Thread: Starting a Troupe

Just looking for some reasonable troupe suggestions. I've been approached several times by one of my advanced students about starting a professional troupe. She has a friend that is interested also. The three of us would make for a nice combination. They both have already expressed their respect for me in being the "troupe leader" for a lack of better titles since I have the teaching and choreography experience. I'm really excited about this new possible endeavor and the two of them also.

We are meeting tonight to discuss things. I have no clue as to what is reasonable as a troupe leader. Do you charge for rehearsals? How often do you meet and how do you handle costuming? Do you make the decisions with their input, or do you vote? Any input would be helpful.

I'm really looking forward to dancing with these ladies and also to any helpful suggestions from you who are experienced at this!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! ..g.:

I would suggest that you hammer out those details in advance of your meeting. Coming up with them as a group sounds like a wonderful idea, but in practicality, if you have 2 people, there will be 3 opinions.

Decide first what the role of troupe leader will be. Does that mean that you are repsonsible for coming up with choreos? What is the style? Are you willing to fuse? How much? how much is too much? Who makes the decisions about how much rehearsal time is needed? Required? what happens if someone misses rehearsals? How often? Who owns the costuming? Who owns the name? Who gets gigs? Who pays for or finds rehearsal space?

You don't have to have these written in stone, you can change them as you go, but you, if you are the troupe leader, have the responsibility of at least having a framework to function in.

It's a lot of work, very often unappreciated, but can be rewarding when things go well, and when they don't, hey, it was a learning experience!

Hey,
There is a lot that goes into it! :-) I have a professional troupe but its different since they are my students and not necissarily my peers.
We fortunatly have a space we can use for free (since I terach there) for rehearsals. If you have to pay for studio space then split the cost amongst yourselves.
It might be that when you start getting paid gigs as a group some of those funds go toward paying for rehearsal space.
Most everything we do is a majority vote, costuming, how we spend our money etc.
I run my troupe almost like a non-profit where everyone has a officer position and therefore a position to vote. It makes people feel like they are part of the process instead of a dictatorship. In the end someone has to be the final say. SO there has to be some form of leadership otherwise you will ahve too many cooks in the kitchen and it will implode! ;-)
Its nice as well to lay out allt he expectations etc on the table up front. I have a handbook I use for new members to read etc.
Hope that helps! :-)
xoxo,
-NJ

Hi Maryon!


Here is a comprehensive and insightful article on troupes written by Shira. Although directed towards the student who is thinking of joining a troupe, it contains many points that you, as the director, will likely find very useful now and in the future if others are interested in joining your troupe:

Joining A Belly Dancing Troupe: Is It Right For You?


Good luck!

Khalida

Originally Posted by Maryon

Just looking for some reasonable troupe suggestions. I've been approached several times by one of my advanced students about starting a professional troupe. She has a friend that is interested also. The three of us would make for a nice combination. They both have already expressed their respect for me in being the "troupe leader" for a lack of better titles since I have the teaching and choreography experience. I'm really excited about this new possible endeavor and the two of them also.

We are meeting tonight to discuss things. I have no clue as to what is reasonable as a troupe leader. Do you charge for rehearsals? How often do you meet and how do you handle costuming? Do you make the decisions with their input, or do you vote? Any input would be helpful.

I'm really looking forward to dancing with these ladies and also to any helpful suggestions from you who are experienced at this!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! ..g.:

The experience is very new to me as I've only recently put together a troupe of dancers, but I thought I'd share what is working for me thus far...

I do not charge for rehearsals. We each contribute $2/rehearsal to pay for studio rental and everyone seems to agree this is a fair arrangement. As I see it, they are donating their precious time just as much as I am. I do find it more manageable in regards to stress and organization when I am not dancing with them (although I do leave the option open). I can focus more on watching them intently, giving personal ongoing critique, creating new choreographies, helping out at shows, etc. We started out meeting once/week for 1hr, but there is still more work to be done to prepare for the show we are working towards, so I've increased the rehearsal time to 2hrs. After the summer when things die down, I'll decrease it... maybe to one (1hr) rehearsal every three weeks or so, just to go over the choreographies and keep them fresh in our minds and prepped to hop if opportunity knocks.

Costume selection was fairly painless. I presented options and let them choose from them collectively. It was a majority rules decision and they were just wonderful about it.

I think a large part of putting together a troupe depends on a variety of things - not just talent. They have to be committed, hard workers, easy to get along with, and able to foot the bill for a costume purchase here and there.

Decisions will always be collective based upon a presented options. I think there has to be someone making the final decisions when you're dealing with a group to keep things running smoothly. BUT I do have their best interests at heart, respect their opinions and want to keep the lines of communication open. This isn't for ME. It's for US.

Originally Posted by Adishakti

BUT I do have their best interests at heart, respect their opinions and want to keep the lines of communication open. This isn't for ME. It's for US.

Absolutely! The director and troupe members all need to have a team mentality. There is no “I” in “team”, or “troupe” for that matter :)

Directing a troupe, like teaching a class, is a path of service and commitment. As director, be prepared to devote $$ and countless hours to any or all of the following: studio space; rehearsal and performance analysis and critique; arranging performance ops; costume selection, ordering, payment, etc.; disseminating information; creating new and challenging choreographies; photo/videography; arranging fun extracurricular activies – haflas, etc.; doing your best to keep everyone happy; and so much more.

Is it worth it? Totally. Leading a troupe and seeing everyone blossom over the years has been one of the greatest highlights of my life.




Khalida

Thank you all! Everything went well. Actually, the other ladies would prefer that I "be in charge". They were in another troupe and said that since there was nobody assigned the position, and they all agreed to have it that way, that when the strong personality took over the group, that was when the drama and conflicts began. Interesting... hugh? So, even though I will have the artistic director title, I am always open to suggestions as I want everyone to feel a "part of" the group. It will be a very exciting and challenging adventure. Thank you all again!

Originally Posted by Maryon

So, even though I will have the artistic director title, I am always open to suggestions as I want everyone to feel a "part of" the group.

I agree that this is the way to go. Over the years, my troupe members have offered brilliant suggestions re choreo development, costuming, and other matters and I've always been very happy to incorporate them as long as they are in keeping with the vision of the choreo at hand, which is usually the case.

Mabruk!! -- Congratulations to you, Maryon, and your new troupe!!



Khalida