box : The moment you chose belly dance you already stepped outside the box . We all know Middle Eastern dance is not mainstream , not like Zumba , jogging , ballet or yoga . When you try something new and different you gain a new perspective that will put the “ you ” in unique . Once you got involved in belly dance , you studied it and tried to emulate the instructors and performers that you admire . After a while , you need to stop copying others . It means stepping outside the box again , something that needs to be done over and over . The farther out of the box you go , the more exciting the experiences will be . You will challenge yourself both physically and mentally . You might go so far as to become an expert at your craft , a revered artist . Look around at the lovely dance enthusiasts who are your peers . If you only do what everyone else does , you will remain lost amongst the masses . If you want to stand out of the crowd , you need to do something that the majority doesn ’ t do . You must don your thinking cap and …
3 . Set a goal with a date : Once you know the ultimate , long term goal , getting there will take a series of small steps . Remember the combination of instinct and action . Identify the first step towards that goal and put a date on accomplishing it . Maybe it is an exact day and time or maybe it is more loosely a month and year . An end date will assist your willpower and determination to make that goal without giving up . You can endure whatever it takes . You will focus your abilities , turn on your creativity and give yourself a direction to make your dreams come true . Once you reach that goal , you should pause , reflect , look inside for what your gut is telling you and then choose another action step . Any step you take can always be altered along the way , but finding the power to use consistent , persistent action is the only way you will ever get there . As you take steps forward , you will find that you will someday have to …
4 . Take risks : The word ‘ risk ’ can be frightening if it is something that is done without forethought . I ’ m not advocating rash decisions and throwing your responsibilities to the wind . What I am suggesting is one or more calculated risks that will get you ahead and sometimes literally catapult you forward . Courage is required to explore opportunities that you otherwise might not have considered . You will feel some measure of discomfort and you will squirm . Discomfort is not fun , but it is a sign that whatever you are considering can bring great returns . The greater the discomfort , the greater the potential return . Some of the best experiences will come your way , things that will shape your destiny and create highlights in your life . So when you are offered your first dance job at a restaurant , take the risk . Go to that dance convention in another country . Take a trip to the Middle East . Enter that competition . Work with live musicians . Accept that teaching job . Facing the discomfort is a small price to pay for gaining valuable experience , networking with peers and leaders who can help you , expanding your mind as you dance in another part of the world , facing challenges by working with live music . These types of risks are welcome . Your confidence will soar and you will be able to face and conquer other forms of discomfort . This especially includes the discomfort created by the …
July 2016 � The Belly Dance Chronicles 31