I have a (probably dumb) question... why do tribal dancers (RB, Sharon Kihara, Kami liddle, etc) refrain from using stage names? I've always been curious.
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Chicago
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Re: Tribal stage names
Tue, February 6, 2007 - 5:51 PMI was wondering that too!! I'm intrigued to see the answers. Cabaret dancers always have stage names, but very few tribal gals seem to! -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Tue, February 6, 2007 - 6:00 PMactually, there IS a tribal BDSS that uses a stage name.............but ya just can't tell from what she's using.
(sorry, lips sealed)
but it's a good question, and I would like the answer - IF anyone can claim to know the "why" of it.
Conversely, I was at the first Maui intensive with Rachel Brice and out of nearly 80 students, I would say maybe half had "artist" names. Then one of my friends in L.A. started giving me "grief" about mine, saying that having one "wasn't tribal".
anyhow, might be enlightening to hear some explanation.
:~D -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 12:00 AMI can go on a supposition ...
Perhaps, it is the Safety in Numbers that yeilds itself to anonymity..
Think about it.... In a glamourous solo setting... taking a stage name, allows you some annonymity from weirdos.
In a Troupe setting, you have the safety of "Sisters of...... blah blah" (whatever the troupe name happens to be). So you become known as a whole, rather than individuals.
However, all of us in my troupe have them.. But we aren't sticklers at being called by them either. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 14, 2007 - 7:43 PM"Think about it.... In a glamourous solo setting... taking a stage name, allows you some annonymity from weirdos.
In a Troupe setting, you have the safety of "Sisters of...... blah blah" (whatever the troupe name happens to be). So you become known as a whole, rather than individuals"
Fajera...I love that, neat idea. Whether it's the reason or not, I love it!
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 12:10 PMI didn't think it was some big secret about "the BDSS tribal girl with a stage name". Is it? Are we supposed to pretend we don't know if we do?
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, April 9, 2008 - 10:38 PMOoooo I know who it is! (Had to write a personal check...) But yer right, best not to spill the beans...
I think it's totally up to the artist. I come from the world of classical music, so a stage name just never occurred to me. And when I found out that many belly dancers used them, I was a little confused. I can certainly see the function of such a thing.
Maybe it helps you get into the "zone"? Maybe your name (like mine) is just not very sparkly or catchy? Maybe you have a professional alter ego during the day that you like to keep separate from your dancing? -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Thu, April 10, 2008 - 6:54 AMHehe, Ashley. That's exactly why I don't have a stage name. I was a classical musician first & I don't want people to separate my two performing personae... but then plenty of classical musicians have stage names, too... often to sound more exotic. Like Zara Nelsova was born Sarah Nelson! -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Thu, April 10, 2008 - 8:28 AMWell. I just learned that porn name would be: Roscoe Homan. Hmm.
As far as stage names, tribal or otherwise, I definitely have one. I didn't have any reason for choosing one other than the fact that I liked the idea of picking a name that I thought fit my personality. My name means (according to some translations) Loyal friend and serene. It's also really similar to the name Sophia, which I've always liked.
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Unsu...
Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 5:55 AMThey do well enough to afford protection ;-)
Our group takes pseudonyms as an anti-creepo tactic. Plus, it's kinda fun.
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 6:01 AMPersonally I like to think of a stage name as an alter-ego- who I am on that stage may not be me normally! :) You take on a different persona.
(Of course, I'm still a baby bellydancer, but still... if I ever do perform a solo, I'd definitely use a stage name.) -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, April 16, 2008 - 7:26 AMI'm with you on this. (Though I'm also an actor, so maybe that's why) but I took a dance name reasonably early in my career b/c I liked the idea of having a belly dance side.. Though it's pretty much taken up all of me now ;)
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 10:54 AMQuite some time ago I remember reading that the tradition of using a stage came grew out of the fact that, back in the day, it was not considered at all respectable to be a belly dancer so dancers took stage names to hide their true identity in order to protect themselves and their families. After reading this (dang! I wish I could remember where!) I made a conscious decision NOT to use a stage name, but to proudly use my own given name as a way of saying, "I'm proud of what I do and grateful to live in a time and place where I can do it openly and won't be persecuted for it." Just my personal decision, I can't speak for anyone else. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 11:04 AMHi peeps! So I started bellydancing originally with the Ottoman Trader's doing Renaissance Faires. My name was Aminah and I was from Yemen. hee hee. After performances at local faires, women would come up to me and ask me questions. How long? where? you know, the basics. I was in character, my name was Aminah. After a couple years of this, things started changing in my head. I didn't want women to know me as Aminah, or anything else. I wanted women to know me as Amy. I wanted them to know that they could pick up bellydance from wherever they are, being whoever they are. Time to stop pretending that it wasn't me up there. Cuz it was. All of it. I wanted to tell them that I wasn't born with a hip scarf on my ass and I wasn't born with a bellydance name. Just Amy, just dancing. and just my take.
oh, and dance names are cool too! -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 12:08 PMMy change was similar to Amy's. I was in the SCA, an I was Mahirimah. I used the name everywhere I did dance, though. After a while, I realized that this dance was a part of ME, the everyday real me, and not just something I put on like a coat or a bracelet. I wanted my real me to be connected with my dancing, and not a pretend me. So I went with my real name from then on.
