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ALYRA'S ADVICE | 2| can I borrow that move for myself? by Alyra Dear Alyra: I'm a new bellydancer so I'm doing all I can to get out there and learn. I'm trying to put together a routine for one of Serena's parties and while I was out at Lafayette Grill, I saw [name removed] dance and she was wonderful! She did this neat move I'd never seen before; can I borrow that move for myself? Signed: New to the Biz. Dear New: This question has some relevance to "ASK ALYRA | 1: Help! What do I do when someone has stolen my routine?" so I thought it best to answer it in relation to what I had written to shocked. Please take a moment to read the above. Finished? Oh good! Now you can see that Shocked is one hurt dancer and so you can see the impact that stealing a routine can cause. Now, in your case, I would distinguish this from above by saying that there is a major difference between adopting a move and making it your own and stealing a routine. The former is permissible under certain circumstances; the latter is never under ANY circumstance. As always, I like to work these things through thoroughly so let's look at it from its basics. Belly dancing has been around for a long time, and most of moves you see have been around the block more than a stray cat. Some are foundation moves, some are cultural moves and some are just plain canned tricks. Everyone knows them and everyone uses them to their best advantage. Few dancers come up with all brand new moves for themselves and the honest truth is that most junior, mid level and early pro dancers are taking what they learned from someone else and tailor it to suit their tastes and style and routine. These core stock steps get arranged and rearranged into stunning combinations of grace and flowery beauty. Recycling is what I call it and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this practice. Its how everyone begins and how some make a living. I say that if you're pretty darn sure that what you're seeing and what you want to adopt is a stock move (just one you haven't been taught before) then I don't see anything wrong with taking one single move (not a whole dance stanza which I would consider more than 3 steps or layers, or a routine) and bringing it into your vocabulary of steps. That being said, there is a major caveat! It's the senior dancers and instructors, the hard core professionals that are the creative well in which most of the new unique moves flow from. It is these women (and a man or two) that are the backbone of our industry and it is required that you treat their creative genius with respect and honor. If you see one of them do something new and exciting, don't even think of taking it for your own without speaking to them. It would be beyond the valley of disrespect and deep in the hell of disdainful. Most, if not all, of this level of dancer is an instructor or choreographer and the only thing I would recommend is calling them up and asking for a private class to teach you the one move that you love so much. Not only is this the right thing to do, it is also a terrific opportunity to learn the step right and (since you'll have an hour) learn some other things and improve your overall technique. I have NEVER heard of a dancer, when hired for a private lesson, denying a student access to the very best she has to teach, signature moves included. They will be only too happy to get their choreography out there as well as get some remuneration for their creative efforts. This is the ONLY thing I would recommend you do when you see something special from a senior dancer. So, that being said, how do you know the difference between a stock move and a new or truly unique one? You can tell because the former will look *great* and the other will POP your eyes out of your head and make your jaw UNHINGE until it plops on the table. A signature move will leave you gasping and dazzled with a feeling like you've just seen a glimpse of the gates of heaven. You know it when you see it and the more exposure you get to bellydancers, the more you'll be able to distinguish between the two. Finally, I know my answers above don't factor in all the contingencies that you'll face in your learning process, but I think it gives you a good lead to follow. Just remember use your best judgment to be fair and ethical and you'll do the right thing! Blessings, Alyra