PORTABLE GLAMOUR: A BELLY DANCER'S GUIDE TO TRAVELING IN STYLE

I'm off to Cairo in exactly a week, for the Ahlan Wa Sahlan festival, and that means I'm about to begin the labor-intensive process of packing appropriately, so I thought that the following article would be a timely blog entry.

Though I'm terrible at un-packing...my living room is constantly an obstacle course full of halfway un-packed gig bags from local shows and out-of-town workshops, I am great at packing for trips...cause I take them so often!

Here’s what happens when a workshop sponsor meets me at an airport: we exchange greetings, load my carry-on bag into her vehicle, and inevitably she asks,
“Is that all the luggage you have?”
I’ve spent the better part of the past decade jetting all over the world to teach and perform. Because of that, I’ve learned to pack extremely well. Many of my sponsors have joked that I should teach a workshop on packing skills!
I used to drag “just in case” things along that never got used: extra costumes, glamorous dresses, blow-dryers, full-sized toiletries … until I wised up and realized that it wasn’t the dancing that was sending me to the chiropractor’s office, it was my heavy, unmanageable luggage!

Even if you don’t take trips at the rate that I do, packing lightly makes sense. If you are going by plane, and have your bag with you, there is zero chance of the airline losing it, and believe me, that happens more than you would think! If your luggage disappears and your costume(s) and music are inside the lost bag, then you are up the creek without a paddle.
The key to a “great pack” is to determine what is absolutely necessary costume-wise, prop-wise, comfort-wise.
Sometimes, it’s impossible to fit everything into a carry-on bag. If you have multiple costume changes, are traveling with props, workshop essentials like notebooks, flyers, business cards or carrying any amount of merch or promo you probably WON’T fit it all into one suitcase.

In this case, make sure your essentials are in the carry-on itself- at least one costume, and music, so even if everything else gets lost you can still perform. You may want to look into using door-to-door luggage services to ship an extra suitcase. These services tend to be more reliable than airlines, and guarantee delivery. They aren’t cheap, but it saves a lot of hassle and most airlines are now charging for checked bags anyway.
You could also look into Fed-Exing or Priority Mailing a box of merch to yourself care of the front desk at the hotel where you will be staying. The concierge or manager at most hotel chains regularly deals with this sort of thing for their business clients.

COSTUMES
The first law of packing is that costumes and props take precedence over street clothes and class-wear. We all know how insanely bulky costumes are, whether it’s a fully fringed cabaret extravaganza or a metal-encrusted, tribal bra and belt with a zillion-yard circle skirt. Take a look at your favorite costumes and decide which ones are most portable… a few may not make the cut for use as “out of towners”.

Ideally, your travel costumes will look absolutely stunning onstage, but don’t need too much attention when pulled out of a suitcase. The newer style Egyptian and Turkish cabaret costumes perfect: they’re feather- weight, many have no belts making them less heavy, and they’re usually made of synthetics, which are wrinkle-resistant. Many costumes appropriate for fusion are also highly packable: of bras and belts that are highly embellished, and simple pants or a flowing skirt. Tribal costumes will be more of a challenge, with the heavy jewelry and yardage involved. For traveling with these, you may want to use only your most amazing costume pieces and accessories, and concentrate on strong stage make-up and a great color palette as opposed to piling on mounds of gorgeous- but ridiculously heavy - accessories.it’s your call!

Pack your costumes cleverly then fill in around them. Roll skirts up small and tight and call or email ahead to make sure the place you’re staying has an iron. Ditto for a blow dryer. These amenities are now standard everywhere you go.
Headpieces or hair-flowers can be packed in Tupperware or utility boxes, cushioned by bra pads, a folded or rolled veil. Wigs or falls can go in a flat disposable casserole tray; pack earrings bracelets or necklaces in plastic bags and lay them on the bottom, before you put you hairpiece in. Encase dance or street shoes in recycled grocery bags; tuck them into the corners of your bag.

I pack my costume, all it’s accessories, my performance CD, veil and zills in a two-gallon zip-lock plastic freezer bag. At my destination, I know all essential parts are together, not stuck into some compartment of my suitcase. Plastic bags also protect your costume. As long as your costume is clean and dry before it goes into the bag, it’ll be fine. Once I had a suitcase sit on the tarmac at London’s Heathrow Airport for 45 minutes in a raging rainstorm. By the time it got into the terminal, the whole bag was soaked through. Boy, was I glad my costumes and regular clothes were encased in plastic bags- they were fine. As for the suitcase, it took almost two days of sitting in front of an English radiator to dry out!

