WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT YOUR "COMPETITION"

Oriental Dance or what is usually referred to as Belly Dance is my unique or niche business. It was extreamly popular for a while during the Shakira craze as I call it. I love her and her music. However, I feel like it is a struggle that at least small town belly dance performers and instructors face. So why do I treat other bellydancers in my area as colleagues instead of competition? Because the more people bringing this art form to light the more attention and promotion bellydance will get.
I also don't have animosity towards my "competition" because it's what keeps me on my toes. It is also a driving force for me to feel like I may have someone in my area to learn from, teach something to, and even collaborate with. There is more than enough room for success when you're not in the mind set that someone can take what is yours if it truly is yours. Detachment is a difficult buddhist practice but it has been my path to enlightenment.
Who do I think worthy of keeping an eye on?😉 Someone who represents the art well. Someone who is professional. Students to recruit for promotional performances. If you're creating exceptional students that love to perform I'm recruiting them for a performance. That doesn't mean I'd steel anyone's students. A good teacher will encourage their loyal and dedicated students to be exposed and gain experience.
I'm currently at two different dance studios and I love that there is nothing but support. I suffered a concussion this year and I've been working on my memory by learning other people's choreographs and new dance forms that have only enhanced my oriental dance skills.
I was inspired to write about this issue of competition because of a bad experience a circus promoter and performer, Krizia Carr spoke about recently. She was perplexed as to why there would be envy rather than support for her success in trying to keep the circus industry alive. By the way her circus show will be in Key West for about a week in October and I can't wait to see it. Here is a link for more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-flying-carrs-circus-back-in-time-tickets-36263642531
I would also like to include in this blog a thank you to the two constant things that have made an impact in my dance. The first is my forever home studio instructor, Shayna Lee of Hipnotic Dance Studio. Thank you for all the support and encouragement throughout the years. The second is Nathalie Hatab who has provided a decade of the Miami Bellydance Convention. This event brings instructors from all over the world and provides a beautiful stage for local performers and their students.