Thread: Setting the ground rules for hafla dancers

So, a year ago I started organizing the Madison Bellydance Alliance hafla. We've had two so far. We have a small venue -- it's on the "party" side of the continuum, not the "performance" side; we have no stage, no professional musicians or sound system, no lights. It's very casual and we have a lot of fun.

Having had two of them, the word is starting to get around. So now I'm being approached by dancers I don't personally know who wish to perform. Yay! Great!

But also... now what? When I knew all the dancers personally, all I had to say was "keep it under seven minutes" and we'd be good. I wasn't worried about "coffee table acts" or overly revealing costumes or anything offensive occurring. But now I feel that I ought to be giving each potential performer a set of ground rules of some type. (For example, a dancer told me she had a choreography of "the dance of the seven veils", and I became a little uneasy... because sometimes that means "stripping inside a thin veneer of dance"... and I wasn't sure how to ask her to clarify without offending her.)

So, is there a nice way to say: "Please, don't be an idiot. Keep your clothes on. Don't light anything on fire. No lap dances. Dance safely"? I could use some good text here!

Thanks.

Dear Dancer:

Thank you for your interest in performing at our Hafla! We are very excited that you want to join us.

There are a few rules which I would like to go over first. (It is unfortunate that I feel that this is necessary, but there have been past precedence which makes it so.)

1) No open flames.

2) Appropriate costuming for a family friendly enviornment.

3) Music and dance style also appropriate for a family enironment.

4) When dancing, please be aware of all safty issues and proceedures. It is your responibility to know these.

(Add as you see fit. . .)

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Dear Dancer:

Thank you for your interest in performing at our Hafla! We are very excited that you want to join us.

There are a few rules which I would like to go over first. (It is unfortunate that I feel that this is necessary, but there have been past precedence which makes it so.)

1) No open flames.

2) Appropriate costuming for a family friendly enviornment.

3) Music and dance style also appropriate for a family enironment.

4) When dancing, please be aware of all safty issues and proceedures. It is your responibility to know these.

(Add as you see fit. . .)

excellent!

Most events I have been to also ask you to limit your performance to 5 minutes or less as so many people want to perform.

I think it is great that you are open to having others dance in your hafla. I know and do appreciate it when I am allowed when I ask to participate... But one thing I did notice... Their or your students come first... If there is an open dance spot then not a problem, but if allowing other dancers to dance starts cutting in to the time your students perform then I would take a long hesitation. I would not shorten my students sets to allow others to dance in my hafla.... They pay me to teach and this is still part of the teaching experience.... getting performance time which can be very limited for students... but if it doesn't compromise your students time then I say yeah go for it, set some ground rules....p::

Originally Posted by Lucinia

I think it is great that you are open to having others dance in your hafla. I know and do appreciate it when I am allowed when I ask to participate... But one thing I did notice... Their or your students come first... If there is an open dance spot then not a problem, but if allowing other dancers to dance starts cutting in to the time your students perform then I would take a long hesitation. I would not shorten my students sets to allow others to dance in my hafla.... They pay me to teach and this is still part of the teaching experience.... getting performance time which can be very limited for students... but if it doesn't compromise your students time then I say yeah go for it, set some ground rules....p::

Well, I love being mistaken for a dance teacher. But I am merely a humble student myself. In fact, those of us who run the hafla consist of me, my husband (the emcee), two other dance students, and a local drummer. So luckily we don't have to balance people against each other in quite that way. Many of the dancers in Madison are still a bit inexperienced and shy, we have to coax them to dance, and the pros often have competing gigs... so if somebody pops up and says "Meee!" we generally have an open slot. (Particularly this year... sadly we are scheduled smack against Tribal Revolution in Chicago, so all our Tribal dancers won't be there--but it was that or schedule against opening weekend of ren faire.)

However, I can see a time when we might be arranging some student shows, considering my teacher is opening a new studio this month, and her classes are packed. In that case I think I will keep in mind your comment.

