Mending local community

[Michaela]

Let me explain from beginning: I have lived in Japan for more then 10 years, most of the time studying belly dance with reputable teachers, did some performing, and teaching, taking workshops with master teachers from Egypt.
I return back to my home country 10 months ago, and started workshops with those some great teachers I met in Tokyo.
Let me name: Samasem of Cairo, Liza Laziza, are two bold dancers whom I promoted - with a little success! Promoting first class teachers as Diana Tarkhan for example gave me responses like: "I´ve been at Ahlan wa sahlan in Cairo and I dont know any madam Diana". Dont be misunderstood, the reply is not from a student, that reply is from a top notch famous as heaven local bellydancer. Something similar happened few days ago while I approached another local teacher to help with (basically help to promote among her students)promotion for Dalila. Even bringing a teacher well known among locals (judging according to pictures of local teachers with her from Nile Group Festival) did not bring a succes. They dont even come to see her show.

I am trying not to be put off by this, trying to educate little by little, although means of education are getting smaller with an owner of local internet belly dance magazine commenting on my effort: "we don´t need teachers who are paid thousands of Euros". This was a real shocker, and still more flabbergasting when she promoted her trip to Egypt to take private classes with Randa Kamel, AND bringing Randa to teach workshops here.
In the US is there certain or similar kind of resistance against teachers who pursuit their career in Egypt? I mean dancers I mentioned before, and others from the US: Shareen El Safy, Sahra Saeeda, and other bellydancers now active in Cairo.

What really pains me is a lack of a support in community (I know it is a slow process), many false information on local websites (eg. "highest form of belly dance is a cabaret belly dance".

I need to add that local belly dance community is quite saturated with events, and some foreign teachers hold workshops here, just recently: Morocco, Mohamed Shaheen, Jillina.

What should I do in this lose-lose situation? I don´t want to quit organizing events, even it means the events end up in financial loss.

[Fotia]

Do any of these dancers have websites or pages on Facebook or MySpace? If so, maybe you can post them so people can familiarize themselves. Then again, when the community is so saturated, it is definitely the "buyers" market and they can afford to be picky. But I would keep trying and try to promote these dancers as the professionals that they really are.

[steffib]

Looking at the situation from the other side, as Devil's Advocate: If the local market is over-saturated already, then it would to some degree be counter-productive for other local teachers to strongly support your events, because that would contribute to making their events into a financial loss. And, along the same lines, if I were a local dancer bringing in a big name, risking my money, and somebody new moves into town, possibly even falsely coming across as a big high-nosed, and crowds that small space even more, I sure would not be completely delighted. Is there a chance that this hypothetical may come into play?

[indigostars]

Although I think it's great you want to be a big player in your local community, I've always been told that you build yourself up slowly when you move. Get a feel for things before diving in. One of my teachers told me that it's important to go to as many local classes as possible to introduce yourself and check things out. Not as a permanent, on-going student or as simply promotional, just a friendly hi and showing interest that you want to learn about their local and well-established scene.

I'd also suggest that you really find a co-collaborator for workshops. Someone who will work with you on all the details, not just helping promote. In order to integrate yourself into the community, you have to show that you are a community player.

[Michaela]

Yes, I sent a friend request on FB, some didn´t accept me, some did, and didnt reply when I approached them about Dalila´s workshop recently. Some of them spread a rumor that I dont exist (I laugh at this one now).
The internet magazine owner canceled our contact on FB after saying the sentence from above.

FB events dont work, people just join in FB, never to make it to real event.

Well, you might ask about a reason why some teachers rejected me on Fb: I am observing local belly dance community since twelve years ago when the dance started to be popular here. I knew they did not have professional costumes, did not have a good training, did not know much about bellydancing, some adopting information from my web: the top notch dancer switching magically to egyptian bellydancing when I started promoting it on my web, instead of "fusion of all belly dances" as she stated on some of her first flyers - which I don´t really mind as well as it returns local dancers into reality, and shifts further from fantasy.

