THE CHANGING FACE OF BELLY DANCE LESSONS

There is no question that online video has completely changed the world of belly dance lessons and belly dance education. It is nearly inconceivable to remember how we learned of other belly dancers, not to mention the amazing stars of the great age of belly dance. My belly dance education, other than my tutor Sausan, was from the wonderful U.S. publication named "The Belly Dance Book", edited by Tazz Richards. This book actually had pictures of Taheia Carioke and Samia Gamal; to me, this was priceless. Can you imagine my excitement when it became possible to just search in Google these names and view their dance moves. Access to belly dance performance lessons and tuition videos not only democratises the belly dance scene, it also poses some interesting questions. The first one that comes to mind is how is it that not every gifted performer or celebrity belly dancer has an Internet website. Do these artistslack the drive, Internet entrepreneurship or business acumen to gain this new global medium? Here's what I mean, for many years Dina of Egypt has been accepted as the number one Cairo dancer, yet her dances are often only available to other dancers via phone cameras shot in badly lit clubs. I can find no website nor even short demos to tantalise us to buy any professionally shot dance material. Again, perhaps the renown Dina has is adequate, however, I often think what expert advice she has been given about the fact that many people are profiting from her exceptional skill. Will Dina understand that other people are gaining financially from the views their Youtube channels draw by including her name. As well as Dina, there are other dancers like Sadie or Aziza who have received fame and probably money through having the additional benefit of stunning videos, tribes of Internet fans globally and access to publice their latest DVD or classes. The next question is does having access to our belly dance heroins take away from their mystery? When we look at Aziza in teaching frame of mind and then if we are lucky enough to view her live, it is really more wonderful. My contention is that the computer monitor medium of the lcomputer cannot do justice to a real performance. She is, however, a dancer who has gained followers and prestige through good Internet trading. To end, there are some of us who want to meet with with others online and also dare to put our dancing out there. For many, the web is a non commital medium to be utilised for viewing, buying and on occasion leaving posts. I feel unhappy, whether it's misplaced or not that some of our greatest belly dancers may have missed the boat on this one. You can bet your bottom pound that there are those out there are most certainly gaining the profits.