Apparently Dragon*Con really DOESN'T like belly dancers :-/

[capriciouspuss.livejournal.com]

Just a note to let everyone know that there will apparently be no belly dance performances or classes at the Con this year.

For the last few years, the belly dance community has put countless hours into producing great shows featuring both Middle Eastern and Asian dances. These shows have attracted premier performers such as the Awalim Dance Company and Jahara Phoenix, as well as the talented Chinese dancer, Yolanda Campbell (all of whom graciously donated their time).

Apparently we just aren't cool enough... to even be acknowledged. Not only were we not given space or time for a show this year, the track director we worked with in the past ignored numerous attempts to be contacted throughout the year and simply refused to discuss the matter.

I'm kind of appalled that *someone on* Dragon*Con's staff behaves this way.

ETA: I am not the person who was ever in charge of coordinating the belly dance shows or events in the past. I'm just a frustrated party who has seen the events unfold over the past two years.

Comments

[capriciouspuss.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the response. I do not think ALL of Dragon*Con is bad, by any means. I understand that it's volunteer, that everyone has day jobs and that communication breakdowns can occur. I apologized if it seemed that I was directing this to the entire staff.

However, there are volumes of more incriminating things I've left out of this post concerning our particular situation. When contact is attempted every single weeks for months, when you write on their facebook page, call their phone, send them emails more times than you can count on your fingers and your toes, that is blatant disregard.

I realize competition is tough. However, we had shows before that were so well attended they were over capacity for our space and security had to do a one in, one out thing for the entire time span. We had classes attended by LOTS of people. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Last year shortly before the con, Monet wrote THIS post http://community.livejournal.com/dragoncon/1610898.html ... the title of my post was actually a play on the title of hers.

[pdfunplugged.livejournal.com]

You know... if you feel that strongly about it... Actually apply to be a performance group instead of track guests. There's a whole team of folks that decide that.. not just one.

And honestly... doesn't matter if you performed before. Like I said... I helped found DragonConTV 8 years ago. I designed the staff shirts, did the masquerade opening for a number of years, and this year I even have a live action version of the mascot running around for photo ops.

When it comes to getting programming... I'm put in line with everyone else... And truth be told it should be that way. My next big pitch to DragonCon is probably going to be a dodgeball tournament. Bonus points for team themes and costumes. But in order for me to bring that con means something else has to go.