| In short, a "dance name" is a pseudonym you go by | | | | go ahead and pick one--after all, why not? If you're not |
| when you are functioning as a belly dancer. It is the | | | | sure, keep reading, and see whether the comments |
| name you use when you do a performance in public, | | | | below help you make your decision! What Do The |
| go to eat dinner at a restaurant where you would like | | | | Pros Do? Dancer Drawing The answer to this |
| to have a job performing, teach classes, meet with | | | | question won't help you much. Some pros, such as |
| musicians, go out on the town with your dance friends, | | | | Morocco, Dahlena, and Cassandra do have |
| attend dance workshops, and otherwise move in | | | | "professional" names. Others, like Bert Balladine, John |
| dance circles. If you introduce yourself under your | | | | Compton, Suzanne Del Vecchio, Horacio Cifuentes, |
| dance name as you form new friendships, you may | | | | and Kathryn Ferguson are successful using their |
| develop a circle of friends who don't even know your | | | | normal everyday names. A dancer named Salome in |
| "mundane" name. | | | | Ohio actually changed her legal name to Salome, and |
| For the most part, the practice of adopting a dance | | | | goes by that name for everything she does in life. Of |
| name is a North American and Australian/New | | | | course, some people like Khedaoudj and Suhaila |
| Zealander phenomenon. | | | | Salimpour were given names when they were born |
| In the Middle East and throughout Europe, dancers | | | | that function well as stage names. |
| usually function under their own names. Whether or | | | | So, no matter which way you decide to go for |
| not you adopt a stage name is really a question of | | | | yourself, you'll be in good company. |
| whether you want one! You can be a perfectly | | | | It's probably safe to say that the vast majority of |
| credible dancer performing under your own legal name, | | | | dancers who perform in public or teach probably have |
| but if you think it would be fun to have a nom de | | | | adopted "dance names" to promote their image as a |
| danse, then go for it! A dance name may or may not | | | | credible performer of Middle Eastern dance, enhance |
| be a legally-recognized name. Some dancers get | | | | the mystique of the dance, and nudge the audience |
| checking accounts and post office boxes under their | | | | into expecting something just a little exotic. |
| dance names, but many others don't. You may | | | | What About Security And Privacy Issues? Are you |
| incorporate yourself into a business under your dance | | | | reluctant to pass out business cards featuring your |
| name, in order to keep your dance-related finances | | | | dance career with your "real" name on them? Are you |
| separate from your household finances, but you don't | | | | afraid you would be the target of harassment or other |
| necessarily have to do that. You may use your dance | | | | unwelcome attention if the public were to know your |
| name as the domain name for your Internet web site. | | | | real identity? Would you feel more comfortable with |
| In short, where you use your dance name is really up | | | | using a stage name rather than your legal name when |
| to you. Decide which situations are ones where you | | | | you are introduced in public as a dancer? Some |
| will use your dance name, then consistently follow that | | | | people are very sensitive about this issue, and for |
| decision. | | | | others it doesn't matter much. If you have strong |
| Dance names are usually of Arabic or Turkish origin, | | | | feelings about wanting to use a stage identity as a |
| but there are dancers who choose names of Greek, | | | | "mask" that hides your normal persona, then adopting a |
| Armenian, Persian, North African, or other origin. | | | | stage name is probably a good idea for you. |
| You might select from among the names that are | | | | What Does Your Teacher Or Troupe Director Say? |
| commonly used in a particular Middle Eastern culture, | | | | Your belly dance teacher may have a strong opinion |
| but you could alternatively select a name from a | | | | on this issue. Ask her why you should or should not |
| science fiction book, mythology, the Bible, or even | | | | have a dance name, and consider the response. You |
| something you totally invent yourself. | | | | should weigh your teacher's input, but make your own |
| Belly Dancing Bellydancing Belly Dancers Bellydancers | | | | decision based on what's right for you. |
| Belly Dance Bellydance Do You Need A Dance | | | | If you are a member of a troupe, then your troupe |
| Name? Obviously, the first question is whether you | | | | director may strongly want you to adopt a dance |
| should even bother selecting a dance name. Here are | | | | name for use on promotional material (web site, press |
| some ideas to help you consider that question--if you | | | | releases, flyers, etc.) for the troupe. |
| decide that yes, having a dance name is right for you, | | | | Your troupe director is probably trying to cultivate a |
| then you can go on to decide what it should be. | | | | certain artistic "image" for the troupe, and using dance |
| Do You Even Want A Dance Name? If you think the | | | | names for the participants may be an integral element |
| notion of picking a special name to go by when you're | | | | in her vision of what that artistic image should be. If |
| dancing is silly, then it probably doesn't make sense to | | | | you want to be part of that troupe, then you may |
| choose a dance name. If you think it would be fun to | | | | have to be flexible and adopt a dance name, at least |
| have a dance name, even if you're not performing | | | | for use when you're appearing with them. |
| anywhere and you never plan to go professional, then | | | | |