I know some women used to use stage names to protect them in various ways. The most popular being stalkers at the clubs. I think this is why it is still so much more common in the cabaret community, which performs at the ethnic nightclubs where that is a concern, than in the tribal community, where we don't worry so much with where we perform and tend to travel in packs.
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 6:12 PMI've always wanted a stage name but having lived with Julia for almost 37 year now....I can't seem to find a name that I look at and think "that is me".
So, I'm sticking with my real name by default.
Of course, by doing so no one will ever be able to say that I picked the name they were already using either.
I can see both the reasons for choosing a stage name and the ones for not choosing a stage name.
Since I'm not looking to become a household name...I suppose that if at some point a name jumps out at me that I always have the option later to adopt a stage name.
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Re: Tribal stage names
Thu, February 8, 2007 - 10:54 AMI love that (Amy's) way of thinking about the real-name vs. stage-name thing. Using my real name (which is kinda boring) makes dancing much more about what I think it is - an accessible, everyday art.
I appreciate that there are some venues or styles of dance careers that could make it feel threatening to be known by one's real name, and that there are day-job employers who wouldn't understand bellydance, but - for me - I'm just at a point in life when I wouldn't dance in those places or do those day-jobs, cause that'd feel somehow less authentic to me.
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 14, 2007 - 7:35 PMSharon said: "Quite some time ago I remember reading that the tradition of using a stage came grew out of the fact that, back in the day, it was not considered at all respectable to be a belly dancer so dancers took stage names to hide their true identity in order to protect themselves and their families. After reading this (dang! I wish I could remember where!) I made a conscious decision NOT to use a stage name, but to proudly use my own given name as a way of saying, "I'm proud of what I do and grateful to live in a time and place where I can do it openly and won't be persecuted for it.""
LOL! That made me laugh. My real name is Salihah. I use it for dancing, too, since my name is Arabic...and because I get a kick out of it for the very same reason. Salihah means "pious" in Arabic and is supposed to reflect a very pious, discreet, and prudent Muslim woman. So I think using my name as my dance name is especially fun. It's my own joke of irony.
Like Sharon said, "I'm proud of what I do and grateful to live in a time and place where I can do it openly and won't be persecuted for it."
I am Muslim, but I don't reflect the rest of my name! And my family came to America so we could be who we want to be and I am proud of what I do and grateful for who I am.
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 12:44 PMi use a stage name simply for the fact i hate my real name...lol that an when i use it i feel very liderated i know that prolly doesn't make much sense. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 12:49 PMno, it makes perfect sense. i adopted a new name (not just a stage name) a couple of years ago and it changed my whole life. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 12:56 PMwith it i feel i can show other more seductive more sensual and delicate sides of myself i don't show in my daily life.
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Unsu...
Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 7:41 PMMy real name I hide due to living in the south, it's just too weird lol. Thanks to a typo on my birth certificate instead of Denise.... I'm legally Demise on my Dr.License, checks, CC's lol I have always been called Denise tho.. a stage name would just add to the confusion haha
My hubby said I should start a travel business with that name heh Demise Travel.. who wants a ticket ...final destination anyone? : P -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 8:06 PMThat is TOO funny! Someone made a type-o on your birth certificate and no one ever fixed it??
Demise Travel. Yeah, I think I'll go with the other guys, thanks anyway :-) -
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Unsu...
Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 8:13 PMEvidently no one caught the boo boo until I was older and needed it for school.By then would have to do a legal name change to fix it .
I figure I can live with it for the cost lol -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 8:15 PMfreakin hilarious! How many goth chicks would kill for a great name like that?!
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Re: Tribal stage names
Mon, February 12, 2007 - 7:06 PMI met a guy named Brain - it was supposed to be Brian, but someone made a typo and he never fixed it.
Demise is a great name, too. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 14, 2007 - 7:37 PMda Sage! Good to see you here! (I just joined this tribe) Did that guy go by Brain or Brian? lol
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, April 16, 2008 - 7:29 AMThat's HILARIOUS! In fact, Final Destination would be a great tag line! I wonder if you'd get any business! :)
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Re: Tribal stage names
Sat, April 12, 2008 - 4:46 PMThis makes perfect sense. I hate my given name as well but I've never found a stage name that works for me. I've tried several. Oh well, maybe some day.
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 1:21 PMThat's a good question...I wonder if Rachel had a stage name when she was doing cabaret? Probably not...
Personally I'm not into the stage name thing...it's just not me. I like that the Holly onstage is the same Holly as offstage and vice versa. For me, it's all one identity.
I'm not saying I don't think other people should use them, just that it's not my personal preference. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 1:31 PMI use my real name cuz it's so fricken' common, no one could ever find me ;-).
