Shahina

Shahina Danse Orientale

Finding a Belly Dance Coach

by Ne-Kajira Jannan

One of the hardest things to do in the dance industry is find a qualified danse orientale (“belly dance”) instructor, much less a coach once you're beyond the beginning level. To date, we have no national certification program, no standardized foundation vocabulary, no established professional standard, no dance standards for levels, and no standard categorization of the various styles and forms of this dance art. Worse, because there is no certification program, there are self-designated instructors who teach in such a manner as to cause physical damage to their students.

Fortunately, this bleak picture is changing as more communication between nationally recognized instructors occurs and as more instructors take the form seriously. There are some foundations of knowledge and practices that you can look for in a good instructor. In this article we present some basic guidelines to use when you are thinking about furthering your dance education.

Inquire as to the teacher’s dance education background. Who were/are her instructors? How long has she been dancing? Did she intern under another instructor? Has she continued to take classes or workshops? Has she taken time to study another discipline? Though many excellent teachers have not cross trained in other forms or styles, cross training often indicates an interest in on-going self-improvement. Is she cross trained in another danse orientale style (such as American belly dance, California tribal, fusion, folkloric) or another dance form (such as ballet, jazz, flamenco, folk)?

To be a professional means to be engaged in, or worthy of, the standards of a profession. Whether teaching full or part time, a good instructor always maintains and upholds professional standards of instruction. She works with others in her profession to develop and work to a dance standard. She teaches her students not just dance movements, but dance theory as well, a specific attitude towards dance and related basics such as music, culture, history, professional presentation, choreography concepts and more.

She has a professional development plan for herself and her students, including a clear progression plan from level to level and what the student needs to do to move into each level; she usually works around a teacher portfolio. Everything the good instructor does is done with a focus on achieving a goal: the proper education and training of her students while presenting the information in an enjoyable format. Her professional attitude is also reflected in her interaction with and about other instructors. The good instructor has a strong sense of ethics and encourages her students to develop the same.

A good teacher respects the historical/cultural elements behind the dance. She also respects herself and others, including those who have come before her and those who are currently teaching. Beware of the teacher that makes it a habit to denigrate other teachers, or who teaches the dance as a form of titillation.
More, a good teacher enjoys people and enjoys teaching. They are driven by a passion to give their knowledge to others. Following are a few points which you can use to check out a teacher you are considering.

1. What, if any, goals does your teacher have in regards to students? Good teachers provide growth opportunities for students in the form of haflas, shows, workshops, and educational materials. A good instructor also has it as a goal to produce dancers who meet a professional standard whether they will go on to become professional dancers or not. She also has it as a goal to produce students who are knowledgeable in the history and culture of the dance, who are aware of body mechanics and proper technique and who are able to function independent of the instructor.

2. Does she encourage students to learn the various styles and study the various options in dance? A good teacher is secure in her skills and knowledge and understands that her style may not be what is best for every student. She notifies students of other events and classes so they can do some exploring within the venues. It is the responsibility and obligation of the instructor to be aware of what various teachers in your area have to offer, and to see how the individual student may benefit from each instructor.

A good teacher has an understanding of body mechanics: how a body moves, the planes of motion, the way a body works to create a movement - and explains these to her students. She stresses the basic position and good posture. A student will often find the good teacher has a library of books not just on costuming, but on the theory of dance, body mechanics and more. The good teacher never ceases learning and providing her students with opportunities to learn. She is able to suggest videos to supplement her teaching that are safe.

3. Does she take time to learn about the cultures and people from which the dance originated? A good teacher has some knowledge about the cultures represented by ethnic dance. She takes time to explain the historical basis of the dance and takes time to address misinformation. She’s not afraid to admit what she does not know, and helps students seek good resources for information. Often, the student will discover that a good teacher not only knows various forms of danse orientale but is well-versed in folk dance and folkloric dance as well.

4. Does she offer regular classes in understanding the music? A good teacher understands the rhythms in the music and the emotions and takes time to educate her students in this form. She does not need to be a musician, but a good teacher should be able to identify and explain the foundation rhythms of the dance form. She will also ensure this information comes to her students via workshops or other teacher suggestions if necessary.

5. Are her classes run professionally? A good teacher should have a grasp of simple business concepts so that her classes are well organized and well planned. Her classes have a beginning, middle and end. She provides students with resource lists for books and music to ensure they have a way to follow-up her training. She starts on time and shows respect for her students while teaching them to respect each other. She has knowledge of the legal issues surrounding music and dance copyright laws and instructs her students in the same.

6. Does she sponsor workshops, guest teachers or encourage students to attend the same? A good teacher always seeks to provide new learning opportunities for her students. The field of danse orientale and related folk/folkloric dances is so vast that no one teacher can know everything. A good teacher also knows that students gain by attending workshops and classes taught by other teachers. She sponsors guest teachers and workshop presenters for her students to ensure they are gaining as much opportunity to learn as she can provide.

7. Does she care about her community? A good teacher gives back to her community. She offers lectures and programs to educate the public regarding ethnic dance. Dance is a community event and the good teacher ensures that her students are seen as contributing members of the community.

While these elements do not guarantee a good teacher, you will usually find these qualities in the better instructors. Since it is your time, effort, health and money that is going into the classes, it is wise to seek out the best instructors available.

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