Mystery about email solved

[chryssanthi sahar]

Hi friends.

I contacted the CID, as I promised, and I know now what is going on with the mails of Barbara Thomson. Mrs Barbara Thomson is indeed a member of CID (Flamenco dancer from Argentina), who offered CID to invite dancers from all over the world to become CID members (because everybody who is a CID member can invite other people) and the CID direction accepted her offer, probably without having thought about the possible consequences. The point is, Greece is not so much into Internet like Western Europe and North America, so many people there don't understand, that people get suspicious when they get this kind of mails. I made it clear to the secretary of CID with who I am in contact now, that such kind of mails damage the image of CID. She seems to have understood it. She said, that they will tell Mrs Thomson not to send such mails anymore.
I tell you, my fellow country people, the Greeks, live on some other planet some times:wall:

 

[maylynn]

Thanks for the info Chryssanthi!

I just received 3 emails from the CID with more information about the organization (mostly copied & pasted from their website) since I emailed them before suspiciously asking for more information. It looks like because I was recommended by a member, I don't need to go through their application process, send them my cv etc.

I guess if I wanted to join, the next step would be for me to send them EUR55 to become an official member. As funky as it would be to have 'UNESCO CID Member' on my website, this was all a bit of a strange process and I don't feel so great about it. I mean this Barbara Thompson person has never even seen me dance (far as I know), and may have just selected me at random, so it's not like this recommendation is really even valid - I guess those are my morals kicking in... and it just so happens that is also the exact registration fee for the Paris marathon!

 

[lizaj]

Thanks for the info Chryssanthi!

I just received 3 emails from the CID with more information about the organization (mostly copied & pasted from their website) since I emailed them before suspiciously asking for more information. It looks like because I was recommended by a member, I don't need to go through their application process, send them my cv etc.

I guess if I wanted to join, the next step would be for me to send them EUR55 to become an official member. As funky as it would be to have 'UNESCO CID Member' on my website, this was all a bit of a strange process and I don't feel so great about it. I mean this Barbara Thompson person has never even seen me dance (far as I know), and may have just selected me at random, so it's not like this recommendation is really even valid - I guess those are my morals kicking in... and it just so happens that is also the exact registration fee for the Paris marathon!

Yes the prestige of being connected with UNESCO would be very welcome but to have been invited by someone who doesn't know me from Fifi Abdou or Suzy Nippletassels kind of downgrared that staus

 

[maylynn]

Yes the prestige of being connected with UNESCO would be very welcome but to have been invited by someone who doesn't know me from Fifi Abdou or Suzy Nippletassels kind of downgrared that staus

Suzy Nippletassels!!! :lol::lol::lol:

 

[lizaj]

Suzy Nippletassels!!! :lol::lol::lol:

I cannot claim to know her...she was identified by Bhuzzers many moons ago!

 

[chryssanthi sahar]

Ladies, I can understand your concerns about the CID. I think it was just a very stupid idea of them, to let this lady from Argentina "propose" members. As I said, I have the impression that they are trying to get more new member and make the whole thing less elitist than it used to be some years ago. On one hand this is good, on the other hand there are definitely better ways to gain new members. And...believe me, I told them that they are risking their reputation by letting people send this kind of mails. I told them that I am concerned about the reputation of the CID and I hope that they understood what I meant.
Nevertheless, being CID member is a cool thing, because you can participate different events, workshops and conferences for a very small fee. The coolest thing are the annual world conferences, where you have really famous dancers and dance teacher from all kinds of dance, teaching workshops and lectures and performing. 2006, when I first participated, there was Dr. Mo Geddawi teaching a workshop (and I had the opportunity to get to know him personally) and also Morroco teaching workshop and performing, as well as different other known people from Oriental Dance. Besides the O.D. people, there were so many other brilliant dancers performing and teaching, so my 55€ annual fee was really worth it
Anyway, I don't want to advertise the CID, it is a personal thing, if somebody finds it interesting enough to join.

