Thread: Lecturing for the university dance dep. Updated!

....oh crap!

So I was asked to give a lecture and do a little demo for a class at my UC's dance department, and was just looking for some general advice. What's nice is that the instructor knows this is last-minute for me and not looking for something *too* academic, and is more interested in my experience as a dancer and how the dance has evolved in the US and for me-totally fun stuff to talk about. ..g.: So here's my break-down (I have about an hour):

*A brief history of dancing in Egypt
*Another brief history of how it got started here in CA, which leads to
*My training in AmCab style and my own experience and love in Egyptian style vs. what I perform and what the class has probably seen at a restaurant
*Q&A

And then she also wants a demo. But where should I put it? At the end? And it's informal, so what do I wear? I'm planning on looking nice, with a bit more makeup and nicer hair than an ordinary school day, but is it ok to just wear nice yoga pants and a crop-top? Even to lecture? Ahhh...help, please!

I've done this several times. Can you get a powerpoint demo behind you, with photographs/illustrations for key points?

I wore a regular costume with a galabiya over it. I did my spiel and then broke for a demo (Raqs Sharqi style) then did a sort of photo slide show of various dancers throughout history and pictures from Orientalist artists while I sipped water and caught my breath. Then I went back to talking, broke for questions (there weren't too many) and then did a drum solo at the end, after which I passed out notes for what I'd just spoken about, while I caught my breath again :)

Please don't perform in practice clothes. Personally I think that sets the wrong message. Just pull on your galabiya each time after you dance. That looks professional and still sort of "ethnic" at the same time.

I think the end is a good place for your performance. That way, it will serve as illustration of what you were talking about, and you can even introduce it (if you want to) by saying, "Here are some key points to look for in what I'm doing..."

As for what to wear, I like your idea of yoga pants and crop top, though I'd probably add a hip scarf. I like the idea of NOT wearing a typical costume, but instead choosing attractive dance classroom attire - I think that for this audience, it makes you look more like a serious dancer and less like an adult playing dress-up.

Thanks for the feedback, two different opinions about what to wear. I guess I am leaning towards the nice practice clothes (plus hipscarf) for the reasons you mentioned, Shira...that's how I was feeling. These are all dance major's and professors, and while I like the powerpoint idea for showing what dancers wear, I guess I didn't want to haul in my own because I didn't want to come off as "see my costume...isn't it pretty!?!" type of thing.

I will probably put the demo at the end, but leave time for more Q's just in case I get something about the movement instead of the dance culturally.

Thanks again!

I think Lauren did something similar to this. She'll be able give you some advice also.
Tell us all about it when you're done. Go Tabitha, Go Tabitha!!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I like the idea of NOT wearing a typical costume, but instead choosing attractive dance classroom attire - I think that for this audience, it makes you look more like a serious dancer and less like an adult playing dress-up.

Interesting -- to me that tracks as "student" rather than professional, but I'm one of those people who HATE to see a performance costume consist of a skirt and a hip scarf. My own prejudice.

If you feel that you would be more comfortable in nice practice wear with hip scarf then go for it, but may I suggest you point out that this is exactly what it is, practice wear. Maybe bring along a costume to show the class, or photos explaining styles. I also like the powerpoint idea and notes at the end.

If I was sitting in the lecture, I would love to see the style of costumes. For those less familiar with belly dance it would add to their understanding if and when they see a live performance.

Congratulations, I think it is wonderful that you will be doing this.

Thanks again! I'll look for Lauren's thread...I think I remember it.

I think that's an excellent idea to point out that what I'm wearing is only practice wear.

And you'll all know how it goes real soon, because it's this Wednesday!

I'm on the side of wearing a real costume with a coverup over it when you're speaking. it might help to imagine a dancer in a different art form doing a demonstration - would a ballet dancer or flamenco dancer do a demonstration in practice gear?

our costumes are so beautiful and such an important part of the dance. authentic costuming is a very legitimate part of a lecture and demonstration of middle eastern dance.

when I've done college lectures and demonstration (for the ethnomusicology dept rather than the dance dept) I wore full costume and gave the talk first, danced at the end to demonstrat what I talked about, and then had a q&a. have fun!

Ok, for those of you who have done it in full costume, did you have full makeup and hair to go with it?

I'm a little worried because I'll be doing the lecture immediately after 2 hrs of ballet, 1 hour of pilates and 1 hour modern and don't know how the face will hold up for a all-out performance. Or I guess I could just skip class. I think I'm feeling overwhelmed now....

Mine was different, I didn't lecture much at all, I actually taught classes to the dance majors.

I think I'd probably wear a (simple) costume and galibeya, do the lecture (preferably with an illustrative clip or two, the dance majors where I taught REALLY liked Rachel Brice plus Lucy's Egyptian style for contrast) then perform.

That way you're not out of breath!

I wouldn't wear full-face for an afternoon performance, especially after a full day like that.

If you'd be happier/more comfortable in practice wear with a hip scarf, I think that's just fine. Maybe bring a costume for show & tell. I did that with my group and they really enjoyed passing around a heavy fringed bra/belt set.

ETA: Don't feel overwhelmed. These are all just ideas, you don't have to use them all. If you just talk to them and then dance for them, it'll be wonderful. Anything else (video clips, costuming) is gravy.

The important thing is that the dance department is taking our art form seriously enough to give it a mention in the curriculum, and a whole new generation of 'real' dancers -- who could, in the future, be putting together major shows and companies -- will know that 'belly dance' is more than just shaking your a$$. I LOVE that they're interested in having you speak!!!

I've done this sort of thing at a couple of local colleges and high schools as well. Typically, when they've wanted some kind of performance/demo I *have* worn a costume of one form or another because dance practice wear seemed, well, almost inappropriately informal for the presentation.

That said, my preference in those situations has usually been to wear something like a beledi dress or saidi/galibaya style dress and just show pictures of raks sharki wear (exceptions have been, say, when they explicitly requested the "belly dance" look as something the students would be familiar with to start the presentation, and then have me give the talk--always in a coverup of course--to fill them in on all that stuff they probably didn't realize, etc.) I do wear makeup and do my hair, but not as much makeup as I would typically wear for performance--I guess I would call it street makeup with slightly more emphasized eyes.

All that said...if you're more comfortable in the practice wear, it's really your call. If, for example, you're a member of the student community at the University and you know a lot of the people in the class, I could see where it would feel weird to show up in a costume...or if you don't have something more simple/covered like a galibaya or beledi dress, I can see where it would feel odd to run around campus in a bedla, ;-) The most important thing is that you feel comfortable, confident and respectful of the art and the people to whom you are presenting.

Good luck!

Oops...I'd missed the post where you said the thing about having yoga, ballet, etc. before this class, so yeah, sounds like you're involved in the program there, eh?

Yeah, I'd definitely say don't wear a bedla, and keeping it simple is good (for your sanity and their perceptions). Still, a galibaya or simple beledi dress would be fair game, if you wanted to. It's just the "uniform" of this ethinic dance, if you will, without being overly flashy or "look at my sexy belly!" Besides, changing into something like that (or even "fancier" bd practice wear) might give you a chance to change out of your sweaty ballet-yoga-modern clothes, which might be good in terms of making you feel more fresh, in charge, and "performance ready" as a presenter. :-)

I did it! And I'm so glad I did. Everybody was great, lots of questions and they were really interested in how restaurant dancing worked. I feel so grown up!

YAYYYYYYY!! Good work!