Thread: clip of me dancing at restaurant

When I was starting out dancing I searched the net for clips of dancer at restaurants but could only find a few. Since I lived in an area that had NO restaurants with dancers I really was at a lost. So I’m up loading this for all thus dancers who can’t get to a restaurant show. This show was fun, but I’m starting to lose interest in restaurant gigs. I don’t know why, its just whooo, I don’t know I can’t explain it. Anyone feel this way?






[ame="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6991669514849053972"]restaurant.mpg[/ame]

Thanks so much for posting this. Part of my troupe is the opening act for a fund raiser, and it is at a resturant. It's been a while since I have been to a show, so I could use a review.

Great clip! As I can only speak from the standpoint of someone who is seated and contemplating the hummus, I can tell you that I love dancers at restaurants! It gives patrons a close personal experience with the performers that you can't get sitting down below a stage.

I can see how the benefit for the restaurant customer can pose real difficulties for the dancer. The restricted movement area, the passing waitstaff, the real possibility of dragging your prized veil through someone's tagine.

Please understand that for every person who ignores or even criticizes your routine while you pass by their chair, you ARE making a POSITIVE impact! I can tell you that my personal passion for Middle East music and dance was ignited by the live performances of new friends at restaurants. I started buying CD's, my wife started taking bellydance classes, we met new friends, and I picked up a drum.

Never underestimate the influence that you have as a public performer to mold and shape people's perceptions in a positive way!

Larry - great story!

hey, I recognize that restaurant...you're in my neck of the woods, have we met?

And I totally understand any and all frustrations with working in restaurants.

Nice one, Toria!! That crowd was totally into your show! Thanks for posting this - when I first started restaurant dancing I hard a hard time finding clips, too. This one would have been perfect.

I don't do restaurant gigs anymore, probably for the same reasons as you and many other dancers out there: low pay, dealing with owners who don't respect you, icky change rooms, and doing the same type of show over and over for people who often don't "get it"....but doing those gigs really made me a better, more professional dancer in the end. It was all worth it.

I wanted to ask you...what was the name of that second song you danced to, the taxim balady? I really liked it!

toria - there is this move that would look great on you with your long body and long arms. Bending one knee a lot, leaning your body over bent knee a lot. foot faces forwards, knee faces forwards. Experiment :-)

Originally Posted by shems

hey, I recognize that restaurant...you're in my neck of the woods, have we met?

And I totally understand any and all frustrations with working in restaurants.

Hi I looked at your pics I don't think we have met. But then again I did just move to this area in June. I'm wait to get out and meet this bellydance community, but every event seems to cost so much, and I'm so broke ,m::

Originally Posted by Asra*

Nice one, Toria!! That crowd was totally into your show! Thanks for posting this - when I first started restaurant dancing I hard a hard time finding clips, too. This one would have been perfect.

I don't do restaurant gigs anymore, probably for the same reasons as you and many other dancers out there: low pay, dealing with owners who don't respect you, icky change rooms, and doing the same type of show over and over for people who often don't "get it"....but doing those gigs really made me a better, more professional dancer in the end. It was all worth it.

I wanted to ask you...what was the name of that second song you danced to, the taxim balady? I really liked it!

HI thanks, The little crowd was in to it that night, the song is called "new beledi" I its on the bellydance superstars 3 CD

Thanks!

It's your old teacher on the shore. Nice work.. You know I am proud of you.

Nefertiti

Great clip!

Toria,

I think it's a natural progression to lose interest in restaurant work. It's happened to nearly every dancer I know. There's this maturing process that goes on...suddenly you just seem to outgrow it.

Originally Posted by kharis_UK

Toria,

I think it's a natural progression to lose interest in restaurant work. It's happened to nearly every dancer I know. There's this maturing process that goes on...suddenly you just seem to outgrow it.

Yup I second that. For me it was the strain of having to be so damn cheerful all the time...g.:

That's interesting. I figured you were either a restaurant-lover or hater, not that it was a continuum.

Currently I love it and I'd much rather perform in the restaurant than at a hafli or on a stage.

Depends on the music for me--I'd rather perform shaabi in a restaurant, I'd rather perform raqs sharqi on a stage.

yeah, I guess not. But I'm sure we'll run into each other sometime. Welcome to the area...g.:

Originally Posted by toria_dances

Hi I looked at your pics I don't think we have met. But then again I did just move to this area in June. I'm wait to get out and meet this bellydance community, but every event seems to cost so much, and I'm so broke ,m::

Originally Posted by Candi

Yup I second that. For me it was the strain of having to be so damn cheerful all the time...g.:

Hahaha.... yes. I often used to think, "Oh, f...k it, I've got to go and smile at people for 20 mins...."