PROPS
If you are flying with swords, know that there’s no way in hell they’ll make it into the passenger cabin. No amount of begging (“ But it’s only a stage-prop!”) will help get it on board with you. I arrange to borrow swords for my appearances in foreign countries, it just makes things easier. Domestically, you will want to protect your sword by putting it in a well-padded container with “FRAGILE” marked all over the outside. I use a hard guitar-case with a padded interior for sword transport; some use rifle cases. I include business cards, a bio, and photocopies of myself using the sword onstage, just in case an over-zealous TSA agent who thinks it’s actual weapons opens the case!
Though shamadans can be disassembled or collapsed (always keep a screw driver and wrench with you!) they will probably still be too large to bring on board and will have to be checked. Pack it in a well-padded box, labeled “fragile”, and if it has chains with crystals attached, wrap those in bubble wrap individually before packing the rest of the candelabrum.

Canes, Isis Wings and feather fans can be brought into the cabin on a plane, but call ahead to check the dimensions for the over-head storage bins, and make sure your items fit…you definitely don’t want to check these fragile things at the last minute. Many feather fans, or fan-veils or Isis wings will fit into a carry-on bag. I slip all my foldable hand fans and even smaller Sally Rand fans into hard cardboard document tubes which can be purchased at an office supply store -this will keep them from getting their staves cracked or bent. When you get to your destination, open the wings or your fan veils and steam them in a bathroom with the shower running, to let wrinkles work their way out…. of course, this is not recommended for feather fans! Larger Sally Rand feather fans will fit nicely into a long mailer tube or office-store box- but again, it will need to be checked- pad it well! Smaller brass trays and pots or jugs for folkloric dance can fit easily into a suitcase, protect them with clothes and costume pieces.

STREET CLOTHES, TRAVEL TOGS AND CLASSROOM WEAR
Dress in layers because planes and airports are either too warm or too cold. I wear a tank with a light, long sleeved t-shirt over it, and a hoodie. Bring a large pashmina -type wrap , which can be worn as a scarf, evening cover-up, tied over sweats as a skirt, or used in lieu of a scuzzy airline blanket. I wear Ugg boots for travel because they are comfy and practical: they slip off easily for TSA security checks; they’re perfect for those mad dashes when you’re making a connection. I wear the same pants for travel as I do in classes- jeans are another item that probably won’t be worn all weekend long!
No one is going to notice or care if you wear the same pair of Melodia pants, and you can tuck in a spare pair of straight-legged, stretchy leggings, they can pinch-hit as pajama bottoms, and look great under dresses or skirts. Add in a couple of tanks or crop-tops, your least bulky hip-scarf, and you’ll be good to go for your workshops. If you need a veil and zills for your classes, use the same ones you’ll be using for your performance. A lightweight cover-up will get you to and from the stage when you are performing, and doubles as a robe in your hotel room. Bring a pair of flip-flops to use for street wear, bedroom slippers or protecting your feet backstage. Want to look pretty for evening? Think “little black dress” preferably in a jersey or synthetic knit. They roll up small and won’t wrinkle. Add earrings and heels, and it actually looks like you made an effort!

BEFORE YOU GO
I have a gig checklist on my computer, with all my travel necessities, costumes and props listed on it. Make one for yourself, and refer to it, checking each item off as you pack it.

The night before a trip, I sort through my make-up bag, whittling it down to as few items as possible. I keep all my dry items like powder shadows and pencils, brushes, etc., in the make-up case and fill a snack-sized bag with lipsticks, gloss, eyeliner, eyelash glue mascara- any of the “no-no” TSA items. That smaller bag goes into my allotted quart baggie- along with travel-sized toothpaste, contact lense solution, moisturizer. Body glitter and a couple of sets of false eyelashes go into the bag holding my costumes.

Do a “dummy check” and make sure once again that you have everything essential for your trip, then edit mercilessly.
Pack a couple of snack-baggies full of raw nuts or trail mix- the stuff at airports is over-priced not to mention salty…can you say “bloated”?

Try to get as much sleep as possible a night or two before you travel, because you probably won’t get it at your event!
Make sure to fill a pocket of your bag with travel-sized trouble –shooters: make-up remover wipes, pain relief tables, band-aids safety pins, a small sewing kit, a set of bra pads and feminine protection.

IN TRANSIT
Obey the “quart baggie” rule- it will get you through the TSA security lines much faster. On the plane, I put the items I placed into the quart baggie back into my cosmetic bag where they belong. Before entering the airport, remove any metal objects from your person- including sunglasses, belt-buckles, and jewelry or hair accessories with metal clips and put them in your carry-on. This will save you from walking through the metal detector more than once. Keep your ID and boarding pass out so you won’t have to dig for it.

Buy a couple of bottles of water after passing through security- one to drink while you’re in the air, one for when you land. Flying dehydrates you- this will keep you feeling refreshed and it’s good for you! Last but not least: fly with a clean, moisturized face, and before landing, freshen up and add a little bit of blush, mascara and lip gloss.

