Nadira’s Retirement and the Future of Belly Dance Geek

 

I needed to recapture the joy in the dance, and figure out how I want it to fit in my life.

Like decluttering a drawer, you have to take everything out before you can decide what to put back in.

So I thought I’d take a break, reflect, then jump back in with a new plan.

Then came the pandemic.

And everything changed.

Classes moved online or were canceled. Studios closed. Venues closed.

We lost friends and family members, and beloved members of the dance community.

We were all reevaluating what was important to us, and what we wanted our lives to look like.

And I learned that I need more space and flexibility than I can have as a business owner.

“Auntie time” has always been important to me, but missing out on two years of my niece and nephews’ childhoods has made that a top priority. I also need space in my life for my other interests and developing my programming career.

So while I will always love this dance, and our wonderful community of dancers, musicians, and audience members, I have decided to retire.

And Heather’s tenure as Director is ending

And after doing an amazing job of keeping Belly Dance Geek® going during my sabbatical, Heather has also decided to step down as Director and focus on her own projects.

So it is time to wind down Belly Dance Geek®.

Our products, podcasts, articles, and other resources WILL stay available – more on that later!

But we no longer have any plans to create any new content or run our group courses.

Is this goodbye forever?

Never say never! Lots of dancers come out of retirement, and I still have tons of ideas.

But this phase of my life is over. If we do reopen someday, it will be on very different terms.

So what happens now?

My top priority is to make sure that my work stays available to the dance community.

The videos, courses, podcasts, and articles that I created represent more than a decade of my life. I want to protect that legacy.

And the need for accessible training on improvisation skills, dance values, and the “why and how” of the dance is as real now as when I released my first podcast episode way back in 2006.

I don’t want those resources to just disappear. So we have some big changes in store.

Opening up the Catalog

I have decided to release our entire product line on a “pay what you want” basis.

You will be able to get any video, course, or training resource we offer for as little as $1.

There are a few caveats to this:

In fact, our first free-ish release is available now!

I’ll announce each product as it is released, so stay tuned.

Permission for Classroom Use

I’ve also decided to grant permission for teachers to use my products in the classroom at no charge.

Creators can also use them in their own work, under some circumstances.

Some restrictions apply, and the terms may change over time, so be sure to read the full policy before each use.

Tech changes

To keep our resources available, I need to reduce our hosting costs and technical maintenance as much as possible.

So don’t be surprised if you see some changes to our website and mailing list in the coming weeks.

Nadira’s Thank yous

This has already been a long post, but before I close it out, there are many people I need to thank.

Heather Wayman

I owe the biggest thanks to Heather. By taking the reins, she gave me the space I needed to think through my retirement, and not just pull the plug and let my legacy disappear.

I’m so proud of everything she accomplished as Director, particularly the tremendous development she nurtured as a Be Amazing in the Moment coach.

(I’m super proud of you too, Kathy! You worked so hard, and achieved so much.)

My teachers

I’d like to thank my dance mommas, Sabra Jamal, Amira Jamal, and Artemis Mourat, who taught me to love, respect, and think deeply about the dance, while also encouraging me to make it my own.

I also owe a lot to my dance aunties Shadia Tohme, Melina, Najmat, and Amina Delal.

Musicians, venue owners, and audience members

I’ve always loved restaurant shows best, because the dancer, the band, and the audience create the show together. I’m so grateful to have had that experience.

I owe a lot to the Athenian Corner, Karoun, Byblos, and all the other venues that have valued live music and dancing.

And some of my happiest memories are from after the show, chatting with Mike, Costa, Freddie, George, and Nick, and line dancing with the regulars.

My former students at Belly Dance Somerville

Your enthusiasm and smiling faces got me out of bed early on Sunday mornings, and your questions and willingness to be vulnerable fueled my work at Belly Dance Geek® as well as my own growth as a dancer. It was an honor being your dance momma.

I especially want to thank Evren for her tireless service as my assistant and recital czar.

Julie Eason

Julie and the community she created in the Circle at The Belly Dance Business Academy helped me grow beyond my local dance scene and bring my work to more people. (Without their help, there’s a good chance you wouldn’t be reading this right now!)

The Belly Dance Geek® Clubhouse guests

Thank you for generously sharing your expertise and time. I can’t believe we made it to 75 episodes!

You!

I’m so grateful to all of you reading this, and to everyone who was part of the Belly Dance Geek® community over the years. I love this dance and I love ideas, but at the end of the day, I made these resources for you.

Your questions and deep desire to understand this dance, not just go though the motions, was my biggest inspiration and motivation.

Thank you for trusting me with your dance.

Hugs if you like ’em,
– Nadira