Belly Dance Burnout

BELLYDANCE BURNOUTare just icing on the cake. TYPE 3: is the dancer who
A lot of thought has gone into this particular articlefeels she can perform and compete with the best of
regarding belly dance burn out. For most dancers whothem even if she has only been dancing a fraction of
are just starting out working in restaurants andthe time of her contemporaries. Time will usually
nightclubs, it is hard to fathom ever getting to a pointteach this dancer a lesson by shocking her with an
where you find yourself sitting on the side of theexperience she is unprepared for. This experience
bed trying to talk yourself into getting ready foralone can knock her off her feet. It will make her
another show. But it is a reality that happens and thethink twice and hopefully get her back on the path
amazing thing about it is that it isn’t like a virusof humility. These types of “Ego Crisis” when
that just hits you and you can get over it. It isexperienced for long periods of time can strain the
gradual and towards the end of this emotionalenthusiasm of any performer. Make sure you replace
rollercoaster, you feel like you just can’t get itthe ego with self confidence.
together to go out and perform for even the mostCHOREOGRAPHY BRAIN FREEZE can create
appreciative audience.repetitive, boring moves. This is one area that all
Most dancers, who experience belly dance burn out,dancers who have been performing for many years
feel like they are unappreciative of their position inexperience one time or another. Remember that this
their dance community and a guilt complex sets in. Sois a dance of how you live your life. You bring in your
let’s talk about this and look at some warningexperiences into your dance and that in itself will
signs before hand so that no dancer has tokeep choreography fresh. Self criticism or comparing
experience “Belly Dance Burnout”.oneself to another dancer is not healthy and it
Most dancers who are motivated to perform withincreates stagnation in the creative process.
the 3 to 5 year career spectrum are ready toRemember that there is only one of you in the
conquer the world. These are my favorite dancersUniverse and what a true blessing you are. Your
because nothing gets them down. Most dancers atcreativity is already unique because “You”
this level are motivated from an inner core of selfexist. Also remember that you must dance from
confidence. But after awhile life takes a toll on thisyour own creativity. Becoming someone else’s
inner core and self doubt sinks in slowly but surely.carbon copy or imitating another dancer may seem
Why this happens is a very important question.like a compliment but it takes away your own
No matter how you look at belly dancing, this is ancreative process. Dancers need to perform from
entertainment that effects the life of the dancertheir own place and image. All performers have their
which includes, family, friends, coworkers, and evenown treasure trove of moves. Just look inside
the dog or cat. When you are in this type of danceyourself.
many things in your life change. The first thing thatTHE PROFESSIONAL “NO TIME” PROBLEM
most women notice is the effect it has on their bodyhas many different areas that effect the professional
image. Belly dancing will show you what is right aboutdancer. First is the fact that many performers dance
your body and it directs you to a path ofso much that they forget to practice or don’t
enlightenment. Let’s talk about ATTITUDEmake time. Moves get sloppy and repetitive and the
CHANGE.dancer’s enthusiasm goes down the drain. As a
When we change our attitude, there seems to beperformer we must honor ourselves and our
one thing that we forget to change with it and thataudience by dancing the best show possible. Training
is our perception of the world around us. Perceptionand practicing enhances techniques and they keep all
is very important because it helps you see theof us in shape not only physically but mentally.
difference between the shallow aspects of our danceAnother factor is not having time with family or
to the deep and profound experiences. Many dancersfriends. The dance can to take over the life of the
forget that attitude can be momentary and fluctuatedancer. So the dancer has to make decisions based
between having a great show to having an offon what kind of family life she wants to preserve.
performance. If your perception and knowledge ofPerforming can also become addictive so make sure
your dance are kept equal than your attitude willthat the gigs that you agree to are worth it in time
follow in their footsteps.and money. Remember, you can always say
EGO CRISIS is another problem that can create“no” to a gig.
havoc in a dancers world. And there seems to beTHE DEAD AUDIENCE definitely does not help in the
different types. Type number 1 is usually createdconfidence area. Most people if they are not
when a performer doesn’t understand that sheeducated regarding our type of dance don’t
must work her way up to performing in differentunderstand what they are watching. And if a
venues. If any position is handed down to her, sheperformer doesn’t know how to perform in
won’t have any respect for the venue orfront of different types of audiences, this can be
herself. Any performer who leaves this situationdevastating. One way to know what to expect in
stressed has to understand that anything handed toadvance is to find out what kind of venue you may
them must be acknowledged as a gift and treatedbe performing at. It seems simple and rather basic
with respect. Through trial and error can a truebut when dancers perform a lot, certain questions
performer understand her place in her community?can easily be forgotten. And there are those
TYPE 2: happens when performers get accoladesperformances that you know in advance might be
early on in their career and forget their humility. Wequestionable. Either way just know that you have to
all want to be told we are amazing and incredibleend the performance with confidence knowing you
dancers but the fact is there are a lot of amazingdid your best. There are venues where a dancer was
and incredible dancers out there. Remember thatincredible and still will get a luke warm response from
compliments are a dime a dozen. The point is tothe audience. Don’t judge yourself by the
dance from humility. Compliments aren’taudiences’ response. Judge yourself by how you
guaranteed and they won’t always come yourfelt inside. Your gut will always tell you the truth.
way. There will be moments when a dancerRemember that second guessing yourself just adds
performs and finds the audience isn’t watchingfuel to the fire of self doubt.
or interested. Eventually the feeling ofSo here’s a little secret I would like to share with
“what’s the use” creeps up and thereyou:
you have the beginning symptom of belly dance burnAll performers have an advantage before they ever
out. Remember why you started dancing in the firstget in front of people. This one advantage is the fact
place. Go back to those first moments of enthusiasmthat the story they will tell will be one of a kind. This
that you felt when you first started learning how toin itself is a miracle. And to remember oneself is a
dance. In those beginning moments all that matteredreminder of the miracle that you are and dancing is a
was that you were doing what you loved andway of telling the world about miracles. So when you
wanted to do. Center yourself on always beingare feeling the “belly dance burn out” just
appreciative that you have the chance to perform.remember the miracle that you are and the miracles
Remember you are continually shining your diamondthat you need to share.
of the dancer with in you. People’s compliments