Advice - suggestions on how to approach this situation

[khadiya]

In October I moved from an area of the country where I had spent my entire dancing life to an area that I first visited in March and had no idea about at all previous to that.

Where I was living before I had built up a lot of 'who's who' knowledge and networks and had a general feel for what was going on. Now I've moved, of course, I'm lacking all of that, which isn't a surprise to me as these things take a lot of time, but I do feel somewhat disconnected.

I've made a bit of progress in terms of joining the southern UK dance network, attending a hafla quite some distance away and locating a professional in the next county to teach me privately.

However, I still don't really have a clue about the local scene as in my home town and the towns near by. I know there are beginner classes but there are scanty contact details and I'm not sure how best to make contact with the local scene, especially considering that:
a) I'm really not beginners level any more (have been confirmed in this by a number of respected professionals so I'm not getting too big for my hip scarf) and my limited funds wont stretch to a regular class right now
and b) I'm hoping to set up my own classes within the next year.

So, question: How do I best frame contact with others in my community when I want to have positive relations (refer people to them, attend haflas atc) but might become a competitor and am unlikely to attend their classes. Is there a good way to do this? WWBD?

[romymart]

I am having your same problem!! I moved from Italy, where I had 10 years of experience, I had my classes, my students, my connections and my knowledge of "how it works"... and now I am here, in the States and i have to start all over again!!

as soon as I got here, I attended a workshop, so I met some people and they directed me to some teachers...I tried to see the level of the classes, because, like you, i am not a beginner anymore...and after a little bit, I found what I was looking for!! :)

now I am part of a troupe and little by little I am starting to dance around again...I know it's going to take time, but I hope to be able to teach some classes too again!!

[khadiya]

I am having your same problem!! I moved from Italy, where I had 10 years of experience, I had my classes, my students, my connections and my knowledge of "how it works"... and now I am here, in the States and i have to start all over again!!

as soon as I got here, I attended a workshop, so I met some people and they directed me to some teachers...I tried to see the level of the classes, because, like you, i am not a beginner anymore...and after a little bit, I found what I was looking for!! :)

now I am part of a troupe and little by little I am starting to dance around again...I know it's going to take time, but I hope to be able to teach some classes too again!!

Glad I'm not the only one Romy! I too have been to some workshops but actually met people from where I used to live - not really anyone more local.

I'm also missing the hafla circuit. I used to really benefit from those chances to perform - so good for my confidence and development but now I'm a bit at a loss.

[mahsati]

Here are links to some threads on relocation from earlier :) Good luck!

Re-locating Ethics

Spinoff on Relocating Ethics Thread: How and When to Set Up Shop

[khadiya]

Here are links to some threads on relocation from earlier :) Good luck!

Cheers! Mahsati

My intermittent attendance on Bhuz means I missed those the first time.

I guess perhaps I need to be very positive and try and frame it like I'm trying to meet new people. One of the reasons I'm a bit wary is that I don't want to make people feel that I'm a threat or necessarily passing judgement on their classes just because my experience level is different.

[mahsati]

Originally Posted by khadiya

Cheers! Mahsati

My intermittent attendance on Bhuz means I missed those the first time.

I guess perhaps I need to be very positive and try and frame it like I'm trying to meet new people. One of the reasons I'm a bit wary is that I don't want to make people feel that I'm a threat or necessarily passing judgement on their classes just because my experience level is different.

Absolutely - relocating can be incredibly stressful. My best advice is to look at everything as a positive experience and an opportunity to share your dance with new friends :)

[romymart]

Originally Posted by khadiya

Cheers! Mahsati

One of the reasons I'm a bit wary is that I don't want to make people feel that I'm a threat or necessarily passing judgement on their classes just because my experience level is different.

I hear you on that!!!
all I want to do is keep on dancing! :)
I have been lucky to find this troupe, because we have different levels, but we all want to have fun together :)

[khadiya]

Absolutely - relocating can be incredibly stressful. My best advice is to look at everything as a positive experience and an opportunity to share your dance with new friends :)

Thanks for the positive support. I guess because I've always been highly critical of my own dance I don't do myself enough justice in getting it out there. In truth, there's nothing major wrong with it and it is improving, albeit at a snails pace. However I tend to take 'no' for an answer too easily, when I should totally be getting myself out there.

[maurazebra]

If there is a local volunteer dance society, join it and start volunteering.

[nadira82]

If you are moving into a new area and are planning on performing or teaching classes, there will be people who might perceive you as a "threat" or people who will think in terms of "my territory" &c This is unavoidable. The way to deal with it is to do as you are trying to do - make contacts, introduce yourself so that you let people know you are out there and that you respect what they do. You can do this over email or phone. Send out an email to as many locals as you can, introducing yourself and saying that you look forward to being part of the dance community, participating in events, and that you hope to be able to contribute too. Some people might roll their eyes and dismiss you, but most of the time people just want aknowledgement that you know they exist. =)

[romymart]

Originally Posted by nadira82

If you are moving into a new area and are planning on performing or teaching classes, there will be people who might perceive you as a "threat" or people who will think in terms of "my territory" &c This is unavoidable. The way to deal with it is to do as you are trying to do - make contacts, introduce yourself so that you let people know you are out there and that you respect what they do. You can do this over email or phone. Send out an email to as many locals as you can, introducing yourself and saying that you look forward to being part of the dance community, participating in events, and that you hope to be able to contribute too. Some people might roll their eyes and dismiss you, but most of the time people just want aknowledgement that you know they exist. =)

thank you!! this is good advice!