OHMIGOD my old ( former) tecaher!!!!. glad that your on this site now. I miss all you guys ..cr.:

Originally Posted by nefertitibellydance

It's your old teacher on the shore. Nice work.. You know I am proud of you.

Nefertiti

Toria,I just have to say that you are so beautiful and that I wished I could go watch you dance live where I live!:)

Toria I really enjoyed your clip and it would be a loss for all restaurant visitors and patrons if you decide to stop dancing at restaurants!

B

nice clip! you look lovely.

i find that restaurant-dancing-burnout comes in waves for me. a lot depends on where the restaurant falls on the annoying-crap-o-meter. if they treat the dancers well the burn out happens more slowly.

when i don't do restaurants i miss it and when i do them regularly, it begins to feel like a chore...

Originally Posted by toria_dances

.... but every event seems to cost so much, and I'm so broke ,m::

The restaurant in question has lovely staff and wonderful food...but some of the worst pay in the area.
$60/20 minute show compared to $85-$120/20 minute show.

In terms of burnout- it happens more slowly when you are paid fairly. You can also put more back into your dancing...which then reflects even better on the restaurant. It's a win-win situation. ..g.:

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

The restaurant in question has lovely staff and wonderful food...but some of the worst pay in the area.
$60/20 minute show compared to $85-$120/20 minute show.

In terms of burnout- it happens more slowly when you are paid fairly. You can also put more back into your dancing...which then reflects even better on the restaurant. It's a win-win situation. ..g.:

Wow, I wish we could get prices here up into that range. I wonder how the general cost of living compares in your area?

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Wow, I wish we could get prices here up into that range. I wonder how the general cost of living compares in your area?

The rates were the same ($60) for over 15 years. (ouch!) We've worked REALLY hard in the last few years to get them up. Where the professional paying places are is fair considering all the work and investments that go into it. More and more places are paying decently. Those places also generally treat us with respect.

Cost of living varies so much within one region (I just looked it up), so it's hard to tell.

I CAN tell you I just heard about a nearby place that pays $60 for 3 x 10 minute sets over the course of 1.5 hours. $60 for an hour and a half of the dancers time when the rates are $85 and UP for 20 minutes. I actually felt nauseous and didn't know what to say. What I was thinking would have been counterproductive, so it's good I shut up.
She of course had all the typical excuses that all boil down to "I want to dance so badly I will do so at the cost of the dance community and here's a big FU to those of you who dance full time."
Where I take classes this person would be a beginner level student. She's completely unaware of her level and is teaching.
We have enough discussions locally that anyone who is "out there" should know better.
(rant over)

Toria, I go through spurts with restaurant dancing. A lot depends on the restaurant, the clientele, the pay (I echo what Samira said - when you're well paid, it makes the burnout a lot less frequent!), and the setup for performance. Sometimes other things make up for a less-than-ideal dance set up -- I used to dance at a place that was basically a hole in the wall, but the audience was ENORMOUSLY appreciative and I got to dance with a wonderful musician. It took me a long time to burn out there.

My solution is to take breaks. If I ain't feeling it, then I'm doing a disservice to my audience by being there. I'm probably NOT dancing more often than I am these days, but I appreciate it more when I do.

- Lucy

Thats true Samira sometimes I feel like it's not worth it with all the money I pour in to this dance and I'm getting very little money out of it. It very stressful. Hope the rates go up soon.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

The restaurant in question has lovely staff and wonderful food...but some of the worst pay in the area.
$60/20 minute show compared to $85-$120/20 minute show.

In terms of burnout- it happens more slowly when you are paid fairly. You can also put more back into your dancing...which then reflects even better on the restaurant. It's a win-win situation. ..g.:

Originally Posted by toria_dances

Thats true Samira sometimes I feel like it's not worth it with all the money I pour in to this dance and I'm getting very little money out of it. It very stressful. Hope the rates go up soon.

Ownership has changed hands and there have been new negotiations.
The rates are going up there starting Jan 1st.
Not as much as we'd like, but it's a start.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Ownership has changed hands and there have been new negotiations.
The rates are going up there starting Jan 1st.
Not as much as we'd like, but it's a start.

Samira will let us know when the rates reach $100 ..g.: It will be worth it some day, Toria, don't worry!