Pia

Hi, I am going to my first hafla in a few weeks and one of the girls in my class told me she used a performance name becuase it felt more exotic,I think that my teacher uses her own name.

Do most people use a different name or is it a matter of personal choice?
Sorry if this is a dumb question

Shanazel

Personal choice. When I was performing I used a stage name mostly to protect my privacy at other times. This came about after an unfortunate occurance or two using my real name, which is fairly unusual.

There are no dumb questions here, Pia! Ask what you like.

gilda1979

Hej!!

I was wondering the same but how do you choose your performance name?, I also have to change my name for my performances but I have not idea which one will be good for me... Do you know how to do that???

thanks

see you

Shanazel

Sometimes a name is bestowed upon a dancer by a teacher or fellow dancer, other times she choses one for herself. The world is full of books of names and their meanings, though it is a good idea to check the name out with someone who is familiar with the country of origin just in case it has a derogatory connotation. There are plenty of knowledgeable people to run a name past her on the forum. I made my name up by combining a Hebrew name meaning rose and an Arabic word meaning bell.

Jahzaal

I believe it is a personal choice. Even though I was dancing, it took me two years to come up with my dance name. I didn't want to just pick any dance name, even though everyone I danced with did use their dance name. If you want to use your name for now, use it. It's what you feel comfortable with.

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Pia

HI

I'm not sure if there is any specfic way to do it.The people who have dance names either seem to have used an eastern version of thier own name eg Joanna becomes Yo-Ahn-Na.Others said that they had just picked a nice sounding eastern name.
I have been looking at names and thier meaning on a baby names site to see if i can find any thing pretty with a meaning realated to dance.

A friend suggested the following as good dancer names 'Abal - Wild rose Jameela - Beautiful, graceful, lovely Jumaana - Silver pearl Alimah -Skilled in music or dance -Ma'isah (Walking with a proud, swinging gait

What kind of name were you thinking of?

Aisha Azar

[quote=gilda1979;68466]Hej!!

thanks




Dear Gilda,
When I started dancing, it was customary for teachers to name their students. My second teacher gave me the name A'isha, and I picked up the surname "Azar" many years later when I started doing articles for various magazines. I took it mainly to distinguish me form the other A'ishas and it has worked out well. My teacher named me that because I am pretty intense emotionally. The name means "Living", or sometimes it means "living well", or even just "alive", depending on who you ask. Many of my students ask me to name them when they start dancing and I do so if requested to, or occasionally, I have just started calling someone by an Arabic name because they remind me of something.
When choosing a name for yourself, here are some hints to keep in mind.
You can choose an attribute you have or would like to have. For example if you are a happy smiley person, you might use the name Bessma, which means smiling. Or if you wish you were a stronger leader, you might call yourself Ra'edeh, which means sort of like leader. If you like flowers, you might name yourself Warda ( Rose), or Yasmin (Jasmine). One of the most important things to remember is that you should name yourself something that is easy for you and your clients to say!!
There is also no reason to use a stage name other than the one your family gave you if that's what you prefer.
Regards,
A'isha

Yshka

I never use a stagename, just my first name. There are not many Irisses out there. I do love the idea of a surname like A'isha's "Azar". I think obtaining a surname would be the best option for me. I do not want to pick it myself though. I'll take one when given to me someday, maybe, till that day I'll be Iris.

Kashmir

As my given name is Judit - I prefer to use a stage name. Also, it adds a layer between my mundane, engineering self and the performer. However, I teach as myself (although I advertise as "Kashmir").

I named myself as a joke and it has stuck over the years despite being totally inappropriate (male name, part of India).

Brea

Hi,

I named myself based on the name I'd chosen for this forum plus another from the 1001 Nights. I like it because it protects privacy, but I always feel a bit strange when talking to people and saying "I am Brea" when that's not my real name. Most of the time I danced under my real name, but now I teach and perform as Brea. Privacy can be very important in a career like this, I think.

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