Thread: Continuing Education of Troupe Members

I have two student troupes, and most of the members have studied with me for over four years.

I am sometimes struck by how little they know about Middle Eastern music (specifically Egyptian, since that is primarily what I teach), its history, its artists, and the different Egyptian dance traditions and terminology: folkloric, beladi, Raks Assaya, shamadan, etc.

I am the teacher, so of course it is my responsibility to educate them, but save for one or two of my students, there seems to be very little interest in these things.

I am looking for some ideas to help stimulate their interest. Egyptian music and dance is so rich and fascinating, and there is so much more for them to explore, but suspect that if I just played Bellydance Superstars II and III forever, they would be as happy as clams.

I offer many workshops at my studio, often taught by other instructors, but my own troupe members are the least interested among my students.

One idea is to host a monthly educational get-together at my studio: show performance DVDs that demonstrate different dances, talk about music, costuming, singers, legendary dancers, etc. I might have more success than with workshops, since it would be free and have a social element to it.

I could just be setting myself up for disappointment, but feel that it could be worth a try, at least for a few months.

Have you had problems fostering interest in your troupe members?

To what extent do you incorporate some of this information into your normal weekly classes? Are you already doing that? If not, maybe that could be a place to start?

You could always urge them to come to Northern Lights to hear my lecture on Dance in Egyptian Cinema later this month....

I know of a couple of troupe leaders here in LA who require their dancers to not only take a certain number if classes per week in addition to troupe rehearsals and classes, but to also attend a number of workshops. I know one in particular who usually leaves which workshops open to the individuals to choose, but some are more highly recommended than others.

Not sure if you can implement this within your troupe or not, but it is a suggestion.

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by shaia

One idea is to host a monthly educational get-together at my studio: show performance DVDs that demonstrate different dances, talk about music, costuming, singers, legendary dancers, etc. I might have more success than with workshops, since it would be free and have a social element to it.

This sounds like a great idea to me. Friends of mine like to get together for belly dance movie night from time to time. A pot luck with videos and music is fun and then you can jump on the captive audience aspect to insert some education.

If they're not already big on learning these things, I would definitely play up the movie night aspect of it though.

Originally Posted by shaia

One idea is to host a monthly educational get-together at my studio: show performance DVDs that demonstrate different dances, talk about music, costuming, singers, legendary dancers, etc. I might have more success than with workshops, since it would be free and have a social element to it.

I think this is a great idea! One of my most favorite workshops was the one where you hosted Mark Balahadia, and we crowded around your living room with pot luck while he did a lecture on Golden Age BDers. ..g.:

Like Shaia suggested, in our class we have different topics that are covered every week. Sometimes Laura brings a small TV or her laptop to show us videos relating to the topic. It always seems to go over really well with everyone, and it's nice to have variety in our classes.

I love to learn things, and I even think it would be cool to have like little quizzes and stuff (I retain things better when I *have* to remember them), but I'm sure not everyone would be interested in something like that.

If you decided to do the monthly get-together and you need help with anything, just let me know!

Stephanie

Sorry that I'm jumping into this thread a bit late! I've recently been working on this with the members of my troupe as well, so I was interested to see what others are doing.

I recently assigned each troupe member a small "research" project, along with the date that she should be prepared to spend 3-5 minutes telling us all what she learned. My goal is to not only have each member broaden their dance knowledge, but also spend time learning about where to find the information. Last night was our first "presentation," and it went great!

But I also really like the idea of holding a monthly get together that's social AND educational. Let us know how it goes!

PepperLotus: What a great idea! When/if I am involved in a troupe again I will definitely be stealing it.

My own rant that is vaguely on topic: I was previously in a mostly amateur troupe, and it was almost IMPOSSIBLE to get members to continue to improve. It seemed like since they had come up through the classes they thought they were experts and didn't need to worry about continuing education. Virtually no one went away to attend workshops (now, we're fairly remote and it is very expensive to travel away, but there were people who *could* have afforded it. We also talked about fund raising for this purpose, but no one could be bothered with that).

Not only that, but when few and far between workshops were hosted locally, again very few troupe members actually went. They were all really excited about outside instructors coming - until it came to actually signing up and paying for them. Workshops were filled with students from regular.

