Thread: how did you know the restaurant scene was for 'you'?

was it just a matter of wanting to dance more? make some extra money? or something else?

sorry if this topic has been beaten to death, related links are welcome but i couldn't find anything on the topic of y exactly did one choose to dance as a part-time thing (i guess you could say), particulary in a restaurant setting.

Originally Posted by zfejzic

was it just a matter of wanting to dance more? make some extra money? or something else?

sorry if this topic has been beaten to death, related links are welcome but i couldn't find anything on the topic of y exactly did one choose to dance as a part-time thing (i guess you could say), particulary in a restaurant setting.

..l;, I fell a** backwards into it! I performed a solo at a hafla at our restaurant and afterwards the scheduling dancer & the manager both approached me and asked me if I would consider performing on a regular basis. I talked it over with hubby, and tried it out *once* and said I wouldn't do it regularly....then I did it again....and again...and again ..l;, And then I realized it pays for those lovely Bellas I like so much... and it gives me a chance to share joy with other people, and to hone my improv and interaction skills, to work with props, and, most importantly, just to get out and dance!!

cant find supporting article...

I just knew. When I was researching which teacher I wanted to take from, I went to a restaurant to watch a couple of dancers. And almost immediately when they entered, I felt really excited. I hadn't even had my first lesson yet, I had no idea how long it would take or even what it was all about, but I just KNEW that I wanted to do it!

I still remember the day -- 18 months later -- when my teacher and I were chatting as she packed her bag up after class and she looked at me over her shoulder and said 'Have you ever considered restaurant dancing? You have the personality for it!'

I was so happy -- but at the same time, I was thinking 'That's who I am? I have the personality of a professional bellydancer? What does that even MEAN?'

I think it took knowing that I am perhaps as much (if not more) an entertainer as I am a dancer.

Where else is there if you are a pro dancer? Lets face it the opportunities to perform are a bit limited if you want to make it a steady living. it seemed a natural thing for me to get into. I am an entertainer as much as a dancer which has given my career longevity.

I actually had no intention of performing when I started, and even hated doing the hafla-type shows I did in a student troupe. But then I started with a dance partner who had the restaurant goal and a teacher that gave me performance opportunities that were more my style.

I realized that my strength was being close to people and dancing with patrons rather than just in front of them. I still get really freaked out by big stage shows and haflas.

It's not for me. I like it because it gives me a chance to dance, but I've had too many bad experiences with restaurant owners...and nowadays tips are dwindling...I also don't like how late I have to stay up.

And I can't stand that awkward shy thing that some audience members (men) get when I try to engage the audience. I am tired of people looking down in their shwarma when I come around. And it's not my dancing or my personality, I think its the crowd...Anyway, that's why I am changing the focus of my marketing....

Originally Posted by LeylaFahada

I realized that my strength was being close to people and dancing with patrons rather than just in front of them. I still get really freaked out by big stage shows and haflas.

Me too Leyla! Though I go through periods of not liking restaurant dancing, I stay with it because I like entertaining people and being an entertainer. I crack jokes, have a few shticks, and am good about knowing when and how to do some good natured joking with an audience or when to avoid the shy ones.

It's a lot less about dancing and more about making sure everyone has fun, and the feeling I get when everyone applauds when I finish is a natural high. I like being a part of their celebrations for birthdays or bachelorette parties or anniversaries - and I always crack up thinking of how many photos I am in with the guest of honor.

Somewhere, someone is looking at a photo and going "Oh look, there's Aunt Sally with the bellydancer on her birthday! Remember how fun that night was?"