SPECIAL DESTINATIONS
Check weather reports for your destination the night before and the morning you are leaving. Bring along appropriate articles, like coats, waterproof boots, bikini , bug spray or an umbrella.

If you are off to Egypt or any other Muslim country, bring modest clothes that pack well and cover you up- long cotton Indian wrap skirts are great, paper-thin long sleeved T-shirts to layer over tanks, and a lightweight, non-form-fitting jacket should serve you well. Bring sneakers or walking shoes. I bring beat up old ones and toss them before returning home. Know that in many North African and Middle Eastern countries, you may not easily find "amenities" like extra tampax, toilet paper, etc., so bring extras "just in case". Also, make sure to pack some Immodium, a tube of Neosporin, band-aids, etc. Check on what-if any-vaccines you will need; make sure to bring enough of whatever prescription medication(s) you may be taking.

When going to Cairo, or Istanbul or anywhere fabulous costumes can be purchased do what seasoned dancers do- check an empty or almost- empty suitcase to use for bringing back the costumes and souvenirs. On the way back, put as many of the costumes you bought as you can fit in your carry-on, and pack your street-clothes in the checked bag. That way, if something gets lost or stolen (this happens way more than anyone would like to think!) it will be your easily replaceable street clothes, not a custom-made stunner from Pharonics or Eman Zaki!

With efficient packing, you can look amazing wherever you go…both on-and off-stage!

Photo: Princess & Sphinx June 2008: Probably the most cliche tourist photo ever... yet still awesome!

GETTING GIG-READY: PERFORMANCE TIPS

We all know how crazy things can get when you have a show, and it doesn't seem to matter if it's your first-ever performance or just another hectic week traveling to an out-of-town workshop and show in the life of a professional dancer. Show days and the prep-time that ensues are always magnets for insanity, with the phone ringing non-stop, furtive hunts for costume pieces and lost liptsick, burning CD's, getting directions on-line and last minute emergencies- it never fails!

Before leaving for your gig, even if you are a seasoned pro, take a minute to check your gig bag and collect everything, including but not limited to your costume, finger cymbals and music. Make sure you’ve packed your iPod and or CD’s,a back up CD in case the sound system can't/won't play it, or even a different set burned onto another CD in the event that another performer might be using the same piece of music. This happens more than you might think!

The moment you go onstage is not optimal time to test out a new piece of music, so whether you are doing a choreography or improvising, make sure you are familiar with whatever it is you're about to dance to.

If you are working with a live band, learn the names of at the very least 4 or 5 popular Arabic songs that you are familiar with, so you can request the songs you want and there won't be any surprises or “mystery music”. Always bring along a pair of dance sandals, ballet slippers or ballroom shoes in case the floor or stage is dirty or splintery. Your gig bag should also include necessities like a cover-up, make-up for touch-ups, a sewing kit, band-aids, tampax, baby-wipes or a small a towel, and bottled water.

Though you are undoubtedly familiar with this concept… PLEASE WARM UP WELL BEFORE YOU DANCE! If you get injured while performing, you will lose out on future opportunities and jobs, as well as your own dancing pleasure… not to mention the fact that you’ll be in pain! It’s also an absolute necessity to stretch and cool down AFTER dancing or rehearsing, as well.

If you are not beginning your performance onstage, before you enter, let the musical intro or a few bars go by before you hit the stage, to add some drama. When you make your entrance, it's good to move around the whole stage or performance area to establish yourself to the audience. Let them get a good look at you, and become accustomed to your unique presence. Dance into your performance space as though you are claiming territory. You can’t afford to be tentative- a nervous dancer creates a nervous audience!

If you enter “old school” style with your veil wrapped, let some time go by before you remove your veil, to add a touch of suspense. If you are entering Egyptian style (sans wrapped veil) do a few circles of the stage, some light veil work, and either ditch the veil altogether (out of your dance path and in a place where no one can step on it) or put it into "storage" by wrapping it around your neck, so you can use it later at a slower point in your routine.

If you are going to incorporate a prop, make sure to “introduce” it to your audience, so the crowd can get a full appreciation of what they’re about to experience. For example, instead of just plopping a sword onto your head, make sure to really display it to it’s fullest advantage, letting the lights gleam on the blade, so the audience can appreciate that it’s a a real metal sword and not a fake. Be aware of the angle of your props, too. Fans, for example, are best displayed FLAT to the audience, so the crowd can see the full “wingspan”.

TAKE YOUR TIME! Don't give everything up at once. Walk in like a queen, the DIVA that you are, and show yourself off. Let the audience get a good look at how beautiful you are…let them admire your costume, and wonder about where this dance journey will take them. Start building the energy level slowly; save some tricks, whether it's veil work, snazzy zills, crazy shimmies or great undulations-whatever- for later, to keep the audience interested. Remember that sometimes onstage adrenalin makes time seem to go by differently, so mentally remind yourself every so often to relax and slow down.

