Involving the audience

curl1982 · 05-26-2008, 08:35 PM

Hi there, I've just gone through one of my choreo's which I want to use for my sis-in-laws 30th birthday do. The song is called 'Simarik' from the GORGEOUS turkish singer Tarkan. It's an easy going, vibrant turkish pop song (link below). I want to involve the audience a bit. They're all friends of mine too and we're very pally. I basically want the people (about 50-70 odd) to have fun as my biggest ever worry is to bore people and that they start wandering off.

Has anyone got ideas about HOW I could involve people (e.g. make them copy a move, make audience laugh a bit etc.)? Is it generally difficult to get people on stage/to involve them?

Here's the link

YouTube - Tarkan - Simarik

Eshta · 05-26-2008, 10:31 PM

Forward past the first 30 seconds or so, but lots of 'classic' ideas here:

BUT!
When you invite someone up to join you, they don't always behave the way you want them to, especially if you have an audience who aren't used to interacting with belly dancers. Audience interaction is pretty unpredictable and you have got to be confident enough that you can go with it, but keep it under your control at the same time. This comes with practice & experience, and if you are worried you are going to lose your audience so quickly, I'm getting the feeling you are not yet experienced as a performer...?

Simarik is a well-known, well-liked, up-beat pop song. Also it is SHORT! If you work hard on your performance you shouldn't lose your audience that quickly - I think you would be better off practicing your performance than worrying about gimmicks about how to get the audience involved. Make sure you remember to smile/not frown in concentration at least, and don't look at the floor the whole way through.

If you want to get a reaction from the audience but not actually drag them up to dance with you, for this particular song you can always make eye contact with someone in the audience and direct your accents on the 'kiss kiss' towards them, this normally gets a laugh, but just be careful how you do it so it comes across as playful or funny rather than seductive or sleazy!

For more inspiration, Sophie Mei danced to the Holly Valance version on Britain's got Talent this evening!

Aisha Azar · 05-26-2008, 10:52 PM

Dear Curl,
Do you know what the song is about? Sometimes that can give you some idea of how to interact with the audience. We occasionally give them something. For example, in our last show, we gave out carnations to some of the audience members. It was during a basket dance and the background dancers went out into the audience when the principle dancer did her solo part and gave out the flowers. We have also done things like a shaabi number during shows so that other dancers can get up and dance with us. We also gave out strawberries once during a skit to an Egyptian song in which the singer talks about the virtues of "Farowla". So sometimes your music can give you great inspiration on how to interact with the audience. It does not always have to be in the most accepted or usual ways where you pull somebody up out of the audience. Give a single red rose to an older lady in the audience and that will charm the heck out of everyone!!
Regards,
A'isha

Eshta · 05-26-2008, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A'isha Azar

Dear Curl,
Give a single red rose to an older lady in the audience and that will charm the heck out of everyone!!
Regards,
A'isha

Awww, I LOVE this idea!! I'm melting at the thought of it alone!!

Aisha Azar · 05-27-2008, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eshta

Awww, I LOVE this idea!! I'm melting at the thought of it alone!!

Dear Eshta,
I got rather bored with the pull some poor unsuspecting victim out of the audience thing many years ago and decided to experiment with different kinds of audience participation, and this was one of my alternatives. I have occasionally given the rose to an older gentleman as well. I like the idea a lot and am so happy that someone else thinks its good!.
Regards,
A'isha

Shanazel · 05-27-2008, 03:09 AM

The rose is a lovely idea! Unfortunately, it is harder and harder to find people who are "older" from my point of view...

Just making eye contact with the audience makes people feel a part of what you are doing. Never underestimate the power of making someone feel like an audience of one, even for a few moments.

Lydia Dubai has a wonderful custom of giving veils to girls or young women in the audience. A chiffon veil only costs a few dollars (especially if you hit the flat fold tables at chain fabric stores) and bestowing your veil on a maid of honor, flower girl, or mother of the bride would be a lovely gesture that would be remembered.

Caroline_afifi · 05-27-2008, 09:53 AM

It sounds like a lovely idea A'isha but where did you keep the roses?
Did you bring them out with you from the start or get someone to do it for you, did you manage to keep them hidden or was it part of your entrance?

I have seen rose petals scattered as part of a dance and a champagne bucket with glitter in it carefully placed to look like the dancer was going to throw icy water over a mans head. This was of course in the name of humour, and carried well in the context of the evening.
I suppose the key is to keep it sweet and simple without going down the path of too many gimmicks.

Marya · 05-27-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

The rose is a lovely idea! Unfortunately, it is harder and harder to find people who are "older" from my point of view...

LOL, I know what you mean. If there are children in the audience they usually are totally entranced by the glittery costumes and the movement and I will smile and maybe wave at them. It is so much fun.

Marya

Aisha Azar · 05-27-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline_afifi

It sounds like a lovely idea A'isha but where did you keep the roses?
Did you bring them out with you from the start or get someone to do it for you, did you manage to keep them hidden or was it part of your entrance?

