5 qualities of a great belly dancer

 

The five qualities of a great dancer are:

1. Stage Presence - Being able to "own" the stage - whether it's in a restaurant, community event, or a huge theatre stage. This is when people can't take their eyes off the dancer. Confidence is a MUST for stage presence to come through to the audience.
2. Emotion - Connecting to the music you are dancing to, becoming like another instrument in the band, a visual interpretation of the music by the dancer. Connecting to the audience is also very important. Making eye contact and communicating your dance to everyone watching you.
3. Technique - Practice, practice, practice. The only way to get "good," is to set aside the time to practice your technique, whether it is choreography or improvisation, you still need to practice.
4. Attention to Details - Are you wearing make up? Make up is a part of your "costume." Do you point your toe when you lift your foot? Do you have energy in your hands all the way to your fingertips? We dance with our whole bodies, from the eyes to the toes. These are the little things which make a performance better.
5. Commitment to the dance, the history and the culture - Some of the commitment is in your practice, but it should also be commitment to learning about the culture, heritage, and history of the dance and the dancers who came before us.