As printed in the Quarter 4/2005 issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine
THE LAND OF OZ
Oberon and Zaina on Competitions
Oberon and I have been talking about this column for well over a year now and after we first mentioned it, many of you have continued to push us to this first article. Some of our discussions and antics as we travel and work often seem like a jaunt down the yellow brick road - meeting the Tin Man, Scarecrow and not so Cowardly Lion along the way. We have lickened ourselves to the Characters of Dorothy and Glenda - the good witch (though there are those days that the West wind seems to blow in). When faced with questions from the community and suggestions for topics they feel are important - - they put the challenge to us to put pen to paper. With their input as well as ours, The Land of OZ is born.
Our first collaboration is “Competition” and starts with the Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant, in Danville, California. We begin with commentary and “Observaton of a Prestigious Pageant - from Oberon.
Oberon
Immense effort of personal time and responsibility is the way I am describing the task allotted to the promoters of long running, exceptionally pristine contests such as the one described here …Belly Dancer of the Year, held in Danville, California, this year at the San Ramon Valley high school auditorium for the performing arts. Immaculately overseen by Leea Aziz , a wisp of a red head with a sharp eye for detail and a business demeanor.
This is the longest running contest in the history of our dance from all I can glean, taken over by Leea Aziz at the pleaful request of the creator's son at his mother's funeral. "An offer you just can't refuse", Leea informs me.
The general information put out ahead of the "pageant" makes it very clear that this is a serious contest for highly skilled teachers and dancers. The public will be charged $20.00 a day to watch the festivities. A press release is sent out ahead of the pageant and contestants can even log onto the web site for a detailed layout of the stage.
My friend, Zaina Hart, performer, teacher, promoter of the Double Crown Competition and editor of Belly Dance Magazine is asked to be one of the experienced judges at the pageant. Leea kindly acquiesces to my desire to come along and report what I see, no more or no less, at this competition I have heard so much about.
Since the contest begins for the participants as soon as they enter their lodging, I am eager to see how much room for make-up, costumes and last minute practice is allotted here. I am pleasantly surprised by the bright spacious rooms. We felt safe where we were located, which believe me is not always so and the contest was pretty much a straight shot, important to visiting competitors who are already stressed and unfamiliar with the area. Did Leea herself artfully and knowingly place a Starbuck's right across from the facility, knowing her eye for detail I'm gratefully going to assume it was no accident.
As we found the event facility, I could immediately see that the parking wrapped easily all around the side and front of the building almost guaranteeing the contestants and vendors would have an easy path, even strung as they were with bags and boxes of every description. The lot was already bristling even at our early arrival and familiar faces were smiling with easy greeting and excited expectation as they moved to the front of the building and prepared to enter through the double-wide doors. A well planned meeting spot could be found directly in front of those doors, where a tall, four sided display boasted the pictures of contestants in various poses of full costume. A small ticket booth was located to the left of the doors and people were already lining up to identify themselves and ask the lay of the land. The narrow lobby that lay the whole horizontal length of the auditorium was completely left to the vendors, who performing last minute touches to their racks and tables. As the lobby widened toward the auditorium, two sets of double doors allowed the crowd to filter to the area of the show. Coming or going from this area, even to the set of bathrooms at the left of the lobby meant passing through a barrage of color and fabric and jewelry and beads and music. Those of you who know me realize how hard it was for me to continue. I was already looking forward to the allotted shopping breaks.
Advancing through the auditorium doors placed you in a serious performance space. Coming down the graduated rows of theatre seating, a giant professional stage was front and centre and as I turned and looked back and up a bank of lights lit up a large control room where the sound people were already running adjustment tests.
To Leea's credit, this contest of 32 years has approximately 35 volunteers, mostly family and dancers, and she says that the hardest job for her is being responsible for asking them to carry the load of work.
