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.