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

It's a lot less about dancing and more about making sure everyone has fun, and the feeling I get when everyone applauds when I finish is a natural high. I like being a part of their celebrations for birthdays or bachelorette parties or anniversaries - and I always crack up thinking of how many photos I am in with the guest of honor.
"

Very true. You really have to truly love people, and love to entertain. I love love LOVE to see someone happy after I've made them giggle or laugh or get up to dance. I love being a part of their family celebrations and getting to experience a few moments of the important parts of their lives for just a few minutes...it's so nice to be doing something to give someone a little joy. Yes, there are times I think "why on earth do I do this???", but the genuine happiness on one customer's face is enough to bring me back in again and keep me going, even if I thought I'd rather be home in my pajamas.

the first time I saw my first instructor dance at Tajine's i was mesmerized..it was a student night so pros and non-pros danced. I was in awe of anyone brave enough to get up there and dance. The entire environment ..the scent of Moroccan food , the lighting and music..I was in fairy land.

My instructor kinda tossed me off the cliff at my first student night, the restaurant was going to close down for a while so it was dance or lose out. I was great friends with Isidora and she danced that night too, I think it was her first dance after a bad car accident so it was a really special evening. I remember feeling numb when I was dancing, was just terrified..probably because it was being filmed too. But after that dance I was invited into the advanced class and I was hooked, didn't dance all the student nights after that but later on started dancing with my buddy Lisa, on Thursday nights. We'd split the show on Thursdays and occasionally I'd fill in for her. I didn't want a restaurant job, only wanted to dance here and there so the arrangement was perfect.

i don't like to do stage dancing, I get vertigo and i do a lot of spinning so would be one of those dancers who lost it and spun off the stage. Also i liked the intimacy of restaurants, the lighting was always nice, the manager let me fire dance, there was enough space for veils and tight wing dance, and the patrons were seated on the floor so i never felt funky doing floor work. loved floor work. learned from the best.

Since then I have only danced in one restaurant that evenly closely compared to Tajines..it was a lounge/restaurant in Berkeley California..can't even remember the name now but I was the opening act on opening night..really nice lounge/bar area ( i dont' mind dancing in bars as long as they are not drunken brawl type of places and the floor is not disgusting), the lounge opened up into a HUGE ballroom with windows ..anyone on the street could peek in. They even gave me a hotel room upstairs to change in and hang out in until showtime. the kitchen staff were excellent and gave me free treats, the manager or host guy was really kind and treated me like a princess, the pay was excellent, they paid my parking..oh and there was a huge empty ballroom in the back for room to warm up and practice.

well those were my faves..I was also guest dancer once where Zaheea used to/still does? dance..don't remember the restaurant name but the set up of the place was really nice, with good space. Zaheea was an excellent gracious hostess..I really enjoyed dancing with her.

Zari put together a dance gig at a coffee shop? again don't remember the location but it was a blast. They cleared away the tables ..I remember Zari was wearing a gorgeous turquoise neckelmanns ..that was a really fun gig too.

Malia in Hawaii puts together a show at Anna Bananas in Honolulu..I've only attended once but I'd say yes to dancing there in a minute. I don't remember a rug so floor dance would be out for this one but plenty of spinning room.

hmm i guess i just like the interaction with audience in a way i have not experienced on the stage yet (except for the time at Ala Moana mall we did a stage dance but after an intro i went down in the crowd with zills and partied ..THAT was fun

when i started, that was all the work there was ! we were raised in it...and live music.
glad for it too.

haha jes is that y u r so smitten w/the necklemann costumes, b/c of zari? hehe

i understand that not everyone is meant for it and i can def. see y for several reasons. and also i do agree it's slim pickings out there for dancers and aside from big convention shows or stage performances, a family style restaurant is about the classiest u can do aside from nightclubs and whatnot (not saying that the other stuff is 'bad' or anything but consider what the GP thinks when u dance at a nightclub compared to when u dance at restaurant X...)

as for me, i love stage settings and feel very comfortable in them. never danced at a restaurant (not counting haflas or troupe gigs) but i love the glamour of being on a big stage. my ultimate dream would be to do a solo in a big stage setting (at our biannual shows or even at my big flamenco show coming up, etc.) ANY solo will do for me..bd, samba, polynesian, flamenco..ahh that's my dream :)

Zari can make a paper bag look good :) she's gorgeous

Originally Posted by jesennia

Zari can make a paper bag look good :) she's gorgeous

true!