I have seen rose petals scattered as part of a dance and a champagne bucket with glitter in it carefully placed to look like the dancer was going to throw icy water over a mans head. This was of course in the name of humour, and carried well in the context of the evening.
I suppose the key is to keep it sweet and simple without going down the path of too many gimmicks.

Dear Caroline,
At private parties where I have done the rose thing, there was usually a table of some sort or other place where I could lay a veil with a rose in its folds, or there are numerous other ways to not be obvious about it. Or, if it is a person's birthday or something, you can just carry it in and give it to the individual without any undue stress! Each situation is different and it does not even have to be a rose. It can be anything sweet and simple. I ruled out candy because some people do not eat it for medical or health reasons. But almost everyone loves roses. The idea is to interact with your audience in positive, acceptable and nonthreatening ways.
Regards,
A'isha

maylynn · 05-27-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

Lydia Dubai has a wonderful custom of giving veils to girls or young women in the audience. A chiffon veil only costs a few dollars (especially if you hit the flat fold tables at chain fabric stores) and bestowing your veil on a maid of honor, flower girl, or mother of the bride would be a lovely gesture that would be remembered.

i LOVE this idea!

05-26-2008, 08:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
curl1982 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bournemouth, UK Posts: 35	Involving the audience Hi there, I've just gone through one of my choreo's which I want to use for my sis-in-laws 30th birthday do. The song is called 'Simarik' from the GORGEOUS turkish singer Tarkan. It's an easy going, vibrant turkish pop song (link below). I want to involve the audience a bit. They're all friends of mine too and we're very pally. I basically want the people (about 50-70 odd) to have fun as my biggest ever worry is to bore people and that they start wandering off. Has anyone got ideas about HOW I could involve people (e.g. make them copy a move, make audience laugh a bit etc.)? Is it generally difficult to get people on stage/to involve them? Here's the link YouTube - Tarkan - Simarik

05-26-2008, 10:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Eshta Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 337	Forward past the first 30 seconds or so, but lots of 'classic' ideas here: BUT! When you invite someone up to join you, they don't always behave the way you want them to, especially if you have an audience who aren't used to interacting with belly dancers. Audience interaction is pretty unpredictable and you have got to be confident enough that you can go with it, but keep it under your control at the same time. This comes with practice & experience, and if you are worried you are going to lose your audience so quickly, I'm getting the feeling you are not yet experienced as a performer...? Simarik is a well-known, well-liked, up-beat pop song. Also it is SHORT! If you work hard on your performance you shouldn't lose your audience that quickly - I think you would be better off practicing your performance than worrying about gimmicks about how to get the audience involved. Make sure you remember to smile/not frown in concentration at least, and don't look at the floor the whole way through. If you want to get a reaction from the audience but not actually drag them up to dance with you, for this particular song you can always make eye contact with someone in the audience and direct your accents on the 'kiss kiss' towards them, this normally gets a laugh, but just be careful how you do it so it comes across as playful or funny rather than seductive or sleazy! For more inspiration, Sophie Mei danced to the Holly Valance version on Britain's got Talent this evening! __________________ Saqarah - London's monthly Belly Dance Hafla!

05-26-2008, 10:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,502	Audience interaction Dear Curl, Do you know what the song is about? Sometimes that can give you some idea of how to interact with the audience. We occasionally give them something. For example, in our last show, we gave out carnations to some of the audience members. It was during a basket dance and the background dancers went out into the audience when the principle dancer did her solo part and gave out the flowers. We have also done things like a shaabi number during shows so that other dancers can get up and dance with us. We also gave out strawberries once during a skit to an Egyptian song in which the singer talks about the virtues of "Farowla". So sometimes your music can give you great inspiration on how to interact with the audience. It does not always have to be in the most accepted or usual ways where you pull somebody up out of the audience. Give a single red rose to an older lady in the audience and that will charm the heck out of everyone!! Regards, A'isha

05-27-2008, 03:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,664	The rose is a lovely idea! Unfortunately, it is harder and harder to find people who are "older" from my point of view... Just making eye contact with the audience makes people feel a part of what you are doing. Never underestimate the power of making someone feel like an audience of one, even for a few moments. Lydia Dubai has a wonderful custom of giving veils to girls or young women in the audience. A chiffon veil only costs a few dollars (especially if you hit the flat fold tables at chain fabric stores) and bestowing your veil on a maid of honor, flower girl, or mother of the bride would be a lovely gesture that would be remembered.

05-27-2008, 09:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
Caroline_afifi V.I.P. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 1,341	It sounds like a lovely idea A'isha but where did you keep the roses? Did you bring them out with you from the start or get someone to do it for you, did you manage to keep them hidden or was it part of your entrance? I have seen rose petals scattered as part of a dance and a champagne bucket with glitter in it carefully placed to look like the dancer was going to throw icy water over a mans head. This was of course in the name of humour, and carried well in the context of the evening. I suppose the key is to keep it sweet and simple without going down the path of too many gimmicks.