Several of the front seating tiers are set aside for the 21 judges at this competition, and they are sweetly adorned with enticing canvass bags with meaningful gifts for the traveling judges and the gifts were gender specific, just one of the details so well taken care of; Also tucked into the bags, are pencils and a writing surface and yes, it's true, darling little book lights are also there to provide each judge with a clear view of their score sheets!
I admit to being curious about the large number of judges at this event and Leea explained to me that as a math aficionado, this was the mathematical equation that offered the best chance of selecting the authentic winner.
The judges were mostly women from our dance community, two men graced the panel, Pat Olsen of the Band Pangia, and DaVid, a dancer of "Bollywood" styling. The judges began the competition by filing onto the immense stage where they were meticulously introduced and their credentials exposed. As they were asked, they had all taken care to present a professional and sophisticated image and made quite the impressive group representation of all forms of our dance community. The 2005 judging group is profiled on the contest's Belly Dancer of the Year web site, please access this for the individual names.
Belly Dancer of the Year has four Categories, Grand Dancer, Belly Dancer Troupe of the Year, Belly Dance Duos and Trios and of course the coveted Belly Dancer of the Year. I find the manner of presentation quite unusual
because the contestants from each group are run intermittently which gives a nice break in between each similar contestant. It's refreshing, like eating sherbet in betweencourses and I think brings you to each individual performance with a fresh perspective. The contestants flow over the stage in even progression, coming from the three dressing rooms back-stage. The fabulous volunteers sweep the dance floor after each performance which, having danced with a bead particle in-bedded so deeply in my foot that my girlfriends had to perform minor surgery, I am impressed. Barbara, the MC keeps the banter going between dancers by the traditional "stealing" of veils left on the stage. The skill level of the dancers at this contest seemed very high, with a great deal of money, time and effort evident in their performances.
Even with the stipulation of no food and drink in the auditorium and the $20.00 per day ticket price, the public seats are two, thirds full both days. Flash photography is wisely forbidden and Sam Yousif, the event photographer is really the only one taking performance photographs.
Leea thoughtfully hosts a brunch for judges at a nearby French Restaurant. The table literally groans under flaky croissant sandwiches and tiny French desserts. Just another classic touch from this excellent promoter.
The contest ends late on Saturday, the cut is made and all retire homeward knowing that the day starts around noon on Sunday. Plenty of time to sleep in after a night of anxious excitement.
Sunday, the contest begins on time, and again the judges parade their pedigrees across the stage. We are becoming old friends. I ask Leea her most beloved memory of this event, she shows me the jacket she wears every year, gifted to her by a group of judges who fashioned it from their costume pieces. We both have tears in our eyes.
The pageant begins, and the finalists in their most spectacular costumes thunder onto the stage in a final attempt to show their skills. For literally hours, the judges glue their eyes to the stage and deliberate longer over their decisions. Finally, the contestants return to the stage as a group and are introduced to their transfixed public. In a flourish of activity, the trophies preceding the winner are handed out and in true professional manner no look or gasp betrays a contestant's disappointment. You may expect that I will tell you the Belly dancer of the Year at this time, but this article is only about the pageant itself,, . so, please avail yourself of the splendid website for Belly Dancer of the Year, all the winners are listed going back over many, many years and to me, truly, the were all winners. You may however be interested to know that this contest pays cash prizes in this category. $500.00 to first place, $200.00 for second place and $100.00 for third place.
The finale for this enormous undertaking, a standing room only blow-out for all attendees at El Morocco with the music of Pangia and more dancing by the winning contestants, judges, hostess and more. A four course meal, and all for only $30.00 a head. PHEW! I don't understand how Leea appears more calm and beautiful at the end of all this than on the day it started. Workshops followed the next day, but I didn't have to worry about pulling out that last burst of energy because Zaina and I were homeward bound with a car full of conversation ….oh but that's another story …and O.K., some unhealthy snacks.