 

[lizaj]

Ladies, I can understand your concerns about the CID. I think it was just a very stupid idea of them, to let this lady from Argentina "propose" members. As I said, I have the impression that they are trying to get more new member and make the whole thing less elitist than it used to be some years ago. On one hand this is good, on the other hand there are definitely better ways to gain new members. And...believe me, I told them that they are risking their reputation by letting people send this kind of mails. I told them that I am concerned about the reputation of the CID and I hope that they understood what I meant.
Nevertheless, being CID member is a cool thing, because you can participate different events, workshops and conferences for a very small fee. The coolest thing are the annual world conferences, where you have really famous dancers and dance teacher from all kinds of dance, teaching workshops and lectures and performing. 2006, when I first participated, there was Dr. Mo Geddawi teaching a workshop (and I had the opportunity to get to know him personally) and also Morroco teaching workshop and performing, as well as different other known people from Oriental Dance. Besides the O.D. people, there were so many other brilliant dancers performing and teaching, so my 55€ annual fee was really worth it
Anyway, I don't want to advertise the CID, it is a personal thing, if somebody finds it interesting enough to join.

But if one has to travel to these events, 55 Euros is not cheap.
And we have national organisations who set up training for us. CID has to have a network of events in different areas and provide more to attract people internationally. To randomly gather up folks and ask for 55Euros with no explanation sounds just like a ....what's the word?

 

[chryssanthi sahar]

But if one has to travel to these events, 55 Euros is not cheap.
And we have national organisations who set up training for us. CID has to have a network of events in different areas and provide more to attract people internationally. To randomly gather up folks and ask for 55Euros with no explanation sounds just like a ....what's the word?

Der Lizaj, excuse me, but what you assume here, is not correct. Maybe you should read first on CID's Webpage, what they really offer, before telling what they do wrong
The fact is, that they have events and congresses in different countries and they send information about all kinds of events that take place all over the world. Only the annual international congresses takes place in Greece the last years, but they are not the only congresses that CID organizes. Besides this the CID sends every year a book that has to do with dance to it's members, after the membership fee is payed. So the members get together the receipt for the fee a book and other materials. And they send also a magazine about dance every month, which, I admit, is mainly written in Greek, but has also English articles.
Anyway, the thing with the emails from Mrs. Thompson might have been stupid, but this doesn't mean that CID itself is stupid. As I said, I don't want to make advertisement for the CID here, but for me it was great to become a member and participate two world congresses until now, because I got to know wonderful dancers from different countries and different styles (of course Oriental Dance, but also Indian Dances, Contemporary Dance, Japanese Dances etc.), some of which have become very dear and close friends of mine. I wish I could participate the world congress every year, but the date is not always convenient for me.
Anyway, as I said many times, it is a matter of personal interest, if somebody finds an organisation like that good or not. But one shouldn't put something down, if one doesn't really know what it is and what it does.

 

[lizaj]

Der Lizaj, excuse me, but what you assume here, is not correct. Maybe you should read first on CID's Webpage, what they really offer, before telling what they do wrong
The fact is, that they have events and congresses in different countries and they send information about all kinds of events that take place all over the world. Only the annual international congresses takes place in Greece the last years, but they are not the only congresses that CID organizes. Besides this the CID sends every year a book that has to do with dance to it's members, after the membership fee is payed. So the members get together the receipt for the fee a book and other materials. And they send also a magazine about dance every month, which, I admit, is mainly written in Greek, but has also English articles.
Anyway, the thing with the emails from Mrs. Thompson might have been stupid, but this doesn't mean that CID itself is stupid. As I said, I don't want to make advertisement for the CID here, but for me it was great to become a member and participate two world congresses until now, because I got to know wonderful dancers from different countries and different styles (of course Oriental Dance, but also Indian Dances, Contemporary Dance, Japanese Dances etc.), some of which have become very dear and close friends of mine. I wish I could participate the world congress every year, but the date is not always convenient for me.
Anyway, as I said many times, it is a matter of personal interest, if somebody finds an organisation like that good or not. But one shouldn't put something down, if one doesn't really know what it is and what it does.

