The Power of “No”

By Nizana

As an instructor and troupe director, I always have my eye out for things to remind my students and troupe members of what “no” is about. I’ve noticed over time with the increase of dancers under the “belly dance” umbrella that it appears not everyone is getting quality instruction that includes much more than how to do moves and choreographies. I’ve been to many a venue where I’ll see something and think “NO!” (As in, ”oh no, she/he didn’t!”)

This begins in the classroom/studio and into the dressing room and “pre-show” before it ever hits the stage. If you plan to perform, you should be learning and reviewing performance tips as well as the steps to the choreography. That way when you get to the stage, you are more prepared and you will perform more effectively. There are some great articles out there on that very topic, including a short article I wrote on the events page of my website, NizanaRaqs.

A dressing room “no” is to not leave the door wide open. Be mindful of people in various states of dress when entering and leaving. Remember that space is usually limited and you need to share. Another is to check yourself out closely before you think you are ready. Is everything secure, centered and in its rightful place? No gap-osis? No crack-itis? No lipstick on your teeth? If someone is with you, ask them for a look over and do the same for them. If you are sick, and can’t force yourself to stay home, don’t cough on or around others….PLEASE NO!!! And yes, you can see an article on “Dressing Room Etiquette” by moi, in the archives here on iShimmy.

For those of you who bring friends and children to the audience, help them be mindful of audience etiquette. One example would be not to park under the video equipment and yammer away or let the kids run wild as that can be picked up on the tape, ruining someone’s memento.  Be a good audience member yourself; being disrespectful to the performers on stage is a “no.” One pre-show “no” is to run around the audience in your costume. Keep the magic for the stage! The cameras are still rolling! Leave the audience’s attention to the stage and the performers that are on it.

A stage “no” is bending over with your butt to the audience to pick up your props. BIG NO!!!  Practice graceful ways to retrieve your items instead of sloughing across the stage forgetting the audience is still watching. You want to keep the character the entire time you are in costume in the public eye. Don’t wander aimlessly on stage pre-show in view of the audience unless you are a technician working on lights or sound or doing something truly necessary. Start shows and your performance on time - not being prepared to start on time is another “NO.“ Not enough makeup is another “no” because you will wash out under the lights and no one can see your face very well. Yet another “no” is incongruent music, costuming and dance style, but that‘s a whole other article.

Ethical “no’s”, yet another whole article entirely, is something that you think is common sense, golden rule type stuff that everyone should “know.” But then I hear and have seen how some dancer has claimed another dancer’s choreography, music, costumes, pictures, etc. for their own. Really?? Nooooo!!!!   

A general “no” is being oblivious to others and what is going on in the dance communities. There are a lot more dancers in a lot wider variety of styles these days, which has both pros and cons to it. While there will sometimes be unavoidable overlap of events, purposely booking over the top of someone else without a really good reason is a “no.” Be aware of what is going on where and when, and try to allow others to have their events without double booking which splits attendance for both events and causes hard feelings. This is a “no” especially for those groups who only sponsor one or two events a year. Communicate and play fair.         

If we are mindful of what is a “no,” then the dance community feels a lot more YES!