I was also approached by a restaurant owner after dancing at a hafla. If you've read some of my previous threads, you probably know that I'm having a rough time with it at the moment so I don't really think that it's "for me" at this time. If I could only do stage shows, weddings, big events, and festivals, I would. Unfortuantely I don't have the money or the dancers to put into a stage show at the moment, and the public around here is still pretty new to any kind of world dance, so it's tough trying to get into events (I usually get the cold shoulder when I contact people about the idea). My name isn't well enough known to have any contacts in the wedding arena either. So in the meanwhile, I'm building up my reputation and my costume collection with the weekly restaurant thing. It's good practice too, my improv has drastically improved, and I enjoy the audience... just not the management and the loss of my do-whatever-I-want Saturday night.

When I first started performing at haflas, etc., I thought for sure I would never dance in a restaurant. Then I went to more restaurants, decided to do an open mike thing, and discovered that I really liked the connection you could make with the audience up close. I think I'm fortunate in that the restaurants I've danced in have a strong Middle Eastern contingent, so the audiences *want* to see a dancer and know/like the music I am dancing to. That factor people have mentioned about being an entertainer is a big part of it; knowing that I helped create a wonderful night out for people makes me very happy.

The other big factor is that restaurants are where the opportunities to dance to live music for full sets are.

I knew it was "for" me when I enjoyed entertaining the patrons there and they responded back instead of hiding behind their hummus.

I also figured out that it was not for me when I would walk out of there smelling like grease. ICK!!!

i do not feel being on stage is what the art is about.i prefer the old ways when it comes to venue ,as i was taught ....i like to be within feet of those i am sharing with.
useing a word most do not like, but it has meaning.i was taught this is a caberet or tent art.from cultures of sharing food, drink, dance, spirit.
i get a lot of stage bookings, but it is not my passion.

Originally Posted by zamora

i do not feel being on stage is what the art is about.i prefer the old ways when it comes to venue ,as i was taught ....i like to be within feet of those i am sharing with.
useing a word most do not like, but it has meaning.i was taught this is a caberet or tent art.from cultures of sharing food, drink, dance, spirit.
i get a lot of stage bookings, but it is not my passion.

again i have to agree with Cory :)

Originally Posted by ozma

I think it took knowing that I am perhaps as much (if not more) an entertainer as I am a dancer.

brilliant. Yes.

I always loved it - from the first two times I did it, those were some of the best nights of my life - I came home so exhilarated. Most of the times I feel that way after a show - that's how I can motivate myself to do it again and again even if I'm not feeling up for it - I know I'm going to feel great afterwards.

Though if I work with a band, it doesn't always result in awesomeness - sometimes more awkwardness than awesomeness. I feel guilty about this because we're all supposed to love live music and in theory I do - but it adds a huge amount of anxiety for me a lot of the time - especially with a new band that I haven't worked with before.

As a dancer who just ran his very first "opening night" show at a restaurant - and am waay excited and happy, and all that stuff (my wife says I was 'glowing'); its because I'm an audience whore. I love my audiences having danced mostly in small cabaret settings - I'm still learning "big stage" dancing and find my audiences are too far away in those settings. Restaurant dancing is the BEST because I'm right up next to the audience, get to speak with them, see their joy, play with them - and get their tips!

I've always liked dancing at smaller events where I'm in the same space as the audience. I like the entertainment aspect and have fun interacting with people. Over the past 4 years that has been the primary environment I've danced in (showcases/hafla's/SCA)

I'd gone several times to watch friends and instructors dance at restaurants but it wasn't until recently I screwed up the courage to stick my toe in that water. The first time was surrounded by friends at Vahana's student night and the second time was a mix of some friends and total strangers as the substitute for the scheduled dancer. It's given me some fresh motivation and encouraged me to branch out into some other styles of bellydance.

I'm also hoping to keep working on bringing some of that energy with me for events where its just little 'ol me and a great big stage. eep!