On ( and Off ) line Belly Dance Etiquette
By Nizana Photos provided by Nizana
Just as there is a need for etiquette in the belly dance world on the “ real ” stage , in the dressing room and as an audience member , with things the way they are nowadays , there is also a need for online / shows etiquette . There has been an influx of online workshops , haflas and showcases as well as heated discussions taking place online that I ’ ve seen going on , and it is important to remember etiquette in these areas as well .
For example , if you are using the chat function on Zoom , this is an opportunity to cheer on and support the performers . I say performers because there have been musicians that have also been online with the dancers . It is not the place to go on repeatedly about how the sound is going in and out . For those of you who have been participating in Zoom and other platforms for us to keep our dance going , we are well aware that technological issues occur . There are so many factors that influence connection such as the weather , your device ( s ), your bandwidth , the number of people using internet at any given time , and a host of other things , so yes , we know the sound is going in and out . It is helpful to know if that is the case and it is appreciated when you bring it up , but it is not the place to go on and on about what ’ s wrong with the technology . Try just enjoying the show and understanding , like most of us , that it is just part of the deal unfortunately . It ’ s not like most of us have professional equipment . But we do want to dance !
Another important piece of etiquette is communication . If you are invited to dance and are unable or unwilling , instead of ignoring the invitation , politely decline and thank the host for the invite and be done with it . Don ’ t drag it on so the host isn ’ t sure if you got the message or not , because sometimes the messages don ’ t come through or a notification doesn ’ t come through , another set of online issues . If you do want to dance , make sure you get your information to the hosts in the required time frame so that they can make sure the event is organized and timely with advertising , flyers , etc . If you have accepted and change your mind , LET THE PROMOTER KNOW ASAP ! Don ’ t wait until they have to follow up with you and ask where your promo info is . That is discourteous to both the event organizers and dancers who could have had that spot .
36 The Belly Dance Chronicles � October 2020