It was also very difficult to get people to practice at home. We eventually asked everyone to practice a new choreography for *one* hour that week, before the next practice. Less than half could manage this. In general skills got *worse* from the time they joined the troupe.

I find this very frustrating. It seems very selfish to me - like they are not thinking about their audiences and entertainment value. I feel like they owe it to their audiences to provide the very best show possible. You are asking people to take time (and money) out to watch you do your thing - it had better be entertaining!

Gah, it feels good to get that off my chest. I hope you don't mind the thread takeover. I'll shush up now.

It's very common for others to be less obsessed/interested in the myriad areas there are for learning and discussion related to this dance that we all love. In my classes I structure the term around a particular subject and "drop in" bits of information that I have researched before-hand.

Most of my students are sooo uninterested in these aspects it hurts, but I still drop em in anyway. If someone is interested they'll take it in and be inspired to find out more. If they come to class/troupe practice for fun, they won't.

Remember that their brain will still store it, they just won't be able to answer you if you ask them what they know.

Originally Posted by Parianna

In general skills got *worse* from the time they joined the troupe.

I find this very frustrating. It seems very selfish to me - like they are not thinking about their audiences and entertainment value. I feel like they owe it to their audiences to provide the very best show possible. You are asking people to take time (and money) out to watch you do your thing - it had better be entertaining!

I'd disband a troupe who behaved like this. This behavior is very juvenile - they want to be the center of attention, but don't want to earn the right to be there.

Originally Posted by nimeue

Most of my students are sooo uninterested in these aspects it hurts, but I still drop em in anyway. If someone is interested they'll take it in and be inspired to find out more. If they come to class/troupe practice for fun, they won't.

And you never can tell - someone might START OUT being uninterested, but then as you share your enthusiasm for the topic and sprinkle those tidbits in class, SOME of the students will start to think, "Hmmm, this background info is more interesting than I realized!"

Originally Posted by *Shira*

And you never can tell - someone might START OUT being uninterested, but then as you share your enthusiasm for the topic and sprinkle those tidbits in class, SOME of the students will start to think, "Hmmm, this background info is more interesting than I realized!"

I've found it difficult to strike the right balance - to me, it's all fascinating so blah blah blah.

I start seeing eyes glaze, I figure ok shut up already...l;,

How do you judge this? People want to have fun when they come to class - what we think is fun, ie learning, studying, practicing - may not be what THEY think is fun -

?

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

I've found it difficult to strike the right balance - to me, it's all fascinating so blah blah blah.

I start seeing eyes glaze, I figure ok shut up already...l;,

How do you judge this? People want to have fun when they come to class - what we think is fun, ie learning, studying, practicing - may not be what THEY think is fun -

?

That's my point though. Drop in the tidbits and see who bites. I usually excuse myself at the beginning of a mini-lecture and warn them that it's coming. Permission is then applied to those who require it that they can tune out and for those that want to know more they get permission to listen. Keep it short, interesting, and then get on with what you know they love interspersed with harder objectives. Then no-one gets bored and everyone gets stretched.

Originally Posted by nimeue

That's my point though. Drop in the tidbits and see who bites. I usually excuse myself at the beginning of a mini-lecture and warn them that it's coming. Permission is then applied to those who require it that they can tune out and for those that want to know more they get permission to listen. Keep it short, interesting, and then get on with what you know they love interspersed with harder objectives. Then no-one gets bored and everyone gets stretched.

OK. I will try "short."

..g.:

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I'd disband a troupe who behaved like this. This behavior is very juvenile - they want to be the center of attention, but don't want to earn the right to be there.

Yes, this is exactly it! Unfortunately this troupe also suffered from a very unclear leadership - I was one of the people that was sort-of in charge, except not really. This was also frustrating. ,m::

Hence this is a group I am no longer involved in!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

And you never can tell - someone might START OUT being uninterested, but then as you share your enthusiasm for the topic and sprinkle those tidbits in class, SOME of the students will start to think, "Hmmm, this background info is more interesting than I realized!"

When I have taught, I also drop in short tidbits - and I have had people tell me that because *I* am obviously excited by this extra info, it makes it more interesting! I try to relate it directly to what we are doing at the time ("these glute shimmies were developed by Suhaila, who is....").