Rules of Belly Dancing:

Performance:

Never pick tip money up from the floor, let someone else do that for you or leave it.
Establish a respectable ‘tip zone’ and stick with it. Sides of the belt and sometimes back of bra straps are typical.
Be early and be prepared.
Have a back up music options in case of technical difficulties on location.
Have a gig bag with all the things you might need in it – asprin, sewing kit, safety pins, extra cds, asprin, etc.
Do not crotch or ass the audience.
For bellygrams, have the client’s phone number and a clear idea of the location and how to get there.
For bellygrams, no all male audiences and always take an ‘escort’ to ‘help with the sound.’ never sit on a client’s lap, not even for a photo, not even if he’s really old. Know the birthday boy’s name before you get there.
Do not remove your costume on stage, unless you’re doing a burlesque fusion piece at an appropriate venue with the hosts permission.
If there is a back stage area, remain quiet back stage, do not peek from behind the curtain or open a door to peek at the performer ahead of you.
Don’t drink and dance.
Wear something professional and appropriate for the time of day, if you change into street clothes after a show.

Costuming:

Always test drive a new costume prior to performing. Wear the jewelry, the wig, etc. Do the dances with ‘props’ to see if there are any problems.
Street makeup is not the same as stage makeup – the same rule applies to performance hair, not the same as every day hair any more than a cab costume is ok for the office.
Wear shoes.
Wear underpants. Matching underpants. Do I really have to say this?
Wear a cover up while not performing.
Do not eat or drink anything but water in your costume.
Do not rely on safety pins or loose stitches to hold your costume together.
Neat finger and toe nails, polish on both should match and match the costume.

Business:

No undercutting, bad mouthing, gig stealing, enough said!
Have a price list
Have a contract
Get your money up front when possible.
When meeting a potential client, dress professionally.

Teaching:

Have a lesson plan or monthly choreography or plan.
Start and end on time.
Provide notes when possible.
Focus on the positive as much as possible.
Teach, don’t just show or dance, explain.
Explain in more than one way (visual, muscular, skeletal, similar familiar action, a story?)
Teach culture as well as dance.
If you are renting a studio, leave it as you found it and keep your classes on schedule.
Provide one or two scholarships per year if you can afford to.
If you must make specific corrections, make them to the student, not the whole class.
Be patient
Evaluate advanced students on a regular basis. Keep it challenging.
Have well-planned music lined up to minimize time spent changing and looking for music.

Being part of a group:

Be supportive of each other.
Be on time for performances and call times.
If you are traveling/rooming together, pay your fair share including wear and tear on a car.
Do not ask to borrow costumes (unless your studio has a costume closet), invest in one or two good ones and wear them to death.
Do not ask group members who can sew to do it for free. Assume you will pay them, or offer to trade services if they refuse payment.
Get your costume approved by the director a week or more before the performance.
Have your own ‘props’ for a dance (sword, cane, veil, wings, etc.).
If you are an experienced dancer, take time to help a new dancer with something that you’re already good at (hair, choreography, costuming, etc.).
Be clear about the dates and times you are performing.

Notes from KittieSparkle www.tulsabellydance.com reuse with permission only.