chryssanthi sahar

We all read Marias thread "The absolute belly dance hell" and were quite shocked to hear about what happened to those two Greek dancers (for the ones who haven't read it yet, look at:
http://forum.orientaldancer.net/showthread.php?t=390 )

This story made me think about other stories I've heard, where young (but also not so young) dancers became victims of cheaters, of people who took advantage on them financially or sexually or both. When reflecting about those stories, I found out that all of those dancers had something in common: they were mad about becoming famous or rich (or both) at any price. That made them set unrealistic goals, which they couldn't reach by themselves and as soon as they found people, who promised to helped them reach their goals, they stepped in a trap and got harmed.
My question is: what attitude is that, which makes people blind and careless and let them step in (actually quiet) obvious traps? Why do even intelligent people suddenly become foolish?

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Oriental dancer and instructor of Greek origin, living in Germany
www.chryssanthi.com

Suhad

Good questions, Chryssanthi. One might also ask why these (in many cases anyway) same people are willing to dance for free, or worse, pay to dance, and cause the ability to make any kind of decent wage impossible not just for themselves, but the dance community at large.

I found out recently how very little my instructor gets paid to work at a local restaurant; I was ashamed that a woman of such great talent and skill got a beggar's wage for her efforts.

chryssanthi sahar

Yes, I find this very sad. Good dancers shouldn't dance for very little money in restaurants. One should put a minimum limit to her wage, which shouldn't be too low. I've done this from the very beginning of my belly dance career and I've always got the wage I wanted. And if restaurants don't want to pay what I want, I simply don't dance for them. And I never danced in restaurants for free (not even as a "test"). There are restaurants which let the dancers do "test-dancing" without wage, promising that they are going to hire them regularly, if they like their dancing, but usually they don't hire them, because they find enough "test-dancers". Such restaurants owners don't care about the quality of the dance anyway, they just want to present fresh flesh every week I'm really glad, I never stepped into this trap If they want to see me dancing, I either tell them at what other place I dance and ask them to come there to see me, or I just give them a DVD or video with some performances of mine.
Another thing that I find very disturbing in the belly dance scene, is that there are quite some supposed to be belly dance "stars", who run around the world and dance at all possible festivals and places for free. Many of those people even spend money, in order to be able to perform at such events (like they pay their hotel, their travelling fares etc.). If this happens once a while, I can understand it, because it can be fun to participate such an event, especially if it takes places abroad ( for examble in a country where you've always wanted to go), but there are dancers who do this permanently. Here in Germany you find some names in every festival programme:eek: How is this possible? I suspect strongly, that those people just don't have enough work at home, or they are so fame addicted, that they'd rather make little money, but have a "name".
People here ask me, why I participate such events so seldom (1-2 times a year) and my answer is: "why should I? Why should I have stress travelling around, why should I wait the whole evening behind the stage to dance for max. 10 min., why should I spend money for gas and hotel, in order to participate an event where I get not even one cent? And why should I teach a workshop among 50 others at en event which is not participated of thousands but only of some hundreds of people? All of this doesn't make sense to me. And at the end, what is the use of being famous all over Germany (or even the world) if nobody knows me in my own city? So I'd rather "rule" my city than the world:p

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Oriental dancer and instructor of Greek origin, living in Germany
www.chryssanthi.com

Amulya

I wonder the same. But I have read stories of traps that were not obvious and could have happened to anyone.
Some people are naive, and believe in empty promises. Maybe not so because they want to become famous or rich (never understand that, if you want that, don't become a belly dancer ), but because of their character. Some people are very friendly and don't suspect anything bad from others.

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Blog: What Were They Thinking?

Maria_Aya

Personal ambitions, personality problems, public relations, etc are for me the reasons.
Thats why i dont dance in public also i dont like the places how they treat the dancers.
Maria Aya
(seconding Chryssanthi also)

Salome

The two scenarios I see the most often.
Scenario 1 is the dancer who is eager to break into the industry overseas. When she gets an offer she is so elated and excited at the prospect of being hired that she ultimately does not protect her interests for fear of losing the job. Rule # 1, never be afraid to lose the job if it’s putting your interests at risk. I wrote a series of articles called “Dancing Abroad…” and I don‘t mind saying it’s a must read if you are a first timer and trying to get out there. One of the things dancers who want to get into that part of the industry should know is that real clients with real dance jobs in 4 and 5 star venues, the hotel, casino, cruise ships etc. typically don’t go around soliciting talent. Clients hire a talent agency to do that work for them. So dancers who want the real and the best jobs need to get an agent or agents. Unless you’re famous, cold solicitations need to be treated in a very frank manner.

The second scenario is the dancer who is totally destitute. These dancers are ready to work in lower star venues, independent clubs etc. The kind of venues where the owner contacts talent directly. There are real jobs in that arena too that are on the up and up but there is also an increased risk of consummation. If the average salary in your country, for example Russia, is 50 dollars a month and that is not enough to survive folks are willing to take jobs that might help them escape poverty. On the same note there are a lot of predators trolling for these dancers because the dancers are desperate and they do not have enough money nor do their relatives to go back home if it turns out to be a nightmare. So they are stuck, just like the girls in Maria’s story.

chryssanthi sahar

Yes Amulya, you are right, there are also people like that. But I have the impression that they are rather a minority.

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Oriental dancer and instructor of Greek origin, living in Germany
www.chryssanthi.com

chryssanthi sahar

I have kind of understanding for the people of the second scenario. If you are hungry, you do almost everything to survive. In Greek we say: if you have to choose between two evils, the less evil is the best. So I understand, that girls who come from poor countries step into traps because they struggle for survival. But what about Westerners who actually have lot more possibilities to earn money and they usually are not that desperate? Why is a Western woman possessed by the idea of dancing in some Middle East country and is willing to do almost everything to get there? Why does somebody dance at all possible events and festivals for free and even spends money, in order to perform at such places? This is what I don't understand.

__________________
Oriental dancer and instructor of Greek origin, living in Germany
www.chryssanthi.com