[khadiya]

If you are moving into a new area and are planning on performing or teaching classes, there will be people who might perceive you as a "threat" or people who will think in terms of "my territory" &c This is unavoidable. The way to deal with it is to do as you are trying to do - make contacts, introduce yourself so that you let people know you are out there and that you respect what they do. You can do this over email or phone. Send out an email to as many locals as you can, introducing yourself and saying that you look forward to being part of the dance community, participating in events, and that you hope to be able to contribute too. Some people might roll their eyes and dismiss you, but most of the time people just want aknowledgement that you know they exist. =)

Yup! Really good advice here - thanks!

I'm going to put this into practice next week (away for work at the moment). I guess I've been a bit tentative because it is all new to me and because past experience has taught me just how parochial the BD community can be.

Also, having moved to the south of the UK from the north, I'm encountering a lot of the sterotypical 'You mean, people can actually speak and eat with a fork up there?' attitude of UK southerners!

[lizajuk]

Originally Posted by khadiya

Yup! Really good advice here - thanks!

I'm going to put this into practice next week (away for work at the moment). I guess I've been a bit tentative because it is all new to me and because past experience has taught me just how parochial the BD community can be.

Also, having moved to the south of the UK from the north, I'm encountering a lot of the sterotypical 'You mean, people can actually speak and eat with a fork up there?' attitude of UK southerners!

I feel your pain. Everytime my sister's partner visits us he refers to us all as Northern scum and my city and home town as sh$tholes and when I was down there he instructed store detectives to follow me teling them I' m a thieving Scouser. You may gather I no longer speak to him..I had enough. after his last winging bout and I hope he stays in the lush avenues of Kent and troubles us not, leaving us alone with our ferrets and milk stout.

But to your point..any NADA members down there? Check with the membership secretary for those who are not teacher listed also.
I'd try a beginner class just in case..tell the teacher because of your job you have to drop in. You never know they may have a core of longer term dancers.
Can you get to Planet Egypt and make contact?
Bea ..any advice?

[zumarrad]

What a lovely man. I'm so disappointed he's taken.

[khadiya]

But to your point..any NADA members down there? Check with the membership secretary for those who are not teacher listed also.
I'd try a beginner class just in case..tell the teacher because of your job you have to drop in. You never know they may have a core of longer term dancers.
Can you get to Planet Egypt and make contact?
Bea ..any advice?

PM'ing you!

[Crowfairy]

Where abouts in the South are you? I used to live in Milton Keynes, so am aware of a few southern teachers.

Also try the Mosiac Arabic Dance Network,
Mosaic Arabic Dance Network
They have teacher listings and if you join you can get discounted insurance.

I've done the opposite and move up north, give me the lovely northern countryside any day!

[khadiya]

Where abouts in the South are you? I used to live in Milton Keynes, so am aware of a few southern teachers.

Also try the Mosiac Arabic Dance Network,
Mosaic Arabic Dance Network
They have teacher listings and if you join you can get discounted insurance.

I've done the opposite and move up north, give me the lovely northern countryside any day!

Chelmsford, Essex

I am a member of MADN and have insurance in progress through them.

I have made contact with some local people but I think the response so far can only be characterised as 'lukewarm'. I think this is partly because I am 'strange and foreign' (aka have been based in the north) and partly because my primary interests (other than promoting the dance in a positive, professional light) are pushing my own dance forward up to a very high level.

[Crowfairy]

I don't know if it a north/south divide thing or not. I'm originally from Leicester, and found the teacher I had in Milton Keynes very standoffish, however she seemed very warm to her other class members. (maybe it was just me!)

I'm having similar problems as I'm setting up a business selling costumes, jewellery and practice wear and not everyone is that helpful. Even finding wholesalers is a bit of a headache!!

All I can really suggest is what I'm telling myself, which is to persevere and be bloody thick skinned!

Oh and if you can travel and save a bit of money, then there's always festivals and workshops. No real substitute for a regular class, but they can also add things that you wouldn't normally get to cover.

[Fotia]

Originally Posted by zumarrad

What a lovely man. I'm so disappointed he's taken.

Thank God!!

[khadiya]

Oh and if you can travel and save a bit of money, then there's always festivals and workshops. No real substitute for a regular class, but they can also add things that you wouldn't normally get to cover.

Money is the difficulty , but I go to as many festivals a year as I can afford .

As I say, this isn't really about class - I really need intensive private lessons to push up my standard and have this covered. Its more about positive wider community relations.

[khadiya]

I feel your pain. Everytime my sister's partner visits us he refers to us all as Northern scum and my city and home town as sh and when I was down there he instructed store detectives to follow me teling them I' m a thieving Scouser. You may gather I no longer speak to him..I had enough. after his last winging bout and I hope he stays in the lush avenues of Kent and troubles us not, leaving us alone with our ferrets and milk stout.

Arrrrrgh!

What a charmer!

You'd think (You've heard my voice Liza) so you know what I'm sayin' here , (posh Oxford English to everyone else - its a cross I bear) that the fact that I am clearly from the south would make things easier, but no. Apparently my 10 year sojourn in the wilds has marked me for life

[khadiya]

Just wanted to update this thread and let everyone know that I have started approaching teachers on the local scene with a positive vibe as advised above and so far, ( although a lot of people seem to have the incorrect contact details listed ) the results have been encouraging ...



I've also had some really lovely and supportive contact through the PM system - so thanks Bhuz!