I would love to be involved in something like this and I am just surprised that an organisation like UNESCO gave this lady the go-ahead to email at random. It doesn't instill confidence does it? It is also wonderful to think they are accepting of belly dance ( although as you say some members weren't very welcoming).It must be a mammoth task to provide material in all differnt languages..we Brits and Americans really should not expect everyone to always expect all books and mags to be in English . We are so lazy when it comes to language. But we have so much going on antionally these days and so many calls on our finances that I think many dancers would decide not to spend even 55 euros. Many teacher/dancers are like me. I earn £20 a lesson from a college less tax .My recent update training cost £300, I pay membership fees and insurances of £70 a year , go to workshops spending hundreds of pounds a year to learn. When I perform at festivals I have to pay expenses and I think I am pretty much an average teacher. For those like me even though we may have been studying and dancing for years (10 + years in my case) and even though we are competant and entertaining we don't really figure on an international stage. We are dedicated but we will never ever make a living and justify spending more money than we have to and that would mean travelling to even more events.
What UNESCO-CID could do is to have national representatives we could network and access for advice and support and to help us raise the status of belly dance amongst other dancers..that I would pay for even if I don't make it to workshops and congresses

 

[Amulya]

I used to get a lot of emails from CID and was registered at their site if I remember well (not sure if I still am), but I could never figure out what it was all about. Thanks to this thread it's a bit more clear

Can anyone give a link to the UNESCO-CID site? I lost it and I want to check if I'm still in there so I can change my details

 

[jenc]

Here you go. I googled. Only 2 clicks CID Unesco

 

[karena]

You get a member's badge "to wear at all times"! What even in bed :shok:

 

[chryssanthi sahar]

You get a member's badge "to wear at all times"! What even in bed :shok:

Haha, of course not:lol: You are supposed to wear it when you participate congresses etc. but I don't wear it even then. Some things sound a bit old fashioned, it is because the president is an elder Greek

 

[chryssanthi sahar]

I would love to be involved in something like this and I am just surprised that an organisation like UNESCO gave this lady the go-ahead to email at random. It doesn't instill confidence does it? It is also wonderful to think they are accepting of belly dance ( although as you say some members weren't very welcoming).It must be a mammoth task to provide material in all differnt languages..we Brits and Americans really should not expect everyone to always expect all books and mags to be in English . We are so lazy when it comes to language. But we have so much going on antionally these days and so many calls on our finances that I think many dancers would decide not to spend even 55 euros. Many teacher/dancers are like me. I earn £20 a lesson from a college less tax .My recent update training cost £300, I pay membership fees and insurances of £70 a year , go to workshops spending hundreds of pounds a year to learn. When I perform at festivals I have to pay expenses and I think I am pretty much an average teacher. For those like me even though we may have been studying and dancing for years (10 + years in my case) and even though we are competant and entertaining we don't really figure on an international stage. We are dedicated but we will never ever make a living and justify spending more money than we have to and that would mean travelling to even more events.
What UNESCO-CID could do is to have national representatives we could network and access for advice and support and to help us raise the status of belly dance amongst other dancers..that I would pay for even if I don't make it to workshops and congresses

I understand Belly dance teaching doesn't seem to be financially profitable in the UK, does it? This is a pity. Things are probably a bit better here in Germany but only when you work on your own and you work A LOT!!! Believe me, I spend two thirds of my time organizing, managing and advertising my work. Especially since I have my own studio. I'm glad I am already an experienced dancer who doesn't need to visit workshops too often, otherwise I wouldn't be able to work the way I do and make a living out of my dancing and teaching.
By the way, every member of CID can become a representative of CID in his/her country, but the problem is that very few people have the time to involve in something like this (including me:redface

 

[lizaj]

