Training Costs

[shanmonster]

Once again, I've been wondering why belly dance training is so much more expensive than other dance styles.

I did about six hours of training with Louise LeCavalier for under $100. A comparable workshop with an internationally-renowned belly dancer would cost about three or four times that amount.

A five-day workshop with a belly dance instructor costs about $600. A five-day butoh workshop costs about half that.

I rarely take belly dance workshops anymore. I just can't afford them. I purchase instructional DVDs, instead. But I study with world-class performers in other dance styles.

Does anyone know why belly dance instruction is so much more expensive?

Comments

[asim.livejournal.com]

Unlike other forms of dance, there's no infrastructure for dance teachers. There's few art grants that target our field, and otherwise we're competing with other, more established and grant-savvy art forms. Add to that fewer studios that teach the form, and a thin-on-the-ground student population, and it's a situation where workshops are the main way to make money. Thus, why we students shoulder the burden that normally is taken up by other pieces of artistic support.

There are other reasons, but that's a main one.

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

agree.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I agree with most of it except for the number of studios that teach the form. I think there are far more belly dance classes in this city than any other sort of dance class marketed to adults.

[elanya.livejournal.com]

I would argue the opposite (of aism)- belly dance is a lot more popular and currently has a lot broader appeal as a 'hobby' dance than other forms, partly because it doesn't require the same kind of athleticism and fitness for dancers to feel competent at it. So you get more semi-professionals - women who take a regular once a week class for years and may perform with that class as a troupe, or who are members of a smaller troupe who may meet together once or twice a week to hash out choreography, etc. Enough of these people have the time, money, and interest to attend occasional workshops, and are willing to pay for them. So the demand means organizers can charge a fair amount for even average workshops, and more for really professional ones (maybe as a weeding out process, but I'm speculating).

I wouldn't be surprised to find the same is true of other popular/accessible dance forms, like salsa, or ballroom dancing, in terms of cost of workshops, and certainly the lack of grants available/awarded.

[elanya.livejournal.com]

The short version is: there is more of a consumer base, so it is treated more as a marketable product than an art, in some ways.

[kiaramoon.livejournal.com]

Because it's a cruel world!

[twopiearr.livejournal.com]

more people want it so they can charge more and still have full classes.

capitalism in action.