walladah
New member
Hello my friends! I have searched for a long discussion we have had concerning competitions and there was one about Bellydance evolution too, but i could not find it, to add my post, then i opened this thread. In case moderators can help with the threads, i think this one might fit well to be transferred to the previous discussions as a follow-up.
I have just read the terms and conditions of the Bellydance Evolution 2013
BDE Terms And Conditions
and i was wondering how those changes might affect the entire event but also the issues we have so many times discussed, f.ex. quality of competition and rewards of dancers who provide professional services through a competition.
To me, it seems very positive that
a) finally, this absolute selection of the public over the dancers is over. I mean the organisers choose competition winners and then the public chooses among them the best one. With the previous system, the more facebook friends a dancers had, the more prone was to win the competition, irrespective of the quality of the dance. Most people selected according to whom they know in person and not according to merit. I was really wondering how Jilina was feeling to have a dancer at her show who is not the best of the competition participators but who is very apt with PR.
b) finally, this absolute free dancing of the people who participate at the BDE show is over. I do not know how the current rates for oriental dancers in group show are in US, but in the BDE the reward is $75 for first and $50 for the rest show which might follow the first. It seems not a high financial reward but it is more or less decent.
c) Rehearsals are not paid for the show, but the dancers who dance for the show have a free pass for the workshops.
Well, to be part of the process you still need to register by paying $25. All participants are not paid for the videos they upload - it seems that exposing the video on the BDE website is the only reward.
Then, i wanted to ask your opinion. To me, it seems a good start, to pay for shows no matter what (at the terms and conditions, says that your role might be assisting dancer, but still you will be paid). If Jilina does this, then who will be the dancer master not to pay for shows? I think this is the most important, i mean, to turn dancers into decent workers. Rehearsals are not paid but at least you do not need to pay for workshops. This seems irrelevant, but late fashion with rehearsals is that teachers take time out of the lessons to teach show choreos (although there might be students who do not take part at a show and actually i hate this, because the curriculum of a lesson is quite different from learning a show part) or they charge !!!! for rehearsals for shows where the student-dancers will not be paid anyway!!!
And now, my question: what do you think? do you think that this type of arrangement for the BDE is professional and solidary with dancers? you know my view on competitions and on unpaid shows. do you think that this turn will make bellydance industry a better space for working artists?
I have just read the terms and conditions of the Bellydance Evolution 2013
BDE Terms And Conditions
and i was wondering how those changes might affect the entire event but also the issues we have so many times discussed, f.ex. quality of competition and rewards of dancers who provide professional services through a competition.
To me, it seems very positive that
a) finally, this absolute selection of the public over the dancers is over. I mean the organisers choose competition winners and then the public chooses among them the best one. With the previous system, the more facebook friends a dancers had, the more prone was to win the competition, irrespective of the quality of the dance. Most people selected according to whom they know in person and not according to merit. I was really wondering how Jilina was feeling to have a dancer at her show who is not the best of the competition participators but who is very apt with PR.
b) finally, this absolute free dancing of the people who participate at the BDE show is over. I do not know how the current rates for oriental dancers in group show are in US, but in the BDE the reward is $75 for first and $50 for the rest show which might follow the first. It seems not a high financial reward but it is more or less decent.
c) Rehearsals are not paid for the show, but the dancers who dance for the show have a free pass for the workshops.
Well, to be part of the process you still need to register by paying $25. All participants are not paid for the videos they upload - it seems that exposing the video on the BDE website is the only reward.
Then, i wanted to ask your opinion. To me, it seems a good start, to pay for shows no matter what (at the terms and conditions, says that your role might be assisting dancer, but still you will be paid). If Jilina does this, then who will be the dancer master not to pay for shows? I think this is the most important, i mean, to turn dancers into decent workers. Rehearsals are not paid but at least you do not need to pay for workshops. This seems irrelevant, but late fashion with rehearsals is that teachers take time out of the lessons to teach show choreos (although there might be students who do not take part at a show and actually i hate this, because the curriculum of a lesson is quite different from learning a show part) or they charge !!!! for rehearsals for shows where the student-dancers will not be paid anyway!!!
And now, my question: what do you think? do you think that this type of arrangement for the BDE is professional and solidary with dancers? you know my view on competitions and on unpaid shows. do you think that this turn will make bellydance industry a better space for working artists?