Maybe they don´t feel secure to deal with me?
I feel local community has a great potential to develop, there are many good dancers, and many young dancers with growth potential. That´s why I want to bring first class teachers with experience in Cairo. Another reason (actually my No. 1) is to give them a chance to learn about the essence (more then just a technique) of egyptian belly dance directly from masters.

One think I did is that I suggested Dalila Cairo as some of local teachers friend on Fb even if I fell awkward for letting a star doing her promotion...

[Michaela]

steffib: you are right, I agree with you. It is becoming more difficult to make living on belly dance.

indogostars: I went to some classes in 1998, then I gave up because I had a feeling that I could teach the teacher... with one acception an older lady who has been in business for 10 or more years that time - she immediatelly recognized me as a dancer, others did not due to lack of their education.

I am looking for friendly relations locally, and in other cities, too. That is the way to go, you said it right, indigostars.

I hope I can reach my goal with positive mind, and with never ending friendly approach.

[Tourbeau]

In the US is there certain or similar kind of resistance against teachers who pursuit their career in Egypt? I mean dancers I mentioned before, and others from the US: Shareen El Safy, Sahra Saeeda, and other bellydancers now active in Cairo.

Not that I'm aware of. Usually this is highly desirable, unless the dancer is courting the wrong market (e.g., a dance community that wants tribal) or unless, as steffib sort of alluded to, she's acting like a jerk about it. I'm not saying you're doing either, only that those are the instances I've encountered.

To me, the real question is why other dancers are not attending your events when you are bring in names that would normally be big draws. There may be more than one reason, and it may be more than just loss of "support" from the local community.

(1) "I dont know any madam Diana" You can promote workshops and put out clear publicity so people know exactly who's coming to town to teach what, but otherwise, you just have to try to work around the blockheads.

(2) "we don´t need teachers who are paid thousands of Euros"
[2a] Is your market over saturated with modern-style dancers from Cairo? What do the students in your area want to learn? If they took a Randa workshop and didn't like that style, then you're probably not going to break even bringing in similar dancers if the local crowd wants to move on to something or someone else.

[2b] Is price the problem? If you were on the fence about studying with someone and/or recently blew your budget studying with someone similar, maybe you can't afford to spend on another workshop.

(3) Is something else going on? Are other teachers actively discouraging their students from attending your events? Sadly, sometimes this is the case. I can't see it myself. How petty and shortsighted do you have to be to pass up an opportunity to learn from a prominent teacher out of spite? If you've done something or offended someone, until you know what is motivating them, you can't do anything to mitigate the situation. Of course, sometimes when you do know, you still can't do anything about it or you feel justified in your position, but at least you understand why people are acting the way they do.

Maybe you could try organizing an informal event like a hafla to engage your local dance community with less pressure/expense/baggage than a workshop?

[maurazebra]

All of the above, plus : How did your previous workshop customers rate your event? Did they feel it to be well-organized, high-quality, got-what-they-paid-for?

[Michaela]

Hi, Tourbeau,

I love your post!

Thanks for helpful analysis of the problem.

As far as promotion is concerned:
My website always features full resume with picture of the teacher I invite. It is repeated once more in invitation e-mails. I send first invitation with early bird price (it used to be as low as 125 Euro per 10 hours of workshops). I send reminders before price goes up every two months to 145, and 165 Euro.
My e-mail database now contains roughly 1000 local adresses, and 400 adresses of dancers based in former Eastern Europe. Golden marketing rule is that 1% of customers addressed become buyers. My lists are of clients activelly involved in belly dancing (including teachers, schools, students, dancers alike), thus the turning rate should be close to 10 percent - that means almost hundred dancers coming to workshops, yay!
The problem here is that it is mostly belly dance teachers who would attend such workshops, and later teach their students what they have learned. Most of local students would not invest in rather expensive workshops. And they want to be loyal to their teacher - perhaps, or it might be just my imagination.
So, the values in my location are kind of distorted : teachers go to workshops, instead of sending their students, and taking privates with the celebrity teacher.