In many Arabic night clubs, dancing among and around the tables is discouraged, but this is perfectly acceptable at belly dance showcases, most restaurants, and especially at parties, unless the host has requested that you don’t. Some people equate this with soliciting tips, and believe it looks tacky. Acceptable ways of being tipped are: having the money showered over your head, Arabic club style; bills being (politely) tucked into your costume; money being handed to you or to the waiter (for you) after your performance. Though it goes without saying, being groped by customers or having bills offered to you ORALLY are not only disrespectful to you, but completely unacceptable in any arena or venue! Don't stand for this sort of behavior. However, if there’s a troublesome drunk or an obnoxious kid in your audience, you can usually deflect the situation humorously by embarrassing the person whose doing it. This will usually stop the idiot from continuing, as well as take the threat out of the situation. By pulling a comical, over-the-top “I’m shocked!” type of facial expression, or just shaking your head no, like the tipper has to be crazy, you can usually get your point across. More likely than not, a member of the party the offender is with will ask him to stop so you don't have to. Remember: ultimately, YOU are in control of YOUR show. If anyone really becomes a problem, remove yourself from the situation immediately and explain the matter to the owner, manager headwaiter or person who hired you. They don't like this sort of vulgarity, either; it puts a bad light on their establishment.

Though this doesn’t usually apply at haflas or dance festivals, if you are working a club or stage show or even a private party, try not to mingle with attendees or customers in your costume before or after a show. To do this is not a faux-pas, but it does kind of diminish the magic you are creating for your show. Either throw on your caftan, or change quickly. Don't ruin the illusion of your costume by parading around in it. If you are working at a club or restaurant, you might want to bring a second costume if you have more than one show, too.

And a word about dressing rooms: no matter WHO you are, where you perform, or how long you have danced, a good dressing room is hard to find! In spite of what our dressing room fantasies are, dressing rooms are usually tiny, crowded, too hot or freezing, drafty, damp, or stuffy. They are rarely well-lit, and there is never enough mirror or floor space, especially if you count in multiple performers, and this goes double at dance festivals. I have changed in toilets, outdoor sheds, hallways, broom closets, even in the stage wings. Once, at a huge dance festival in Salisbury, UK, the performer’s dressing room was a cattle storage pen! I kid you not…it was clean and there wasn’t any livestock around ( thankfully!) but still, it was crazy. Of course, I couldn’t resist a photo-op!

Many venues or event producers provide water and food ( or snacks, at least) but be prepared! Long tech rehearsals or waiting around during a full-length show can take it’s toll on your appetite- and your stamina. It’s hard to perform with a growling stomach or low blood sugar. Keep some nuts or a nutrition bar in your gig bag along with some bottled water. Leg-warmers, slippers, a towel or baby-wipes, a light sweater or hoodie might be things you wish you’d thought to bring along! Try to have a friend watch your purse, or find a secure place to leave it while you perform. Also, in spite of whatever you want to think about the morality of your sister dancers or, for that matter, the wait-staff, if you are gigging at a large venue with many other acts, and you don’t know the people you are working with or working for , lock your suitcase!

After your show, remember to pick up your veil, zills, swords, or other props after your performance. Also remember to get your iPod or CD back, and double check your costume bags so you don't forget make-up, small costume pieces, shoes, tips or anything else. Do a double-dummy check- especially in crowed situations. Recently, I left an entire make-up bag backstage at the “Tales Of Desire” DVD shoot. It was so hectic and crowded backstage it was hard to tell where one person’s suitcase left off and another began! There was stuff literally littering the entire floor! If it wasn’t for Sabrina Fox of Atash Maya, I would’ve lost all my shit… and no make-up is a death sentence for a glammy Princess like me!

Check about the ethnic customs and/or general taste of the audience you will be dancing for, If you are uncertain about a risqué costume choice, for example, it’s always safer to go with something a bit more covered up. Though it’s hard to believe, some people still frown upon tattoos, as do many Arabic clubs,so you might want to cover them with clothing or make-up. Recently, with tattoos and piercings becoming a mainstream trend, this may not matter as much as it used to. I myself am heavily tattooed and pierced, and have not encountered any problems- but it does ultimately pay for you to be aware of what your audience’s comfort level is. When performing at strictly belly dance events put on by other dancers or at parties thrown by friends, you can be a bit more lax about everything, assuming you have a handle on your audience’s taste and preference.

Remember, you may be the first belly dancer someone has ever seen. Do everything you can to put on a beautiful, amazing show. Relax and have fun, and your audience will, too. Always be professional as possible….and once again: warm up! IT’S THE LAW!

Pictured: Dancer Rachel Bennett and I hamming it up backstage in Salisbury, UK, June 2007…in the Cattle Pen!
Me backstage at the "Tales Of Desire" DVD shoot for Hollywood Music Center