Imagine having a team of belly dance mentors willing to coach you through your belly dance journey. You might want their help and advice on selecting music, venues, costume or props. Perhaps you would like to hear about the pit-falls and problems of dancing at each different type of events, or the correct etiquette for classes and workshops. Maybe you would like their thoughts on your costuming, or some tips on putting together a web site, or managing your social networking. All of this and more is covered in Becoming a Belly Dancer, from stage fright to retirement, ATS to Zar. Becoming a Belly Dancer is a stagecraft handbook that provides valuable information, learned-in-the-trenches tips, and guidance for belly dancers who are ready to take the step from student to performer, or from performer to professional. Sara Shrapnell, author of "Teaching Belly Dance" and Dawn Devine, author of "Cloth of Egypt" and 13 other belly dance and costuming books, including the bestselling "Embellished Bras" and the now classic "Costuming from the Hip," have collaborated to produce "Becoming a Belly Dancer." Between them, they have more than 50 years of combined experience as performers, teachers, dancers and costume designers. Alisha Westerfeld explored the established and upcoming talent of the Bay Area to bring her beautiful photography to every page of this project. International belly dance celebrity and costume designer Poppy Maya adds her own special brand of "Additional Awesomeness" to the book, and the input of a young dancer, currently making her living through belly dance. The authors hope to bring the warmth, support, and humor of a teacher in absence, a true friend and a trusted advisor who has only one main goal: you. They want to focus on helping you be the best prepared physically and mentally for the challenges of performing for friends, family, the dance community, and the greater society, both in person at public venues, and via media available on the internet. The book covers improving your dance skills, good practice habits, preparing physically and emotionally, critiquing, picking your music and venues and dancer etiquette. In addition, the book includes extensive sections on costume design and selection, sewing and no sewing costumes, accessorizing, hair and makeup and presenting to the world the very best belly dancer that you can be."Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage" is a useful and inspiring tool that will help belly dancers to be ready for the big day, so they can dazzle, impress and wow with talent and style.
About the Author: Sara Shrapnell is a belly dance writer, teacher and performer. Over the years she has taught more than four thousand lessons and performed as a soloist in a huge variety of settings. She has organized workshops, dance days and theater shows in addition to managing three troupes. Students who have studied with Sara have gone on to teach and perform in all styles of belly dance and many have made their living through performance or teaching. Her first book "Teaching Belly Dance" is available on Amazon. Dawn Devine - Davina is a writer, costumer, dancer and historian. Dawn is the internationally acclaimed author of Costuming from the Hip, a guide to designing and making belly dance costumes. Her titles include From Turban to Toe Ring (2000), Bedlah, Baubles and Beads (2001), The Cloth of Egypt: All About Assuit (2014) and Style File (2002). Alisha Westerfeld is an avid photographer who enjoys take photos of flowers, belly dancers and anything else that catches her eye. Her images have been featured in numerous belly dance magazines and appear on belly dance blogs all around the Bay Area. Poppy Maya is an international belly dancer, instructor and costume designer. As a third-generation belly dancer, she grew up surrounded by Middle Eastern music and dance. She specializes in improvisation to live bands and Indian style belly dance performances. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, performing at private events and restaurants.