Originally Posted by tigerb

Well, I love being mistaken for a dance teacher. But I am merely a humble student myself. In fact, those of us who run the hafla consist of me, my husband (the emcee), two other dance students, and a local drummer.


However, I can see a time when we might be arranging some student shows, considering my teacher is opening a new studio this month, and her classes are packed. In that case I think I will keep in mind your comment.

I was a hafla organiser years before I was a teacher so my students don't expect any more time alloted than the next local class. They know all they have to do is tell me promptly they want a spot ( they find out about the hafla first after all) and it's theirs!
1. I have a 5min group rule, 4 min soloists
2. I ask for details of style ..as far as they are concerned it is so I can programme the acts appropriately.
3. Newcomer soloists have some priority
4. There are to be no under 16s ( we are on licenced premises!)
5. Non dancers are welcome but reminded the performers are amateurs and their friends and family so they should be told to be supportive through messages from teachers.
6. This maybe an adult event but it is usually held in a hall under the firm gaze of Our Lady or a venerable Saint and I would like to have the venue again so if veils come off, there's still plenty inderneath!.p::
7.There's NO smoking ( I won't have to emphasis that at July 1st)
8. When I'm asked what theme the party takes, I say "Bellydance" even if it's Halloween.

Theatre will be different (hopefully in 2008)...I am trying to work out a way to ensure quality of dance and costume .

Originally Posted by lizajuk

I am trying to work out a way to ensure quality of dance and costume .

Could you perhaps require that first timers (i.e. ones you've not seen before) be limited to 2 or 3 minutes max? It's bad enough having to watch bad dancing, but it often seems the worst ones dance the longest! If you're willing to tell some people "no", maybe you could even require a video or recommendation (from someone you trust) and pictures of themselves. Pictures won't tell you much about their dancing, but it would give you an idea about their costuming.

Our haflas are pretty much first come, first served. Most of the dancers are known, but if they are new we know their teacher and her style. I agree with the points brought up before, especially emphasis on family friendly performance, type of dance, and time limits. Perhaps you could decide in advance how many acts you'd like, subtract the 'known' performances and leave the rest to be filled as people ask about them. Since haflas are the primary venue for students to make their debut, our students are encouraged to sign up. It's a supportive environment since the audience is made up of family, friends, and other dancers. As much as I love to watch an enthusiastic beginner, I don't necessarily want to watch 8 in a row; just as I don't want to watch four cane performances in a row. As the organizer, you need to balance groups and solos, first timers and old pros, and cabaret and folkloric. Of course there will always be unknowns, and maybe some dancers will slip in that shouldn't or be placed in less than advantageous slots. The bottom line is that it's a hafla and it should be fun - for everyone, including you! The best you can do is laugh about it and go on to the next event.

It's so useful to hear what you all have to say on this topic. I don't generally have many issues at the local community haflas I hold in Vegas. The tone and the ambiance has been fairly consistenet; however, every now and then there are little issues that creep up. I had a performer who had danced at my event previously shock everyone with a fairly risque number with a bit of "strip-tease" quality to it. Truly, blew me away as I didn't see it coming at all. *sigh*...so I'm much more aware of these issues than ever before.

I don't have much to add, but thanks for everyone's thoughts as it is helpful.

Samira
www.bellydanceintensive.com

I was at a student show once in which a beginning dancer, after about 30 seconds of the basic beginner hip circles and arm ripples, spread her legs wide and veered into a very different genre of dance altogether. A friend and I started discussing later how a teacher would prevent that kind of thing. I mean, with the media images that bombard everyone, especially young people, every day, I'm not sure if saying something non-specific about being lady-like or family friendly is going to be clear to everyone. I started joking about how I'd make specific rules that would spell out every move they were allowed or not allowed to do. I started a list of rules, although I only got to 3. Here's what I sent my friend:

1. Feet should be no further than 2 feet apart for the majority of the performance, and whenever you take a wider stance than 2 feet to execute a move such as a large hip circle, the knees must stay straight.