The only modern Egyptian teacher coming here I know of is Randa Kamel. I wonder why local teachers think that she teaches egyptian styl. I dont go to her WS, due to my bad laryngitis I am fighting at the moment, and I don´t want to support a big school bringing her, because their owner has connection to some kind of murky business (that´s a fact, a friend of mine will be publishing it in media soon, I will keep you posted about it when the big burst happens). I don´t want to have anything in common with that school, I have many bad experience with them. There is a high possibility that this school functions as a "wall" (to saturate the market with still lower quality of instruction) for some of local teachers who were actually clear SWW (six weeks wonders) when they started to teach 10 or more years ago. And yes, saying this would of course offend them!

(to be continued...)

[Michaela]

(continue reading here:)

Might be that there is a lack if information about dancers in Cairo: there used to be a "discussion board" with any kind of disrespectfull posts about Dina, and dancers in Cairo, saying that Egyptian dancers dance in very poor taste. I suppose the reason for this is that locals cannot afford to go to watch dancers in 5* star clubs, and judge after watching a dance by activity staff in Hurgada hotel or in an Egyptain cabaret. That is a history now (I hope), I work on projecting high class image about egyptian belly dancing. Another setback is that teachers don´t go to festivals every year so they don´t know who is on top right now.

For getting offended: me is offended by always posting kind of unfair comments about teachers I bring, using whatever - plastic surgery, greediness, to talk about them in a bad way. Which is rather depressing because it is saying non-sense, and is in no connection with the teachers ability, and it is very far away from professionalism to post such comments anyway. I don´t know who was posting it. One thing I know is that that discussion owner is keen supporter of the big school I described before.

As for me offending others: yes, about 10 years ago I posted in the aforementioned discussion board that I don´t consider many local teacher to be professional. I explained few reasons in my second post - watching six weeks wonders posing as professional teachers after experiencing study with some of the dancers I named here could be very funny experience if it is not sad, actually.

The other feeling I have is that they are puzzled about me, about my knowledge, and might feel threatened that somebody they don´t know comes from abroad, shows more knowledge, and it might be a big reason someone hurries to denigrate.
Next think I am going to do is to promote myself so that local teacher get to know more about me. A jerk coming to a class might be a good idea.

[Michaela]

All of the above, plus : How did your previous workshop customers rate your event? Did they feel it to be well-organized, high-quality, got-what-they-paid-for?

What a great idea: getting an evaluation feed-back!

[Michaela]

I need to add that my current location is in Prague, Czech Republic.

I am aware that many students here are into tribal dance and/or bdss. (As Raqia Hassan told me when approached with question about many students wanting to learn tribal: Egyptian belly dance is a source and a base for all of those styles.)
I am filling a niche market by bringing first class teachers who are able to transmitt an essence of Egyptian belly dance with good spoken English, and western way of explaining and teaching. That is what matters most to me - to offer a quality instruction.

[maurazebra]

In my current corner of America, the following would have influence on the workshops that instructors and dancers are willing to promote and to attend.

Tit-for-tat: regional instructors sponsor each other in workshops. If the local instructors see that you only bring in national / international names, then they don't see any possibility of 'trading' workshop gigs with you.

My friend, myself: instructors enjoy supporting their friends' workshops. They feel like this keeps the time and money 'in the family' so to speak.

Sphere of influence: When students go to workshops, they spend time and money. Their teacher helps them decide where to spend that time and money. Therefore, she has influence over time and money that you need to make your workshop a success. What are you offering her in return?

I don't wanna do that again: the teacher has been to dozens/hundreds of workshops and doesn't perceive yours as having sufficient ROI as far as new knowledge and experience goes. Her students don't want to go to workshops without her. A possible workaround: offer her free attendence if X number of students attend.

