*BELLYQUEEN AUDITION FOR UPCOMING SHOWS.
Thur Mar 27th 2008 9-10.30pm, 440 Studios, Studio 4D, 4th Floor, bet E 4th St & Astor Pl. NYC. This audition is open to both men and women. Please come in dance class wear, and bring your resume plus a paragraph (or two) explaining why you want to join Bellyqueen, as well as your personal goals as a dancer. You will also be asked to show a 3 min dance solo (in dance class wear). You can bring your music on CD or iPod.

How Do I Join Bellyqueen?
Before you decide joining Bellyqueen is for you, we suggest you do some research about us first. This way, you can familiarize yourself with our vision and repertoire so you can decide whether it's in line with your own goals as a dancer.

How Do I Research Bellyqueen?
Take multiple classes over different courses, watch our DVDs and shows.
Talk to different dancers in Bellyqueen and see if you get along with us.
We train 4-5 times a week when we are in New York, and when we are on the road we are with each other 24/7. Because of this, compatible personalities are imperative.
If we don't enjoy spending time together, what is the point?

Criteria For Bellyqueen Dancers

• You live in the New York area so you can attend rehearsals on a regular basis.
• You have a strong foundation in bellydance (raks sharki, oriental, cabaret) and are familiar with at least one of the following dance styles, Tribal, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, African, Flamenco, Hip Hop.
• You are flexible and strong. Regular yoga training will help you with this.
• You are able to learn choreography, improvise and pick up new styles quickly.
• You LOVE LOVE LOVE dancing with a group and working in a team.
• Bellyqueen encourages the development of your own personal style, however for group numbers you MUST be willing to synchronise.
• You enjoy rehearsing, are disciplined and have perseverence.
• You are able to make it to at least one Level 2 group class a week, on either Mon or Tues 8-9pm or Open Level BellyPopping on Thurs 8-9pm, (see class schedule), plus at least three of the following rehearsals Wed 10am-1pm, Fri 2-5pm, Sun 5-8pm, Tues or Thurs 9-10.30pm. (This will change depending on who is chosen and their schedules.)
• You love to push past your limits and out of your comfort zone.
• You are reliable, punctual and have good communication skills.
• You are down-to-earth and easy going.
• You are open to becoming a long term member of the Bellyqueen royal family.
  Most dancers who join Bellyqueen stay for years. It takes many hours to train someone to become a Bellyqueen dancer so in order for us to make the commitment to work with you, you also have the make the commitment to stick around beyond one gig.
• You are able to take time off from your regular life to tour.
• No divas or drama queens or drama princesses, only queens and princesses.
• We appreciate dancers who are humble.

What Do I Get Out Of This?

• You get to hang out with a vibrant, cool-as-hell bunch of people.
• You get to be part of high quality, innovative, dance theater.
• You are given the freedom to find your own creative voice and to express it.
• You get paid $ to perform.
• You will progress and grow at lightning speed because you are training regularly alongside dedicated dancers with high standards.
• You have the potential for travel opportunities and chances to experience different cities and cultures.

NOTE: Keep in mind that most of the dancers in Bellyqueen have other jobs to pay their living expenses.

Still Interested?
Come to our audition on Thur Mar 27th 2008 9-10.30pm at 440 Studios, or please email info@bellyqueen.com with a short bio, photos, and a link to a video of you dancing. (You can send in a video if you don't have an online version). Please include a paragraph or two explaining why you want to join Bellyqueen as well as your personal goals as a dancer.

Audition And Grace Period
If we think you have the potential to be a Bellyqueen dancer, we will schedule an audition and interview with you. If all goes well, you will be asked to attend our company rehearsals as well as perform with us. There is usually a 2-3 month grace period where both sides can gauge if it's a compatible match.

What If I Don't Get Asked to Join?
There are many extremely talented dancers that we LOVE who are not the right match for Bellyqueen. Please don't take it personally if you don't get asked to join.

Perhaps you excel at your own unique style and it will take too much effort to synchronise you with the other dancers.

Perhaps you don't have the time to dedicate to Bellyqueen, if you have a packed schedule with very little give, then the chances increase that you will miss rehearsals, arrive late, or leave early. If this is the case, it is not fair on the rest of the team who commit to turning up regularly.

Perhaps your personality is not the right match, maybe you don't have much experience following and/or sharing the leadership role.

We have a preference for dancers between 5"2 and 5"7, however we have worked with, and continue to work with people outside of this height range. Our preference has come about because most of the existing dancers in Bellyqueen are around this height and consequently, most of the company costumes are also sized for this same height.

Whatever the case, if you don't get asked to join, consider it a chance for you to dedicate more of your energy to honing your own individual style and/or starting up your own troupe. There is plenty of opportunity in the world and enough success for everyone to share. We wish you well with your dance journey.

What Is The Difference Between A Princess And A Queen?
All of the Queens have been performing bellydance for over 10 years, and Princesses have been dancing for around 5. All Queens have extensive teaching experience as well as ample experience dancing as a soloist as well as ensemble dancer in other dance companies outside of Bellyqueen.
All princesses have the potential to eventually become Queens.

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Remember, never forget your roots, they will keep you steady as you reach for the sky.