At the moment, most of my admin hours are being taken up with the Belly Dance Spectacular, which we are staging on 11th March.
I decided a few years back that it would be good to challenge the troupe (Miramar) by giving them a taste of performing professionally on a proper stage with lighting. I've always had a great love of the theatre, and had long dreamed of putting belly dance on the stage, so it seemed like a good idea! As the costs of hiring professional theatres was out of our means we decided to do it to raise funds for charity, which usually gets us a preferential rate of hire, and makes the whole thing more do-able. The first show was so successful that we have been doing them yearly ever since!
We have tried different formulas over the years but have broadly stuck to a format of two or three troupes with solo spots and sometimes a comedy number, and all in all this seems a good combination. Doing a complete show with one troupe would be quite hard work, so collaborating with others makes it more enjoyable, less stressful and very interesting, as you then get a bigger variety of styles, choreographies, and costumes. And most troupes don't get the chance to perform on a stage. We all get used to just performing one or two numbers at a hafla, with basic lighting and no platform or stage, and simple sound systems, which is very informal, so it's both exciting and challenging to have to think about entrances and exits, colour combinations, formations, lighting and sound- it's a big learning curve, but very enjoyable!
Preparations seem to take around six months- but as we meet about once a month (and more closer to the show), this feels a good pace.
So we usually invite two other troupes to join us, so there is anything from 20-30 dancers involved in the project. I ask each troupe to prepare 5 seperate and different dances, and the teacher can have a solo spot. The dances can be either the whole troupe or varying combinations, like duos, trios, and smaller groups- doing this does take some of the stress out of performing and avoids too many quick changes. And then I ask each troupe to join us in a big finale. I must admit to being inspired by the Belly Dance Superstars, and thought, if they can do it, why can't we? So the finale music is usually divided up into four sections- one for each troupe, and a short section at the end for the whole cast to join in with. Then I get together with the other troupe leaders/teachers, and we work on the end section together and create a short choreography. Then each troupe goes off to work on their own section and the end piece. Then about a month before the show we get together (preferably on the actual stage, if possible) to have a try out. This gives us a chance to tidy up the entrances and exits, and sections where one troupe comes in and another exits, or moves to one side. On the day of the show, we book the theatre from the morning so we all get to practise our dances and also a finale practise together. As we have the show on a Sunday afternoon, we then have a bit of time to get lunch and get ready before kick-off at 2.30pm
Most troupes have different costumes for each seperate dance, and Miramar have got quite inventive at recycling things in different combinations, but we always have a colour scheme for the finale, when all troupes wear the same colour- which makes it especially dramatic.This year we are going for gold!!
In the past Miramar have done a comedy number- usually incorporating our panto camel Yasmine Le Bump,but last year we have a guest troupe come in and do that, which gave us a bit of breathing space, and gave another troupe a bit of the limelight! We also usually get some friends into the camel to go and collect money at the interval, as kids really love her!
About a month or so beforehand I get all the details of the dances and sit down to work out the programme. This usually takes a fair bit of time as there are lots of considerations, and I try to achieve a balance. I try to space things out so people have enough time to change between dances ( ideally two or more dances, but it can be done in one!), and then I look at the style and feel of a dance to a certain where it might best be placed. Sometimes teachers make a special request because of costume or hair changes and I try to cater for that. I also look at the costume colours and style, as well as any props or complicated entrances or exits. I also try to space out the solos and duos to give the other dancers a bit of breathing space. I also ask the teachers if they have any special lighting requests and consult with the lighting guys beforehand to arrange this.
In previous years we have had 'blue state' blackouts between acts which looks more tidy and professional (so no hanging around for lots of applause and bowing!!), but try to have the next troupe in the wings ready to go straight on. We have also always had a stage manager to liaise with the tech guys (lighting and sound) as well as keeping control of the performers - checking they are ready and in position and not making a noise! We usually also have an assistant SM who will come and give the performers a call just before they are on, and help with costume changes, run errands etc.The stage manager is also in charge of setting and preparing props.
We have also had a compere for the shows, and she has kicked off the show and ended it too, but it has been very useful to have her on hand to step in if there are any embarrassing gaps due to costume problems. Our compere usually does our haflas too but because of the large nummber of acts she usually does less in this show. We also try to get a rep from the charity to say a few words at the beginning.
We have also had friends come in to help our troupe with hair makeup and costume changes- especially if there are any quick ones, which is sometimes unavoidable!
Most years we have had a photographer as well as someone video-ing the show. We have sold DVD's of past shows to raise extra money for the charity.
Of course there would be no point to any of this without an audience, so we have to promote the show well in advance. Happily many people now come back year after year to see it, and supporters of the charity will also swell the audience numbers. As an added attraction we also open the bar an hour early and have a belly dance trader as well as a display by our chosen charity. But we promote the show with press releases, posters, Facebook, and emails, as well as badgering our friends to come along. Getting a photo in the local paper is a great boost! And then we just cross our fingers and pray for a good turnout of generous people with deep pockets!
If you are thinking of doing something similar- go ahead! It will be hardwork, but hugely enjoyable, and it really pushes your dance performance skills and technique forward too. It's a wonderful experience which the performers will be talking about for months- if not years. I thoroughly reccomend it!
