For those who are coming to see me dance tomorrow night.
The details:
Where: The Egyptian Room, SE 37th & Division
When: Friday, June 15, 9:00 pm or whenever you get there
What: Pride Kickoff Party, I'm belly dancing!
I need to seed the audience with people who know what to do when there's a belly dancer performing, so the rest of the crowd will have someone to take cues from. If that's not you already, here's how to be a fabulous spectator:
1. Make noise. There's lots of traditional things you can do, like the zaghareet, hissing for slow moves, yelling "opah!" for moves you think are really cool, but if you don't know any of those things, that's fine. Just make whatever noise you feel like making. Clap, cheer, even screaming "WOO!" is totally appropriate. Just don't sit in stony silence while the dancer is performing, or she'll think you think she sucks.
2. Tipping is wonderful! This is the most important thing I need from my friends tomorrow night. People in random clubs, who don't know anything about belly dancing, don't know how or even if they should tip. The answer is Yes!
Here's how you do it: Take a dollar bill (or a larger denomination if you're feeling *really* generous, but singles are traditional), fold it in half lengthwise, and hold it up in the air. When the dancer sees that you're holding up a dollar, she'll dance her way over to you and present her hip. You then tuck the bill into her belt. However, it is important to note that belly dancers are not strippers and should not be treated as such (which is not to say that strippers deserve to be groped by strangers if they don't want to be, but I don't really know how tipping strippers works, and belly dancer tipping issues usually stem from people assuming that we're strippers simply because of this one bit of crossover).
When you tuck a bill into the dancer's belt, your fingers should go only as deep as is necessary to secure the bill. Don't act like you're mining for gold in her costume. Tuck bills only in the area that the dancer presents to you. If she dances over and gives you her right hip, that's where you tuck your dollar. Do not insist that you'll only tip if you can put it in her bra, or in the front of her belt, or in the crack of her ass. That's a good way to be escorted out by a bouncer. Once you've tipped the dancer, there is no more touching. DO NOT slap the dancer on the ass, squeeze her boob, or touch her in any way that would be inappropriate to touch someone who had not invited you to do so (accepting a tip is not an invitation).
The short version: Tip, don't grope.
Honestly, though, I don't expect a problem at the E Room. Usually, it's only straight men who've had a little too much to drink that cause any sort of an issue.
Where: The Egyptian Room, SE 37th & Division
When: Friday, June 15, 9:00 pm or whenever you get there
What: Pride Kickoff Party, I'm belly dancing!
I need to seed the audience with people who know what to do when there's a belly dancer performing, so the rest of the crowd will have someone to take cues from. If that's not you already, here's how to be a fabulous spectator:
1. Make noise. There's lots of traditional things you can do, like the zaghareet, hissing for slow moves, yelling "opah!" for moves you think are really cool, but if you don't know any of those things, that's fine. Just make whatever noise you feel like making. Clap, cheer, even screaming "WOO!" is totally appropriate. Just don't sit in stony silence while the dancer is performing, or she'll think you think she sucks.
2. Tipping is wonderful! This is the most important thing I need from my friends tomorrow night. People in random clubs, who don't know anything about belly dancing, don't know how or even if they should tip. The answer is Yes!
Here's how you do it: Take a dollar bill (or a larger denomination if you're feeling *really* generous, but singles are traditional), fold it in half lengthwise, and hold it up in the air. When the dancer sees that you're holding up a dollar, she'll dance her way over to you and present her hip. You then tuck the bill into her belt. However, it is important to note that belly dancers are not strippers and should not be treated as such (which is not to say that strippers deserve to be groped by strangers if they don't want to be, but I don't really know how tipping strippers works, and belly dancer tipping issues usually stem from people assuming that we're strippers simply because of this one bit of crossover).
When you tuck a bill into the dancer's belt, your fingers should go only as deep as is necessary to secure the bill. Don't act like you're mining for gold in her costume. Tuck bills only in the area that the dancer presents to you. If she dances over and gives you her right hip, that's where you tuck your dollar. Do not insist that you'll only tip if you can put it in her bra, or in the front of her belt, or in the crack of her ass. That's a good way to be escorted out by a bouncer. Once you've tipped the dancer, there is no more touching. DO NOT slap the dancer on the ass, squeeze her boob, or touch her in any way that would be inappropriate to touch someone who had not invited you to do so (accepting a tip is not an invitation).
The short version: Tip, don't grope.
Honestly, though, I don't expect a problem at the E Room. Usually, it's only straight men who've had a little too much to drink that cause any sort of an issue.