Publisher:
Alizah Afet * info@bellydancenewengland.com
When did
you begin publishing your magazine/newsletter?
In 1997. It
was called "New England Middle-Eastern Dance Calendar of Events" back
then, and it was only 6 pages!
Why do
you do it?
Back in Oct. 1996, as a baby belly dancer, I performed with
my teacher and fellow students at a tribute to George Abdo. This was a huge,
star-studded event; George had a front-row seat and it was a great honor to
perform for him. I discovered later that there was a workshop and show
featuring Morocco of NY at the other end of the state that same night. Two big
events on the same night and no one knew! I decided that something had to be
done to help the community know what was happening and, hopefully, work
together to avoid scheduling conflicts.
What do
you feel is the criteria for a publisher in our business and what are your own
credentials?
I think it is important to have a very clear vision for
what you want to accomplish with your publication. It's not possible to be all
things to all people; your publication should have a focus. This helps you as a
publisher define and refine the sorts of things you want to cover and have
people write about.
I think having that sort of focus for Belly Dance New
England has helped keep it going for so long. Of course, it helps greatly that
New England - especially the Boston area - has a long and rich history with
regards to belly dance!
While it is also helpful to have some writing and
publishing skills and experience, those can be learned or hired, if you have a
staff.
Why do
you continue year after year – or in other words, what is it that motivates you
to continue?
My original intent was simply to keep people up to date on
current events in the community. However, a few years after I had started Belly
Dance New England, a highly-respected dancer and teacher told me that I had
done more than that - I had also helped create community amongst New England
belly dancers. That meant a great deal to me, and still does.
Are you a
Local Publication? Regional? National? International?
Regional - the six New England states, plus occasional
coverage of events in maritime Canada, New York City, and upstate New York.
Were you
a dancer prior to your publication? How long and what was/is your involvement
in ME Dance Arts?
I started studying belly dance in 1994, three years before
I started Belly Dance New England. I have continued to study and perform since
then. I also taught for several years.
Did you
have previous publishing experience before your publication?
Yes. I have been a professional writer for over 25 years,
as a journalist and technical writer.
How do
you pick your staff writers?
Primarily for their area of interest and expertise. Amina
Delal* is very knowledgeable about Middle-Eastern music, especially
"vintage," so I asked her to write a column "Music Every Dancer
Should Know." Amira Jamal launched "One Teacher's Opinion"
because she is passionate about teaching. Morgana Mirage, my associate editor,
has an extensive writing background and I rely on her for her overall writing
and editing skills.
What
special features do you offer in your magazine?
"Music Every Dancer Should Know". "Sequins of Events" - event
reviews. "Holidays and Holy
Days" - a calendar feature to help foster awareness of various traditions
celebrated by people within the cultures touched by Middle-Eastern dance.
Have you
always been in print? Do you offer the same information online? Have you considered going to online?
The publication originally started out as a 6-page
newsletter. I started the Web site a few years later, primarily to post class
and event information. Over the years, the newsletter grew to become a 60-page e-zine.
What is
the cost for your publication’s subscription and how many issues do you print
throughout the year? Do you have specialty issues?
I have published a number of specialty issues. I've had
issues focused on specific New England states; dancer health and safety; dance
camps and retreats; and tribal belly dance.
I've always tried to keep the magazine affordable. A year
subscription (6 issues) cost $15.
Is there
anything else you would like to add that hasn’t been covered - - anything else
that you feel is relevant?
Belly Dance New England is going to be an online only
publication. The November/December issue was the last print issue.
Alizah Afet
Publisher’s
Bio
Alizah
Afet has been belly dancing for over 15 years. She is a former
member of The Goddess Dancing, and has performed with The Blue Moon Zar Gypsies
and Big Moves Boston. In addition to publishing Belly Dance New England (www.bellydancenewengland.com),
*the* go-to site for belly dance events around New England, Alizah is
passionate about Boston's belly dance legacy, and is co-producing a documentary
on the history of Boston belly dance.
