khanjar

I suppose different people have different reasons for wanting to dance.

What are the reasons, why do people want to dance ? What drives a person to want to stand on a stage and dance in front of others, why do people want to entertain, is it a need and why ?

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I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others.

Aziyade

[quote=Caroline_afifi;80183]Having been in

A. the living room setting
B. the restaurant setting
C. the big theater setting

I can see how each "venue" has a different expectation, as to the dancer's relationship to the audience.

Also, seeing this in actual performance videos helped me to understand how Egyptian and Lebanese dancers relate to their audience.

Nadia Gamal (in the concert footage) is RIGHT there on the table, and her audience interaction is worth studying.

Then to look at the big concert halls where Fifi and Sohair danced -- it's CRAZY to think about audience interaction in some of those -- is it the al Esmaila (sp?) theater where the first row of seats is like 300 feet from the stage? Sure, they ham up and appear to be interacting -- to a real or imagined interactor -- but in those concerts the dancers REALLY interact with the musicians more than any audience.

Something that draws me in more than simple playing to the audience is when the dancer really plays to the MUSICIAN, because I feel like I'm privvy to a secret, or an in-joke, and it really REALIZES the music for me.

But when she has recorded music, and a huge stage, I'd really rather see the dancer go inside herself, rather than try to pretend she's having a meaningful interaction with someone in the audience. On a big auditorium stage with the house lights off, you CANNOT see beyond about the first row -- IF you can see that far at all. If there's an orchestra pit between the dancer and the audience, I can practically guarantee that the dancer cannot see the audience, unless the design of the theater is completely nonstandard. (School auditoriums don't count. I'm talking about real theaters.)

Aisha Azar

Dear Khanjar,
I think wanting to dance, and wanting to dance in front of an audience is two different things. When I was young, I wanted to dance and did so in the privacy of my own bedroom but nowhere else. I danced strictly for my own enjoyment, with no discipline since I had never studied any kind of dance, no purpose other than to satisfy my own soul.
The first time I saw belly dance, I fell madly in love with it and decided that I HAD to do that!! It did not occur to me that I might some day perform it for an audience. When I had been practicing belly dance for a very short period of time, like 6 months, I was asked to join a performing company and I did, though I probably had way too few skills to do so. When I was a younger dancer in training if you will, I danced more from a place of ego than I do now. Now,when I dance, it is way less about me and way more about the dance as a cultural offering. I want to share the wonderfulness of ethnic belly dance with both internal and external audiences, meaning other dancer, musicians and the general public. This dance is so fascinating, so complex, so amazing that I want to share it. I want others to get some of what I get out of it.
Anyone who wants to dance in front of an audience, regardless of their personal reasons for dancing, must also be willing to consider the audience as one of the elements of the dance situation. If one does not want to consider the audience, there is always dancing in your living room.
One of the things that has always bothered me about the philosophy behind American Tribal is that they say it is not geared toward an audience, yet they seek to perform the dance in front of an audience. I don;t really understand that.

I should say in response to Aziyade that one does not have to see the audience to be aware of them to feel their presence, to acknowledge their contribution to the dance. I think that Jihad Racy talked about this with the musicians, the tie to the audience that is very important to the overall feeling of tarab. I have seen Fifi Abdou from the large stage engage her audience in all kinds of ways, to peering out and grinning at them, to asking them what part of town they are from, to asking them what kind of dance they would like to see her perform. The belly dancers of Egypt also often plan parts of their shows so that they are out among the audience as well. there is a definite audience connection and it is a strong one.
Regards,
A'isha

Kharis

[quote=Aisha Azar;80185]And I'll agree with you here. The dancers who dance just for themselves are not entertaining anyone but themselves. And dance is about sharing. Interaction with the audience at some level is vital, and it's been a boring performance when I've seen dancers just dance for their own beautiful selves.

Kharis

It's about sharing. The beauty of it, the life and soul of it, the joy of it. But then of course, there are those who dance for themselves...for the glory of it, the ego.

Caroline_afifi

[quote=Aisha Azar;80185]I dont totally disagree as I understood the context in which it was said.

It was more about trying to think about what your audience is thinking whilst you are dancing. You really cannot tell what audiences are thinking so dont bother trying. Loud hand clapping and noisiness is not the only way you can tell if an audience enjoyed you or not.

In the UK people are often very quiet and concentrate, this is not a sign they disliked it. If you concentrate on yourself and the music then you will enjoy it even more and as a result,so will they. It does not mean you dont interact with them.

Caroline_afifi

[quote=Kharis;80193]I understand what you are saying but most art forms start from within the artist for themselves. Musicians sit at home creating music they love and means something to them first and foremost. Those who create music with something in mind are business people. By the time it gets to the stage it has developed but the roots were about the artist and them only.

When artists of any genre get to a certain level they stop giving a toss what the audience thinks as they have their confidence to do what they are good at and not worry about each and every thought.

Most dancers cant stand to hear one little criticism without falling apart and ripping the critic the shreds and discrediting them in some way. Heard it many many times.

Caroline_afifi

Ego is behind it all. It all boils down to ego. Regardless of something to express, say, give etc... it all comes down to a need to be heard and seen.
Most other artists recognise this so, so why shouldnt we?

Where it differs is to the extent the ego is the driving force. This of course has a broad spectrum and the high end ones are usually the easiest to spot. They jump on a stage at every available opportunity even when they have not rehearsed anything. Others who may be fantastic have to be pushed. Ego is not just about jumping on a stage, it is all aspects.. dressing up, writing on forums.. we all need to be heard and noticed however we want to dress it up.
The artist who is not ego driven tends live in isolation and usually have very poor communication and social skills.

Kharis

I think there's a fine line between ego and the big I AM. Ego is defined as consciousness of self. Well, some people have a higher consciousness of self than others...so I don't think it's wholly correct to assume that an artist not ego driven is a recluse and social cripple. Everybody has an ego, in the true sense of the word, even those who have poor communication and social skills.


But it's an ugly sight, in this dance, to watch someone who dances through the inflated definition of Ego. I find it repulsive. It just instantly turns me off that performer.

Perhaps as teachers, it's something we should instill in students. Modesty and/or humility.

Kharis

Or perhaps we should call such dancers Monsters of the Id.