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Belly Dancing: A Good Career Option?

© Shira

You've recently learned how to belly dance, and you find that you enjoy it very much. Now you're thinking about making a career of it. But should you?

On the surface, it sounds great! You can be your own boss. You get to parade around in beautiful clothing and be the STAR of the show.

But a career as a dancer isn't for everybody. A small number of hard-working individuals have been able to support themselves through Middle Eastern dance, but the vast majority of "professional" dancers must rely on a second source of income to make ends meet. Before taking the leap, give careful thought to whether your own personal temperament and skill set are well-suited to this career option.

It's not enough to be a superb dancer. It helps, but a dancer whose skill is merely adequate is sometimes more financially successful than a terrific one. That's because making your living at it requires you to have a good head for business. It means you have to know how to go out and find dance jobs. You have to develop products that people are willing to buy. It means you have to keep detailed records on your calendar of upcoming gigs, how much you were paid for each one, what your ongoing expenses are, who owes you money, and who you have to ship merchandise to.

A Full-Time Dance Career May Work For You If...

You may be able to make your living through Oriental dance if all of the following apply to you:

• Your dance skills are at least adequate.
• You have dreamed for a long time of starting your own business.
• You are very, very well organized when it comes to business matters.
• You excel at keeping records of your finances and completing financial paperwork.
• You have a flair for sales and marketing.
• You're not particularly worried about having financial security.
• You love to travel, even to smaller cities that aren't particularly glamorous as tourist spots.
• You'd rather be dancing than be rich.
• Your spouse (if you have one) approves of your aspirations and wants you to follow your star, even though it means you'll frequently be working nights and weekends, and traveling to teach/perform/vend in other cities.

Don't Quit Your Day Job If...

Even if you absolutely love to dance, you probably shouldn't rely on it as your sole means of support if any of the following are true for you:

• Your dance skills are mediocre at best.
• You're not very aggressive at selling yourself.

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