Thread: non pro solo performance opportunities?

aside from competitions, is there such a thing? I've been dancing for 2 years and it is becoming a bigger part of my life. I did my first solo performance today at jewel of sierra (it was a blast and I placed 3rd in sapphire, yay!!!!), but now I am interested in non-competitive solo performance opportunities for intermediate dancers that haven't gone pro yet. Since I'm not a pro, I don't expect to get paid, I just want to dance for people :)

I just moved to the Seattle/Tacoma, WA area a few months ago and am looking for opportunities there.

would love to hear ideas!

I assume you mean unpaid.
Over here in the UK ( and it seems it is very similar elsewhere in the West where bellydancers perform) dancers either get paid jobs in restuarants or clubs, corporate events,in promotions or a private parties. Those same dancers may join their un-commerical sisters at haflas,festivals and in theatre. These tend to be unpiad unless you are a guest dancer.
Because as an older woman,I don't do the "agency/restuarant thing",any opportunity for paid employment apart fom teaching comes from talks and demos in the likes of social clubs and rest homes.
If your teacher holds haflas or performance platforms of any kind,ask her if you can take part as a solo artist. If she doesn't ask her to let you know about events and apply to take part.
It's often been said on this forum, being an amateur doesn't mean you can't behave like a professional and that there aren't many pros out there who are not worthy of either the name or their pay.

Solo performing opportunities for non-pros are usually limited to other dance events--student recitals, workshop shows, competitions, and haflas. In some areas, there may be opportunities to do community festivals, educational outreach events for schools and scout troupes, shows at nursing homes, renaissance faires, etc., but before you start soliciting those gigs, you need to research what other dancers in your town are already doing. If it took years of campaigning to convince sponsors to pay them for gigs like these, they will most definitely not appreciate if you jump into the mix and begin offering to do them for free again. Yes, it does further your career to have those chances to perform, and you do need a place to hone your performing skills, but someday, you may want to get compensated for your dancing, and once you let someone NOT pay you, it is very difficult to reverse and convince them that you are worth a salary later.

Of course, you may live in an area with a large enough market that pro dancers consider teaching debke to second graders slumming, and they may not care if you take those lesser-prestige gigs. On the other hand, times are tough all over. As a dance community, we are coming off a wave of popularity that brought a lot of new students into our classes a few years ago, and with the current state of the economy, most markets are oversaturated with many, many more dancers looking for jobs than jobs to be had. A pro dancer who felt that dancing for a pittance/honorarium at the old folks' home was beneath her five years ago might be quite happy to get that gig and $40 now.

Go to as many dance events as possible, sign up whenever there are shows that have open rosters, and talk to other dancers. Two years isn't particularly long to have been dancing before hanging out a shingle, so you have lots of time to put out feelers and learn what your area has to offer and what your market can support.

Hi there! I'm also in the Seattle Tacoma area. Hasani does a hafla in the Tacoma area four times a year, you call in ahead of time and get a performance spot. You perform for a large audience on stage made up of mostly dancers, it's a very fun experience and great for student performance opportunities.

Saqra also has some live music student performance nights that would be worth checking out.

I don't know where you are in the Seattle/Tacoma area, but feel free to give me a shout via PM if you've got questions.

hey, sorry for the delayed post but I want to say thanks to all of you ladies for your suggestions. I actually signed up for an open dance night with Saqra for next weekend! so excited.

and yea, I meant unpaid, as I'm learning :)

I also have a private party performance next week, but that's a very informal thing with close friends. yaaay!