Gigs Gigs, Belly Dance Gigs Events Haflas Festivals And Exhibitions!!!
Its been a while since my last post . partly because this is a year of BIG changes and also because of my exciting schedule of gigs!! So to honour the last month, I dedicate this post to Belly Dance gigs, events, haflas, festivals and exhibitions
Firstly, what do I consider as Belly Dance gigs?
Its simple, a gig is an event (not regular) at which you get to perform and showcase your Belly dancing.
Easier said than done, like people, gigs come in many shapes and sizes. For example, student shows are often the first type of gigs that we encounter as performers and these create an opportunity to gain performance experience for dancers of any ability.
performance at the Melissa Bellydance student showcase (Guanabara)
Private gigs- being a Mahira girl and as a soloist, I often do many of these e.g. birthdays, hens, leaving dos etc. Personally, some of my favourite gigs have been of this type where the audience atmosphere is fun and generally people are in awe, have a great smile on their face and are pleasantly surprised at an artistic dance that they do not see every day.
Main advantages are that these can include audience interaction (it is nice for people to get involved in dancing), you can meet a wide range of people, these are also mostly paid gigs and you NEVER know what to expect in terms of venue, stage etc, which makes it even more interesting!
Most interesting venue so far, and one of my favourites- a leaving do hosted on a farm!!!
Haflas- These are also great for developing your performance. Some of my first solos took place at haflas, which again provide opportunities for a number of dancers who are varied in experience and style. Some would argue that these can be the 'toughest' type of gig as you are often belly dancing for belly dancers! I have found however, these are great events for belly dance lovers, as you can network with people who share this interest, you can gain constructive feedback from other dancers and you may also be inspired by another performer that you see just by watching a hafla.
Mahira Girls performing at Hafla on the Hill, London (October 2012)
Festivals- I have found that as I have grown as a dancer, these have become more common! Festivals are a great way to gain experience from dancing 'on a big stage'. Sometimes for a large troupe of dancers, these gigs can be quite challenging in terms of staying in accurate formations and entering and exiting the stage throughout the set. What I love about these is the drama and character that you have to maintain throughout your performance which can make or break the energy of your show. Festivals themselves also vary a lot, some may be specifically for belly dance, some may be representative of something different.
Kaleidoscope of Stars festival, London, June 2013
Charity events- These again are great for developing dancers to have experience and at the same time spread the joy of belly dance for a good cause. Like private gigs, you never know what to expect and there are always opportunities to meet new people!
Exhibitions- These are also like festivals in terms of dancing on a large stage with a big set. This is always nice when you are with a troupe and has similar advantages to dancing at festivals. What I also like is the fact that you can walk around explore your surroundings after dancing which makes it more of a day out :)!
At the Mind Body Spirit Festival, Earls Court, May 2013
So there it is, the breakdown on gigs! I could go into way more depth and I am sure there are other types of belly dance gigs that are done but as it stands, being thrown in the deep end at one of these is a necessary nerve racking evil at first which then turns into the greatest adrenalin rush a dancer may have. And whilst it is important to dance for yourself, it is also fantastic to share and display your passion with the rest of the world.
Sureya
Links to this post:
Melissa Bellydance
Mahira girls facebook page
Why not follow us on Twitter??
