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Jareeda 1986 on Professional Belly Dance Ethics

Jareeda wasn't always a glossy magazine. In 1986 it was a mimeographed publication of, say, 30 pages. The copy I am reading has a charming defect: the last three pages are stapled in upside down, which didn't prevent the original owner from carefully removing half of the page describing a Belly Dance Extravaganza XVIII that included John Bilezikjian and Sergio. Hmmm... interesting, the two-hour dance workshops cost $35 and the show was $10...

Well, skipping over the obvious comparisions between the pricing structure between then (twenty five years ago!) and now, and restraining an impulse to send a postcard to Jehlor Fantasy Fabrics to see if they were still in business and mailing catalogs to folks... I find an article on Belly Dancer No No's, How Not to Win Friends and Influence People. This is one great article, this is no-punches pulled. Whoever Lyeshaj of Victoria BC is or was, I salute her. Every subsequent article on professional ethics is a watered-down namby-pamby version of THIS one. Here are my favorites, the ones I don't see on OTHER lists.

  1. Sign up for every belly dance class in town but don't show up for half of them. Take 6 lessons and start performing.
  2. When the restaurant owner sees his business hurting because of poor shows, come on to him. It will cheer him up and should secure your job. If he tires of you, try the waiters -- even the dishwasher may put in a good word for you.
  3. Try to find out via the grapevine where other dancers are booked for private parties. Then show up one hour before the scheduled time and pretend to be the dancer they ordered.. most don't know one dancer from another. Or lie and say the dancer they booked is ill and you are taking her place.
  4. Travel to small towns. Tell them you are "direct from New York" or Egypt. Use big names, change yours to sound like one of the famous dancers.
  5. Collect workshop flyers for your album so you can say you went. But don't go. Remember, you are a big star now, a natural.
  6. Note to Restaurant and Club Owners: this was not meant to insult your character or intelligence.

I lift a glass of excellent tea to... Lyeshaj of Victoria BC and to Jareeda of 1986!

-- Maura Enright

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