Slice of the pie: The amount of money available for dance training is perceived as limited. If students attend your workshops, they have less money available to spend at the teacher's studio, perhaps even to the point of dropping out for a while, which directly impacts the teacher's income. This loss of income is perceived as outweighing the benefits of student attendence at your workshop (better technique, higher morale, more of a sense of belonging).

Who'sat? The teacher doesn't know you or whether you put on a good workshop.

Die Now Please: The teacher dislikes you and would prefer to hold you underwater until the bubbles stop.

I am not saying that all teachers are governed by these principles at all times. I AM saying that it is a dog-eat-dogfood world and it is good to know what kind of dog food is preferred :) We humans are, like dogs, pack animals and there is a lot to be said for keeping the pack strong. So if you do not have a pack in your current location, it is unwise to expect the advantages that come from being part of a pack simply by offering excellent teachers. Something else is needed, or needs to be grown.

It sounds like you already have a market niche: workshops that teach teachers and facilitate private lessons. That is not to be despised. It is unusual, but could be fun - and profitable!

[Michaela]

Tit-for-tat: I offer an affiliate program for teachers, if they choose to help with promotion within their school.

Combined with Who´sat? approach: they don´t know me so they won´t invite me for workshops. What is more, I teach basics different way then them thus I am reaaaaaally dangerous, right? I might take some review classes with locals to polish my style more local way after all:).

I explained before that workshop goers for my events are local teachers that probably results in Die Now Please (I like this one!) approach in some cases.

Thanks for good points maurazebra!

[Michaela]

I could not resist switching on my computer at 1 am to add:

1. I feel I am being ignored by local community, some website owners did not consider me worth to add me to their teacher´s or dancer´s list after repeated requests.

2. One of the international teachers visiting Prague during an event organized by me told about a warning she received by e-mail which cautioned her that "it would be a bad experience" if she co-operated with me. This kind of discouraging of (actually) a business partner is quite outrageous, nevertheless not totally unheard of I suppose. Have anything like this happened to any of you?

3. I invited four local dancers/teachers, and two groups to join in a show with the star from Cairo. They did not draw any local belly dance public, one of them complained that my events get low number of visitors. I learn from this experience - I will not offer a spotlight to a dancer who brings me no audience.

[maurazebra]

You are dealing with people, not with angels. People have a million reasons for everything they do. I don't think it is realistic to parachute into a new community and expect recognition or even cooperation. Humans don't work like that. They protect what they perceive to be their own interests, and they run in packs. You need to build with them and support their efforts, or, if you don't think their ventures are worth supporting (which seems to be the case), then build your own community with like-minded persons. Either path will take time and patience and you will still always be dealing with people who are going to be looking out for their own interests.

Not being included on local websites: normal. Nasty emails behind your back that attempt to sabotage your efforts: normal. Small audience for a great show: normal. Don't spend a lot of emotional energy on reacting to these things. Save it for activities that build your community. Practice makes perfect :)

[Michaela]

Very well said, maurazebra. Thank you for your words. That kind of comforts me to know that I am not the only one in situation I described.

I skimmed through other threads, and got some ideas suitable for building. Thanks, fellow bhuzists!

[indigostars]

You say in 1998 that you tried the networking thing and you met mostly teachers who were not good? It has been 12 years... people move in and out of communities, improve, etc.

I moved back to the Boston-area this past fall. I was away for about 3 years and had a relative idea of what was going on via Facebook, but there were still a few changes with who is really active. Trying to network is still worthwhile, especially if you are basing things off of old info.

[Michaela]

Exactly, indigostars, networking is my no. 1 priority.
There are many schools and dancers I can relate to even if I dont connect with the former sww bunch.

[Samira_dncr]

What a great idea: getting an evaluation feed-back!

I use surveymonkey.com and love it!!