This is an email I sent out to every belly dancer I know in the area...at least whose email addresses I have. And I'm posting here in case I missed anybody. <3

Hello Belly Dance Teachers, Professionals and Students in the Northern VA - DC - Baltimore area,

There has been some discussion on the DC pro dancers board about rates again. There have been no names given, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to spread the word to every body about the importance of respecting our art form, ourselves and our community.

In general the situation is that a dancer has gone into a restaurant and undercut the going rate in that establishment significantly. It has also been said that there is a teacher who is booking her students at this same very low rate as well for another restaurant gig. I don't know who these individuals are, but this is a story that we've heard far too often.

I'm not accusing anybody, but I would like to share and/or remind everybody in our local dance community that we as dancers need to support each other on rates.

Several professionals in our community have come together and formed a general consensus on what the going rates should be in our DC and Baltimore metro areas. The discussion is always ongoing and open to all professional belly dancers. All you need to do is join the DC pro dancers Yahoo group to put in your say. Here is the link to DC Pro Dancers:

groups.yahoo.com/group/dcprodancers/

You need to be approved by the moderator Lucy to join (it is closed list so that professional dancers can feel safe discussing their concerns openly) her email is: lucydances@gmail.com

The rates recommendations were made based on what wages were in the past adjusted for inflation, what it has been proven the market can bear, what a large portion of the dancers are already making and on the expenses and investment required to be a working professional belly dancer in our area.

The recommended minimums should be adhered to by every dancer in the dance community. If you you are just starting your career in the professional belly dance community and don't think you are worth as much as a more seasoned professional, you shouldn't use that as an excuse to undercut. Most seasoned professionals are already making above the recommended minimum or going rate. If you have been working for a while at a place that hasn't raised the wages to the recommended minimum, please ask for a raise or look to work someplace where the pay is better. We shouldn't be supporting venues that continue to pay wages that are inadequate for the requirements of our profession.

Now to the rates for our area:

Washington DC and Baltimore, MD:
** Parties $200 and more per 20 min show ** Restaurants currently are $70-$150 per 20 minute show. New venues
should be started at a minimum of $100 per show.

You will always find these posted on Samira Shuruk's site here:

www.samirashuruk.com/standar...ist.html

Quite honestly there are dancers making more than $150 per dance set at a restaurant show in our area these days and more than $200 for 20 minute shows at a party. The above recommendations also don't include added expenses for travel, or gigs that have special requirements like weddings or holidays. It is standard practice that dancers ask for double their usual rate on holidays such as New Years Eve, Christmas and Valentine's Day when dancers are in high demand or their time is worth more.

If you are dancing for less than these rates, then you are being taken advantage of. If you are asked to split one show into two for the price of one show, your not being paid for your extra time and you are being taken advantage of. If you are charging less than $200 for parties, you are selling yourself short. If you are a professional, don't let yourself be taken advantage of in this way. If you are a teacher, please communicate this information clearly to all your students. If you are an aspiring performer, make a commitment now to always charge an appropriate rate for professional performance when the time comes. Please do not dance for less than the going rate at any professional venue, such as a restaurant, night club, private party, etc. The appropriate places for non-professionals to perform include student haflas and recitals and for friends and family. If you have any question about whether you might be inadvertently undercutting or what is a professional venue and what is not, please discuss it with your teacher.

If you don't understand why the rates are what they are, I recommend reading some articles about the subject:

www.shemsdance.com/event/event.htm#rates

www.samirashuruk.com/standar...nes.html

www.casbahdance.org/PRICEUP.htm

Please forward this email on to all your students, professional dance colleagues and fellow teachers so nobody will be ignorant of this subject.