2. When performing any type of backbend, standing or kneeling, the crotch must never be directed at the audience.

3. Vigorous shoulder shimmies may be used as an accent, but should not contine beyond 1 full measure of the music.

OK, I would never really be that anal to hand out rules for every single body part in a performance, but honestly, after one or two alarming performances, I would be tempted.

If you have any time constraints/limitations, you may want to announce that up front, so that no one dancer exceeds her time. I know that for the MECDA hafla parties, the time limit is generally 10 minutes maximum.

whenever you take a wider stance than 2 feet to execute a move such as a large hip circle, the knees must stay straight.

I'm sorry, but that's bizarre. How is bending the knee to accommodate the width of the stance (so you can keep your hipline flat) not "family friendly"?

I decided also to start running hafla's from September, every 2 month.
Have already the rules and they are given to students and dancers.

We have 12 dances at each night.

For group choreo's max length of song is 5.5 min.
Solo's
Students of level, I and II are due to dance up to 4 min songs.
Advanced students or professionals up to 6 min songs.

To prevent my self from trouble the row is due a lottery, with respect to groups - solo - group - solo.
Every group or soloist is announched before, as stage name, style of dance, name of song.
After the first 6 performances there is a 30 min break for party dancing.
We will start 8 night and we finish 10.30, every performer have to be at the venue at 7.30 the latest.
The music must be provided by title/style or CD one month before to avoid double songs. In case of disarmony between the performers a lottery will decide who will dance the song.
Since the bellydance community in Greece is very friendly Teachers are welcomed to bring a group, and they dance as first of the second set of dancers. The specific teacher is dancing the final song.

Now for my students, they have to decide the song they are gonna dance 1 month and 3 weeks before the Hafla, its like their home/dance work to dance it.
From each class, 2 beginers, 2 intermediet, 2 semi-professionals, 2 professionals 1 dancer is to dance to the next Hafla and its decided by lottery, if the specific dancer dont want to perform we proceed to next lottery (damn i think i'm gonna open a LOTTERY place lol).

Smoking is allowed lol (we are in Greece) and Shisha also.

Costume rules:
No Commando allowed at any case, the event is family friendly so respect it.
All dancers agree that the Hafla will be filmed from the Dance Company.
Photos are allowed from audience.

I guess every country is different, this is us lol

Maria Aya,r:;

Originally Posted by Samira_dncr

It's so useful to hear what you all have to say on this topic. I don't generally have many issues at the local community haflas I hold in Vegas. The tone and the ambiance has been fairly consistenet; however, every now and then there are little issues that creep up. I had a performer who had danced at my event previously shock everyone with a fairly risque number with a bit of "strip-tease" quality to it. Truly, blew me away as I didn't see it coming at all. *sigh*...so I'm much more aware of these issues than ever before.

I don't have much to add, but thanks for everyone's thoughts as it is helpful.

Samira
www.bellydanceintensive.com

Generally speaking, Samira, you do a great job of accomadating everyone. :)

I understand about the last hafla, too...I was pretty shocked as well! .w.:

I wonder if people letting you know what they're dancing to, and a brief description would work? I know a lot of the performers just kind of show up and hand you music...but perhaps in light of that, and with all of the discussion that's been going on on the yahoo group, perhaps a new "rule" could be set up?
For example: I'm planning to to my veil piece that I did at my very first hafla, with the drum solo as well...I may wear my new costume again, or my black Abla dress.

That would give you a little bit of a clue anyway...

Just a bit of a suggestion... :)



TigerB, I think the form letter that tahiradancer posted would be a great jumping off point for you...emphasising family friendly a few times... :)

when are your haflas? next time I'm back in the midwest, I'd love to come out and see one! (maybe dance, too!)

~Yasmin Diab