 |
Many dancers are
respectful of others, even when they may not agree with another's
style,
techniques, or overall message. If they feel strongly about a
need to
change what is happening (whether in class, in the local community, or
in the
Belly Dance community as a whole), they seek out resolutions rather
than
instigate trouble. To honor these wonderful people, Nadiyah
will start serving Sportsmanship
Awards and highlighting their stories with the rest of the belly
dance
community online and in print.
Our
first Sportsmanship
winner is
Kitiera,
a dancer residing in West Puget Sound, Washington.
Congratulations
Kitiera!
|
|
An
Interview with
Kitiera
Nadiyah (N)
- Didn’t you start a belly dance
competitors’ forum? What was your reason for doing this?
How has
the forum progressed? Has it helped competitors keep a positive
relationship amongst themselves?
Kitiera
(K) - I originally came from Lexington,
KY and moved to
the Puget
Sound
2 years ago by way of South
Carolina. I
started dancing when I was 11 years old. (I
am 24 years old now). My Southeastern
roots and upbringing have deeply influenced the way I handle my
business and my
life. In the South, gentile manners and hospitality are a #1
priority in
every relationship that you have -- whether its friendship, business,
or first
impressions.
When
I started competing
in 2000, I was shocked and upset by
the undercurrents present in the competitive circuits. I had
already experienced
plenty of experience with cattiness, backbiting, and general dance
politics in
2 cities. I assumed competition would be
different, figuring people would want to make good impressions. I
was
wrong.
After 2
years of competing and a move
across the country to
a new city, I was ready
for
something positive. Competing was still important to me, for a
variety of
reasons, but I was so tired of feeling alone and friendless in such a
high-stress atmosphere. Living in the Pacific
Northwest
in such a fantastic dance community sparked an idea that maybe it was
possible
to create a "support group" for those who were interested in
competing. That's how the Seattle
Competitior's Club (SCC) was born.
Originally, I had really
big dreams for the group.
We
had a few meetings, I set up the Yahoo Group forum, and everyone
seemed
really excited about what the SCC could bring to our community.
At the
turn of this year, however, I injured my back and did not to compete
for the
majority of the season. Months lapsed with no meetings and the
forum fell
silent. Only occasionally, someone would ask me about the club,
so I thought
the enthusiasm for the group was waning. Conversely, as I turned
my
attention towards a competition once again, I realized that I
still needed
that sisterhood. I began plying the
Yahoo forum with topics and discovered the enthusiasm is definitely
back!
Whether we will ever have regular monthly meetings again, I'm not
sure... even
if the Yahoo Group is the only regular thing going on, that's ok by
me. We are still sharing experience, hard-won
lessons, and knowledge with our peers and friends. I do want
to
create more with the group-- most importantly, event meetings at the
competitions where we can get together and have coffee, do yoga, or
just talk
about our stress and be there for each other through the harrowing
experience
of competing.
The group
has helped women keep a
positive, focused attitude
about competing. Several members have mentioned how much it’s
meant to
them to know they had friends in the audience cheering for them.
For the Seattle
area itself, we have done so much to create regional pride and
solidarity. Last year, at the Double Crown Dance Competition, I
was moved
to tears by the number of Seattleites jumping up and down cheering
on all of
the competitors.
N
- What else do you do to
provide a positive and supportive environment for other dancers?
K
- I'm honest with people and never break
a commitment if I
can help it. I offer encouragement to beginner dancers and
compliment my peers. I can find something nice to say about any
performance. I try to cheer on and clap for every dancer when
sitting in
the audience. I never say anything catty or rude about a dancer
where
people can overhear me and keep my critical comments to myself.
I'm nice
to everyone I meet, regardless of how good they are or
how well (or
not) that I know them. Furthermore, I try to instill good
etiquette and
attitude into my students and troupe members.
|
N
- Could you provide at
least
one example of a dance-related conflict or controversy that upset you
and you
were able to resolve in a "healthy" manner?
K - At a
previous
competition, someone smeared
lipstick on
my costume. Since I found it as I was getting dressed, I had no
time to
wash the costume. I went out on stage with this horrible red
smear down
my skirt. I did not complain about it to the sponsor. Nor
did I get upset and yell at everyone in
the dressing room. I simply filed away the lesson in my brain not
to
leave my costume where someone can get to it like that. I covered
it with
glitter and went on with my show. I've been at competitions where
something similar has happened, and people handle the circumstances
with
various degrees of grace. As athletes, drama around you really
can
interfere with your focus and put you off your game. It was
really not
worth disturbing the peace that day.
N -
What does "Good
Sportsmanship" mean to you?
K - I am a
serious artist and
athlete. I don't have
time for petty dramas and nasty politics. It takes away my energy
and
focus from my show and my training. Thus, training and performing
in a
healthy, peaceful, and focused atmosphere is the absolute most
important thing
to me, as far as relationships go with my peers.
You
can't avoid
negativity, of course. You can be the
gracious one, the better one, while being frank and honest with
people.
Sometimes, however, this can actually lead to
undesirable responses. It can be real upsetting to a few that
don’t receive
the drama they want. So by trying to be a better person, I have
actually
made a few political "enemies." Those are people I
probably didn't want as friends, anyway.
N
- Do you have any special training
or experiences that have helped you to be so supportive of your
colleagues?
K
- Again, my
southern upbringing is the most powerful influence on my relationships
with
other people. I've been lucky enough to have great role models in
my life:
women who I love and respect, women who are gracious and seem to have a
peaceful serenity that nothing intrudes upon. Also, my
spirituality keeps
me grounded. I am able to look at
painful experiences as lessons to be learned and then move on. It
is
extremely liberating to be able to focus on what matters: my family, my
spiritual
evolution, and my training. |