Zaina
Competition - is it for everyone? NO! Now, as owner of a large and very successful "Belly Dance Competition" why in the world would I say that? Well, because it is the TRUTH! But, let me back up just a few feet and start in the middle. The middle was the point in which I created the Double Crown Belly Dance Competition ™, the first year of production was in 1994. By then, I had been on the competition "circuit" as I called it for about 6 years (the beginning), the latter 3 years being the hardest and certainly the most interesting. I have done most of the long standing competitions out there as well as some of the smaller ones that are no longer in production. And I quite often tell those dancers that I coach for competition, "Zaina has lost more than she won" because I entered so many. I didn't stop after one title - oh no, I went back - pushed myself harder, and because of that my dance became more refined and I became more relaxed with my own particular style - Zaina's Dance Persona. I did not necessarily win more, but I certainly was out there more. As a matter of fact my first introduction to my now local community was via a Belly Dance Competition. I placed dead last - - that is however another story but the short side - I was told I did not need to play zils, yet AFTER THE FACT, right there on the score sheet was a place for zils. Hmmmmmmm - - I think that might be the ugly part. But that being my first competition, you can see it DID NOT STOP ME from going to the next and the next.
For some dancers however, this would have been a devastating blow. I won't say it did not hurt, but I wasn't kicking and screaming and tearing the place apart, like I have actually seen at some competitions when the outcome is not as is desired. I call this the Belly Dance version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide. Some of you may have even seen it - - the most gentle, loving person after hearing the results at a competition - - have that temper tantrum - right there for all to see. Now, I am not saying a tantrum is not allowed, but it should be done in the privacy of your room, where all you can really damage is the pillows. <grin>
Now, when I created the DC, I had the competitor in mind FIRST. Which is logical - - I was a competitor after all. Having competed in so many places, I was privy to the good, the bad and sadly the ugly. So, my focus being on the competitor, I sat down, looked at score sheets (those who allowed us to have them), rules (again, I say those who had them), category descriptions, locations (facilities where other comps were held), judges and their qualifications, etc. etc. What I wanted to offer was an "upscale" competition in an upscale facility that had all the amenities (lodging, restaurant, lounge, close by shopping, parking, and more). I knew from experience it was important to have food - not fast food, but good energy food, plenty of water, and a place for the competitors to dress, relax and get ready - - a public bathroom or hallway would simply not work. I was determined that the competitors AND vendors and judges would be comfortable. So with all this and more in mind I/we were on a roll - we had a good start. The rest of the "pieces" were put together over the next few years which put us on solid ground, and the rest has come together based on the responses and requests/suggestions we have been given by competitors, vendors and judges. It is critical to listen to those questions/comments - - otherwise you can't really grow and you don't get better.
So - there you have in brief, the reasons and a little bit of the hows, to the Double Crown. Now, here are my suggestions and comments for what to look for when you make the decision to compete.
Quality of Information about the competition in question is critical. What is available on the web, is there a dedicated web site with descriptions, forms, listed judges, rules/regulations, fees, facility location including phone, address, room rates, maps, etc.? Are the forms you find easy to understand? Is there contact information (phone number, address, e-addy)?
Once you have this information the next step would be to find a coach. A competition coach is not always your teacher. If your teacher has never competed and/or never judged a major competition he/she may not be the right coach. I say this only because competition is different than show performance. Find someone who is experienced with "current running" competitions.
Next, “get the score sheet and criteria” - - you need to be aware of all items on the score sheet (for example - like the zill issue I mentioned above. Look at the score sheets, rules/regulations, category description. As a coach I want to assure the dancer is in the right category, knows how much time she has for his/her category, and what s/he is being judged on. If zils are required, etc. "You cannot afford to leave anything to a guess". Nor can you afford to loose even one point in the areas you know you can gain them (ie: makeup, costume (clean, suites you, fits the style of music and movement, etc.). These are the easier areas. It becomes more complicated with technique and personality - - those should be the areas of work. Quite often the difference between first and second place is merely ONE POINT.
