​Have you ever told someone that you love Middle Eastern dance and they recoiled with a statement like “Why would you ever want to do that?!” Most people do not understand how our dance form can transform you into your most fabulous, feminine self. It’s something you must experience before you can believe.
Here are 10 solid reasons why you will be a happier, healthier person if you belly dance:

1. Increased dopamine in the brain:  Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that is associated with feelings of pleasure and happiness. Belly dance increases your brain’s dopamine production, providing mood enhancements and balancing your emotional state. It lowers feelings of anxiety and depression. An increase of dopamine also helps you to move towards things that provide positive rewards, so you once you discover belly dance, you will want to continue to shimmy!
2. Energy booster:  Ever enjoyed a really great dance class and then feel even more energized after you were done? That’s because belly dance performed as a regular low-intensity form of exercise increases energy levels by at least 20%, fighting off fatigue. Increased energy enhances overall well-being and happiness.
3. Stress reducer: Sometimes when you struggle with a tough dance lesson, you might feel that the class itself is a form of low-level stress. Know that the more you subject yourself to the ‘stress’ of dancing, the better your body and mind will adapt to handling other kinds of stress.  While some days it is hard to get yourself to the class, afterwards you can attest that you feel great, relaxed, and don’t regret having gone. It might even be the best part of your day!
4. Slow down cognitive decline:  It is wonderful that belly dance is an art form that can be started at any age. Unfortunately, the older we get, the less capable our brain functioning becomes. Studies have shown that regular dance class improves mental performance and brain health, aiding memory and learning. So never back off of that long choreography class because it will increase your memory capabilities in other aspects of your life!
5. More self-confidence:  There’s nothing like an awesome dance class or a successful belly dance performance to give you a feeling of great accomplishment. Also, the more you dance, the more calories you burn, which alters your metabolism and speeds weight loss. Dancing boosts your confidence as you see your body transform for the better.
6. Be more social: While all types of exercise and dance are great for us, belly dancing in a group setting (such as a dance class or training within a troupe) is even better. People perform better when working with a partner, and dancing amongst our friends makes us a happier, more connected bunch.
7. Get better sleep: Having sleep issues? If you dance regularly, it will improve the quality of your sleep, both the depth of your sleep levels and the length of your sleep. We all know how wonderful it feels to get a good night’s sleep.
8. Be more creative: Belly dance gets your creative juices flowing. The ‘belly’ movements stimulate your second chakra, the seat of your creativity. The more you lose yourself in music you love, the more your self-expression will blossom.
9. A more productive you: People who make time for dance on a regular basis are more productive at their day job than those who don’t. When faced with life’s difficult challenges, dance is one way to help you cope with problems in a healthy manner.
10. Weight loss: Belly dancing is a great fat burning workout that keeps you in shape, increases your flexibility, strengthens your bones and tones your muscles. What a great way to maintain an hourglass figure.

Never underestimate the power of belly dance!

Holiday shows at Greek/Middle Eastern restaurants or at home parties means close contact with your audience. No pressure but, YOU were hired to be the life of the party. You’ve got to be friendly and entertaining while commanding their respect. Maintaining a professional distance from your audience can be tricky, especially when they want to give you a tip. You never know who in the audience is uninhibited enough to take things too far. Getting paid to entertain is one thing, but no tip is worth an unwanted grope.

If you dance well and provide an exciting show, the audience will gladly tip you. In fact, it’s also a big part of their fun. Here are my Top Ten Tips to Taking Tasteful Tips:

1. Tips are Extra: Tips are gratuities. Be sure to make it clear to whoever hires you that gratuities are extra and not part of your performance fee.
2. You decide the Method: There are several different ways you may collect tips, and it is up to you to decide how you want to handle them. Before the show begins, let your host know the method you prefer, whether it is a collection basket, have a tip handed to you, have tips thrown over you, or acquire tips that are tucked into your costume.
3. Using a Basket: A collection basket is best used in a restaurant setting. It can be left in an obvious location that everyone sees, or it can be passed around the room from table to table. Unfortunately, a basket is not as much fun for the audience, so it tends to be the least productive way to earn tips. The advantage is no one touches you.
4. Accepting by Hand: If someone hands you money, you can slide it into your bra strap just in front of your shoulder. This is a great location because you wear the tip like a corsage, which suggests room for more. Also, when you are the one doing the tucking, you can insert the money snugly into your costume, so there’s no worry about it falling out.
5. Tips that are Thrown: In an Arabic nightclub or wedding, tips are often thrown over the dancer’s head, cascading down her body and landing on the floor. Unfortunately, in a nightclub setting, the money on the floor usually belongs to the owner. If your agreement with the owner is that you get at least part of the tips, the owner will arrange for someone to sweep them off the floor and get them to you. At a wedding or similar private event, the tips usually belong to you. Whatever your do, never grovel on the floor to pick up the money. Have someone else pick up the tips after your show is done and bring the tips to your dressing room.
6. Tips that are Tucked: Tips tucked into your costume are the trickiest of all to manage. Western audiences and Turkish audiences prefer tipping in this manner. It’s up to you to maintain your dignity and keep it family-style entertainment. My first and most important suggestion is that you keep moving! Never standstill and easily allow someone to insert money into your costume no matter how benign that costume location may be. Keep dancing. Don’t move so fast that it’s impossible to tip you. A slow-paced dance movement gives the tipper a challenge that the audience will enjoy. It also keeps you safe from lingering fingertips. If the money falls out, ask someone in a fun way to pick up the money and reinsert it into your costume.
7. Directing the Placement of the Tip: When someone indicates to you that they would like to tip you like waving the bill into the air to lure you closer, you can direct the person to where you want it placed in your costume. For example, if they reach for your belt, simply turn your body so that their hand is to the side of your hip. Avoid front-center of your belt for obvious reasons. If they reach for your bra, try to shoulder shimmy and lean them towards a strap rather than over one cup or between the cups. Should the tipper insist on inserting the money into a bra cup or within your cleavage, you must move quickly away so fingers barely reach inside. I can’t stress this enough. When a hand reaches inside your clothing, don’t be naive. Should anyone aggressively grab your costume, disengage their grip as quickly as possible and dance away. You needn’t act angry or say anything, just abandon the tip and the tipper.
8. Stay in Charge: You always have the right to refuse a tip. If someone is too forward or rude, or if someone approaches you with the money in their mouth, you needn’t accept the money. Try your best to stay professional, calm, and cool. Do your best to keep it fun, even if you refuse.
9. Tipper Equality: If someone should give you a very large tip (say a $100 bill), they do not need to be lavished with extra attention. Treat all audience members equally.
10. Lower your Expectations: Your salary should be satisfactory, so that if you do not make any tips at all you are still happy. The best policy is expecting nothing, so you won’t be disappointed. Then when you walk out with extra earnings, you will be twice as thrilled.

The success of your performance is measured on how happy you have made your audience and that you’ve left them with good memories of the celebration for which you were hired to entertain. You need courage and diplomacy to skillfully manage an audience. Only with time and experience can you learn to balance the audience’s pleasure with making your show memorable and profitable. When you perform, it is your personality, talent and charisma that will make it or break it for you as an entertainer.
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My suggestions are meant to guide and assist. Feel free anytime to write to me your questions or concerns. I encourage you to dance from the heart! It’s all the magic you’ll ever need to succeed.