
Originally Posted by
Andrea Deagon
So I guess there is a difference in what European dancers and (North) American dancers expect, in terms of tips? Based on the non-tipping nature of some of the Western European countries?
I think America is in the middle in terms of its tipping practices. We tip waiters and hairdressers and a few other professions. And the tradition of tipping belly dancers seems to have been around from its start in America -- at least I think so! So is it so popular in America because of the American way of tipping, or becuase of the Middle Eastern tradition of tipping, or what?
It seems that in many circumstances in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, either all or a large part of what any given dance troupe made was made from tips. And tipping is an important social custom that allows people to claim and show a certain status within their circle of friends or in the broader community. In the Ethnic nightclubs of the USA in the 1970's, tipping the dancer had some of the same elements in it.
Of course, that is a far cry from people in a family restaurant where there are very few Arabs, tucking dollar bills into someone's costume.
In any case, I am wondering whether in European performances for Arab audiences, tipping is still done, or whether the European customs have overshadowed the Arab tipping thing.
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