I understand Belly dance teaching doesn't seem to be financially profitable in the UK, does it? This is a pity. Things are probably a bit better here in Germany but only when you work on your own and you work A LOT!!! Believe me, I spend two thirds of my time organizing, managing and advertising my work. Especially since I have my own studio. I'm glad I am already an experienced dancer who doesn't need to visit workshops too often, otherwise I wouldn't be able to work the way I do and make a living out of my dancing and teaching.
By the way, every member of CID can become a representative of CID in his/her country, but the problem is that very few people have the time to involve in something like this (including me:redface

Well I'm not going to go full time...I've had a working life. I am serious about my dancing and teaching but I have not got that kind of a future in the dance. There's a lot like me. They have to have another income.
But there are more dancers now taking the teaching and performing as their main income. I see that growing here but it'll be younger dancers than me

 

[Mya]

I think it's a lovely concept and i would enjoy being a part of it but 55 Euros is $456 for me and i imagine for other countries with an unfavourable exchange rate it is not a great option.

And then the expenses to travel to any of the conferences/events would definitely be beyond the league of most dancers here at any rate. =(

 

[Amulya]

I understand Belly dance teaching doesn't seem to be financially profitable in the UK, does it? This is a pity. Things are probably a bit better here in Germany but only when you work on your own and you work A LOT!!! Believe me, I spend two thirds of my time organizing, managing and advertising my work. Especially since I have my own studio. I'm glad I am already an experienced dancer who doesn't need to visit workshops too often, otherwise I wouldn't be able to work the way I do and make a living out of my dancing and teaching.

It's such a pity, the same over here. When I lived in Holland it used to be better, only the last year I was there the market had overflown with cheapo belly dancers, so it was not good anymore. But here something different is going on: people are not loyal, so they just do a class here and there and don't want to pay for the full course. It's too much of a hassle so I quit teaching.

Btw I tried to find the CID members page, but can't find it.
Workshops for hens nights were a really good thing, but here in Oz it's kind of painful to teach those, it's very different from sutch hens nights. So I quit that too. I'm now all for performing and nothing else.

 

[chryssanthi sahar]

I think it's a lovely concept and i would enjoy being a part of it but 55 Euros is $456 for me and i imagine for other countries with an unfavourable exchange rate it is not a great option.

And then the expenses to travel to any of the conferences/events would definitely be beyond the league of most dancers here at any rate. =(

I can understand that this quite a lot of money for somebody from the Caribbean. But there are so many people from India participating the CID world congresses, so I suppose they get some sponsoring from somewhere (not from CID though, as far as I know).

 

[chryssanthi sahar]

It's such a pity, the same over here. When I lived in Holland it used to be better, only the last year I was there the market had overflown with cheapo belly dancers, so it was not good anymore. But here something different is going on: people are not loyal, so they just do a class here and there and don't want to pay for the full course. It's too much of a hassle so I quit teaching.

Btw I tried to find the CID members page, but can't find it.
Workshops for hens nights were a really good thing, but here in Oz it's kind of painful to teach those, it's very different from sutch hens nights. So I quit that too. I'm now all for performing and nothing else.

It is a pity that you had to quite teaching completely, Amulya I hope you'll have some opportunities again.
As about the page of CID, here is the link again:
CID Unesco

 

[Amulya]

It is a pity that you had to quite teaching completely, Amulya I hope you'll have some opportunities again.
As about the page of CID, here is the link again:
CID Unesco

I don't feel it's a pity, I think I got tired from it. I wasn't anymore the same teacher as I used to be: super enthousiast and really loving teaching. It became a thing where I was feeling bad every time I had a class and I was thinking: 'I wish I didn't have to teach today'.
The very enthousiast bit has already wearing off years ago and I was wondering why but now I know. It just wasn't as exiting anymore as when I just started teaching. That's what it does when it's a job and you got to earn money, promote, deal with difficult students, non-paying people etc.
On top of that I have an illness and I have to be really careful of how I spend my energy: one class meant 3 days rest. You don't earn enough that it would be still worth loosing so much time. So I decided it's time for priorities, my health is more important and performing is more fun to me then teaching. Also performing pays better and it's shorter then a class (15 minutes of dancing and an hour of teaching is a big difference to me).
I don't say I would never teach again, who knows, but not for now.