Thread: Sponsor in Europe?

I wasn't sure where to post this but does anyone know of any sponsors in Europe? I got an email from a dancer in Italy who would like for me to teach out there but was wondering if there was anyone who'd be willing to split the airfare?

Thanks so much,
~Ahava

Hi Ahava,
While I can't speak for this dancer's schedule personally and I know she tends to be too busy for her own good, Artemisia of Belgium is a phenominal sponsor and might be worth contacting. She has a profile here on bhuz or her site, Buikdanseres Artemisia Website. Again, I don't know if she'd be able to sponsor you at this time, but she's worth emailing. She is so professional, organized and fun to work with. Good luck and safe travels!

thanks Razia, ;-) ;-), actually Ahava and i have met ;-) ;-)

hello Ahava

we would love to have you. however, we do a maximum of two or three international teachers per year, and the summer months are dedicated to Raks, and now the Raks PRO project.

and i'm now currently ... starting on the 2012 shedule...

(for my students and the other belgian dancers lurking:
- october 2010: Three day Bozenka intensive
- february 2011: Third Leuven Bellydance Festival with Khalida (D/Be), Delanna (D), Rachid (Nl/Curacao) and Artemisia (Be)
- october 2011: Three (or Four) day Ava Fleming intensive
- december 2011: Leuven Bellydance Tournament second edition! (that i'll be hiring judges for, but wont have enough budget to hire people from so far away, so probably will be some good european dancers!)

sometimes i can add some smaller workshops/events in between. But not something with too many expenses attached.
but do email me again (emotionvzw@gmail.com) and let's talk.

other sponsors you might want to contact, hmm. there are tons of festivals around but i'm guessing you dont want to do any "cold calling". not someone specific i can recommend to you.

your best bet would first to try and come over on your own steam (pay your own airfare) and try to be seen at for example Leyla Jouvana's festival or the Bellydance congress in the Uk, or the Raqs congress in Brussels, or any of the scandinavian festivals... and to network and possibly combine this with a workshop here and there.

There's not anyone i can really recommend that is really looking for people to book, that they havent seen/met yet... especially when the expenses are high (as with everyone needing an overseas ticket)

Artemisia

Thanks Razia :) Artemisia I do remember you telling me that your schedule is super busy. Just thought I'd give bhuz a try. I'm finding it really hard because I'm not known in Europe. Aziza told me that she thought I should attend Leyla's festival as well. So now I have to make a choice between attending Orit's festival and going to Leyla's festival.

Decisions...decisions

We are following your lead and having competitions over here in the UK. At IBDC, the winners got to teach at the Fantasia festival so this could be a way to get known.JoY is having its' first this April and may repeat the experience.
Many festivals are happy to have less well- known teachers ( those who don't have a high profile and DVDs etc)are hired especially if they have something new to offer but organisers do like to see a dancer in action first.

I didn't get a chance to attend Leyla's festival but I did do her competition and it was great fun. Check it out if you're able to :) And let us know if you do get over to Europe-- I'd love to take a workshop with you!

I agree that Leyla's event is a good one to be 'seen'.. the event is huge, has lots of visitors from several European countries, and it's ten days long! Competition winners there get to dance at the main Gala show during the second weekend.

BD Congress in the UK (which is only once every two years, so fall 2011 probably the next one?) also has a professionals competition (Isis Awards) and indeed the winners of that one get to teach and perform at Fantasia in the same year (or at least, thats what happened for me and Suraiya :)

Orits festival is a bit smaller than Leyla's (but also cheaper as it's less days) and also a great event. This year it did not have as many European visitors as the year before, but me and Artemisia are planning on rallying our 'troops' for the next one so that might change ;) Orits festival is a bit less workshop-intensive but more like a bellydance holiday/four day party, with a bit more time to hang out with the teachers and organiser, which is also good.

And also: Please let us know when and where you'll be if you do visit Europe, I'm officially on Ahava watch now :)