From the Stage to Your
Living Room !
By Athena Photo provided by Athena
I am probably one of the few dancers who can say this , but I am loving the online showcases happening right now . Pre-Covid-19 , I performed about 6 + times a month . Getting to interact with audiences and perform with my friends is one of my favorite things . But with social distancing and venues stopping live shows , I realized performing the way I was used to is not possible or safe . I started off really uncomfortable with the idea of not being able to interact with audiences and honestly , I ’ m not the most tech savvy . But then I began to consider it from the audience ’ s perspective .
Being able to attend a show in person can be tough . You need to be able to get transportation , find a place to park , be able to navigate small crowded spaces , have to wait in line for a restroom , sit in place for hours , and then rush back home to whatever obligations you have at home . We are putting a lot of expectations on our audiences to come out to watch us ! But with an online show , you can have people from all over the world join you in ways that make it accessible to everyone . I ’ m so excited for the world this is going to create .
Booking an online show : When booking a show online , you are not held to dancers who are close to you . You can ask your very favorite dancers to join you . In booking , I am a huge fan of a curated show . Unlike a regular show where anyone can join , you are going to book intentionally and deliberately . I try to find a way to book that represents a lot
68 The Belly Dance Chronicles � October 2020