Carrara Nour
Belly Dancer for Weddings and Events in Orlando

Snuggies and ShamWows and PedEgg’s, oh my!  It seems like every time you turn on the tube, somebody’s pitching a new fix to your least pressing problems. After all, who doesn’t need a blanket with sleeves that doubles as a Jedi garment?

Just for fun, I thought I’d gather some of the most classic infomercial slogans and apply them to the business of belly dance.

I know what you’re thinking. Carrara has truly gone off the deep end this time. Where could she possibly be going with this? And why, pray tell, is she implying that my competition is just a mere blanket with sleeves?

The point of this exercise is to re-examine our advertising messages in a changing marketplace. …

I’ll keep my own editorial content minimal here, since I already blog and Bhuz voluminously on the subject of undercutting. But I believe that one of the most important tools in elevating the art form and protecting community standards is being able to speak intelligently about the subject of rates. After all, we’ve all been in a position where we’ve had to convince a prospect that booking a 45-minute “belly dance” show for $100 (or less) might not be such a good idea.

As the adage goes, knowledge is power. I like to read these great articles whenever I need a little encouragement or a better way to phrase the classic “you get what you pay for” speech. Share them …

A couple of the baby-bellies in my life have asked me for advice, opinions and stories about “going pro.” So I thought I’d take a moment to sound off.

Certainly, many of us are dazzled by the prospect of getting paid to do what we love. After all, you can’t wear your Bella to your 9-5, nor do most of our day jobs involve livening up some swank events or making people happy.

Allow me to state up front, however: it’s not all sunshine and bunnies.

To be a successful professional dancer, you will need far more than good technique, great looks and cute costumes. After all, the seasoned pro is not only an entertainer, but also her own accountant, …

While making the rounds on Bhuz this morning, somebody posted a great question about spinning: “How do I work up speed and stamina for dervish-style whirling with double veils without reaching for the Dramamine?”

In my circles, I’ve been dubbed as both a Spinning Goddess and Queen of Double Veil, so I thought I’d take a crack.

The thing that just plain sucks about spinning, versus a stationary, muscular move like a belly roll or an omi, is that some of us really have to fight our own biology to nail it. I can whirl for 60 seconds straight if the music calls for it, but I have friends who want to lose their lunch after 2 barrel turns. Those …

Pharaonics addicts know exactly where I’m going with this. You drop $700 on an exquisite Egyptian costume. The color, fit and rhinestones are to die for. But for some ungodly reason, the designer uses cheap painted plastic beads that chip after the slightest wear.

Fed up with my white Pharaonics – and in no mood to re-string every tassel – I reached for the medicine cabinet and refinished those suckers with nail polish.

Hallelujah, it worked!

All you need is a pearlescent nail polish in a color that matches the finish of your beads. Apply one coat, let it dry. Repeat until your beads look shiny and new. (And don’t forget to crack a window open!)

Curiously, I’m not the …