Dance Affordability

[shanmonster]

I wish I could have seen this show, but I could not afford it. Tickets for the show cost more than the workshop, and that's even before the reimbursement I get through CADA. At least I was able to take a workshop with two of the dancers. I learned a lot from it, including new ways to look at dance, movement, and interpretation.

I have noted that dance performances are often more expensive to attend than are dance workshops by the same artists. This, however, seems to be exactly the opposite when it comes to belly dance. I rarely attend belly dance workshops, as they are invariably prohibitively expensive when taught by "big name" dancers. Yet I can study some other dance style for much less money. Why is this the case?

Today I applied for admission to a certificate program at the Royal Conservatory in Artist-Educator Professional Training. "This 30-hour course offers artists a window into working in schools and in community settings through hands-on, activity-based exploration." If I get accepted, I have to catch the 6:25 AM bus into Toronto every morning, and then stay awake enough to retain all the information. Yikes. There's a course being offered in Kitchener, but it's only on days when I'll be in Toronto for dance training. Go figure.

If I get accepted, I wonder if I get a student ID. I can't help but wonder, because if I have a student ID, I can maybe afford to see dance shows like Dave St-Pierre's. Students receive a heavily-discounted rate.

In the meantime, I'm going through some of my music, trying to figure out what I want to dance to for Earth Day. It's an outdoor gig. In March. In Canada. Gah! I'm trying to think what sort of costuming I can wear, too, and thinking a giant tiered skirt and pantaloons, because I can wear long johns underneath and no one will know. But for the top? Hrm....

Comments

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

I think it's because belly dance is a self-feeding mechanism, ie it doesn't really have an *audience* outside its own community (at least, not in a lot of places), *and* most people who are BDers would much rather dance than watch other people dancing. Ergo, they get into the show because they paid to go to the workshops, and the seats are sold cheaply to try and pad out the audience of performers.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I think you're right.

[valkryor.livejournal.com]

What about a Ghwazee coat? If you find wool to make it from, it can be both thin AND warm, especially if lined with a flannelette. Just a thought. :)

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I was hoping to avoid doing more costuming for myself, but I might have to, just for this. A ghawazee coat probably is the best option.

[silverfae.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking that belly dance workshops can't get art funding the way other dance forms can to fund the travel and expenses of the teachers.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's true. At least, not in Canada. If I take a look at Yasmina Ramzy's CV, for example, I see a heap of grants. And as a member of the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, even if I train strictly in belly dance, I can get 60% of my training expenses reimbursed. And that's without applying for a single grant.

[silverfae.livejournal.com]

That's awesome. Reimbursed for training in dance? Super!

I wish it were easier here, but you know, America and art funding *sigh*

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Yes. As a member of the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, I get reimbursed 60% of my dance training fees up to a total of $300 each year. It also gets me accident insurance. I wish I'd known about this when I was living in NB. It would have helped a lot.