Okay, now that you have done your homework, and know what is needed, it is time to get to work. Make yourself a checklist. If the competition is in August for instance, and there is a deadline date of July 15th - - you had best get your registration in by early spring. Nothing more frustrating than waiting to the last minute and not getting in because the category you want is full. Once you have received confirmation (either via e-mail or snail mail), make your travel arrangements. (Make sure you know you have been accepted into the competition before making flight arrangements though).
Next, “record your music” - - know how long you have for your category and either record to tape or CD - GIT ER DONE - don’t wait until the last minute. If you are one of those people like me who are notorious for changing music at the last minute - - well - - record two or three sets. This used to be much more difficult. Modern technology (COMPUTERS) has helped immensely.
Now it is time to “pick your costume”, assuring it fits properly and goes with the style of music and movement you will be offering. And don't forget your makeup. Light lipstick and eyeliner is simply not enough. Again, talk to your coach - - have a couple of costume and makeup options to show her/him.
Then what you have left to do is PRACTICE. If you are comfortable not choreographing (somewhat dangerous in my opinion - - at least try to “spot” choreograph) then you had better know that music girlfriends! Every little nuance in the music better be memorized because when you miss the transitions, flourishes, stops in the music - - it does not get missed by the judges. Take no chances here - - KNOW THAT MUSIC inside and out.
Okay - - advance forward - the night before the competition. DO NOT stay out late partying. DO NOT go to your friends late night candle party. DO NOT sit in front of the TV until 2 in the morning. And DO NOT practice all night. EAT, DRINK LOTS OF WATER, AND REST. It is certinaly okay to run through your choreography and listen to your music, but know when to call it a night.
Now, it is the day of the competition, you have all things ready to go - - you have worked hard, prepared for the competition, and are ready to step on that stage. Guess what - - YOU ARE NOW A WINNER. Before you even perform, you have already won. Not a silly concept - - just reality. You have probably worked harder than ever, and therefore have taken your dance to the next level. Congratulate yourself and go have a good time.
Here are a few extra DO’s and DO NOTS as I call them to be aware of. Most of the following will apply at any event you attend or participate in, but especially be aware of these at a competition.
* Temper tantrums are NOT acceptable.
* Treat all staff with respect (that person you just told off at the front desk, wouldn’t it be a surprise to later see her/him in a judges seat?)
* Have your costume and makeup, with you and music ready when you check in - you may not be allowed to leave the area after you have checked in (read the rules and ASK ahead of time as this is a requirement in several competitions).
* Be kind, helpful and friendly towards the other competitors. No matter what their attitude, they most likely are just as "scared" as you are and a few kind words go a very long way.
* HAVE A GREAT TIME - HAVE FUN with your performance - consider the exposure you are getting and the wonderful and appreciative audience you are about to gift with your performance - - this is an honor and something not to be taken lightly but certainly if you are having fun - it will show. And they will love you for it.
* No matter what is announced - - WIN - LOOSE - OR DRAW, be gracious - your audience who will be comprised of judges, promoters of other events, your sister and fellow dancers, family and friends will REMEMBER. And remember what I said earlier, once you get back to your room you can kick the bed or toss the pillow (that is OKAY), but smile all the way there. You are building your reputation - - build it respectfully and graciously.
* And don't forget to congratulate the winners, thank the judges and the sponsors.
So, in brief, if you have decided you want to compete, be sure you have the right temperment. Be willing to loose, but be motivated enough to want to win. And no matter the outcome, BE HAPPY - YOU MADE IT ALL THE WAY!
The following page includes a chart of the largest, most established competitions here in the U.S. Oberon and I have given them a rating of sorts with regards to informaton available, locations, prize packages, judging criteria, and much more. We hope this is helpful as you go forward. And, Yes, I myself have competed at most of those listed, and have participated as a Judge at the others. Please feel free to drop me a line with any questions. zaina@zainahart.com
And HAPPY DANCING!