I'd tell people if I picked a stage name, I'd get something more unusual! -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 1:35 PMShay - I was acutally hoping someone would say it becsuse I had no idea! :-)
So Rachel's real name is not Rachel? Pretty interesting! -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 1:43 PMNo, Rachel is Rachel. There's another dancer who chose a new name for herself, but I thought I read that she legally changed her name. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 1:53 PMThe other dancer in question changed her performance name mainly to keep her identity hidden from stalkers, etc. I don't think it's a "big secret" either, but revealing who it is might tip off a few people that may use the information in potentially harmful ways.
It's a real situation, unfortunately. Let's not make it worse. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 2:02 PMI've had a couple of different dance names and realized why they didn't seem right --- they weren't me! Only "Miki" has been with me through all the things that make me who I am. I still didn't want everyone to know my complete name, though, so I go by the nickname my family and everyone calls me with my last name abbreviated the way everyone around me treats it anyhow. My sweetie even says he doesn't mind if I am still known as Miki Bow after we marry. It's what he calls me, too.
ANd I know whose name is differnt in BDSS of the tribal girls. I just can't remember what the REAL name is! -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 2:17 PMHolly - I hope my post didn't sound like I planned on using this conversation in a malicious way? Im was just surprised, that's all.
No biggie! -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 2:25 PMNo!! Not you--sorry if it came off that way. I mean that she has already had to deal with harassment, and that it would help in a small way to not reveal who it is, in case the harasser--who may be trolling this tribe--decides to dig for more info.
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Re: Tribal stage names
Sun, May 4, 2008 - 8:06 PMMiki Said
> Only "Miki" has been with me through all the things that make me who I am.
What, Miki isn't your legal name!?
you're Miki to me!
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 4:47 PMRachel did have a stage name, I think.... I think she mentioned that a while back... it was something like "Abir", maybe? -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 5:32 PMNone of my troupe use stage names, , I think a couple of the girls used to but being tribal we just use the troupe name. We do a large number of shows and have a decent bunch of "regulars" (who we love to see) but most people get everyone confused anyway as four of our girls are similar height, weight and hair so they are always being mistaken for someone else, especially once we re in costume.
I chose not to use a stage name because my former husband was a well known recording artist and I already knew so many people everywhere that it seemed kind of silly at the time to have everyone recognize me and think "that's not her name". Unfortunately it offers zero protection from weirdos and stalkers, you would be amazed at how easy it is to find anyone.
Having had a crazy stalker myself and having to deal with more than one during my marriage, nothing is secret they can find anything in only a few minutes. Fortunatly we dont have much trouble as we have a lot of support from our drummers and partners. -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 6:22 PMI chose not to adopt a stage name because most of the ones in the belly dance community were Arabic words or names and I didn't want audience members thinking I was from North Africa or the Middle East. Not that there is anything whatsoever wrong about being from those areas, but I've never traveled there, I don't speak Arabic, and my style of dancing is definitely American belly dance. I was afraid that if people thought that I was Arabic that I would then be misrepresenting their culture in some way. I prefer for people to know that I am Kristina, from California, doing my dance my way, with respect for the cultures that belly dance comes from but not claiming to represent those cultures.
No offense at all to dancers who have chosen to take on Arabic stage names. I also respect the desire to adopt a name to fit the stage persona, or to protect one's identity, or help slip into character. Many of the stage names that I've heard are beautiful! I also know that many belly dancers have taken the time to learn Arabic, travel to Egypt, Turkey, etc, and are far more equipped than I to represent aspects of the culture. This is just the thought process that I went through when deciding whether or not to take a stage name for belly dancing.
Oh, and I was afraid it would just get confusing having two names! -
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 7:08 PMI chose my dance name when I danced cabaret. I never changed it because I already knew people in the community and they knew me as Nari. I also like my stage name because it sounds like an everyday name to me, although not American. It's easy to spell and easy to pronounce. Nah-ree. Simple.
Plus, I have had to deal with a couple of creepy guys in the past, so I like that they didn't have access to my real name. But I think whichever you prefer is fine. I'll call you Bob or Babalou. Makes no difference to me! ; )
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Unsu...
Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 1:19 PMI chose my name from a book...
I have no idea if it's even a real name or where it really came from, I don't THINK it's Middle Eastern...but it sounded exotic, and the so called "meaning" fit me well at the time I took it.
Zatarra...supposedly means "driftwood", from the Counte of Monte Cristo. It was what the pirates named Edmund Dantes after he become one of them.
I suppose though I could take on a Chinese name...as I am half Chinese if I wanted to change my name, but since I don't perform anymore, it's not really moot. Yet. =) I hope to get back into performing after a couple of years of classes.
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Re: Tribal stage names
Wed, February 7, 2007 - 8:48 PMPepper is my given name, but most people assume it is a nickname. I have had to pull out my DL or just roll my eyes when people really didn't believe it. Whatevah. When I chose the name Poisonbelly, it was going to be troupe name, but as dancers came and went, I was the one who always remained. So now people just refer to me as Poisonbelly, although I think that is amusing. I didn't really need a stage name, but I got one anyway. My student troupe will have a name of their own, and I think that is rightly so. I think for protection or privacy and safety it is a fine idea. I have some young, YOUNG dancers in my group and sometimes I worry for them. Some times they get TOO much attention from certain people in the audience, enough to make me a little concerned about them using their real names.
