Mersin Bios

Members

All of our dancers are committed to learning more about our dance, stage craft, presentation and sharing their knowledge within the group. This environment of learning and sharing is what has helped Mersin grow over the last few years and now shows in our confident performance style. Our members give up much of their time to perfecting their skills, but we are also a very social group who enjoy working and dancing with each other. We are able to provide skilled dancers for almost any kind of event. All prospective members are expected to study with the group for a couple of months before being invited to audition, helping us gain committed, confident and polished team players.

Joining Mersin

Each year Mersin holds open auditions for new members.

We are looking for:

Advanced dancers with at least 3 years of regular MED class or a good, strong background in other dance styles and about 18 months of MED.
People who study/have studied with more than one teacher, and have taken workshops with a wide variety of teachers, including a few master teachers and can provide notes or show and tell.
Excellent team players.
Dancers who know various different Bellydance styles and can perform at least half a dozen confidently.
Those who can commit to weekly practice in both Basingstoke and Reading in addition to their weekly classes, and are willing to put aside time to perform.
Dancers who do regular home practice, and some form of cross training, such as swimming, gym work, yoga...
Confident improvisers/freedancers and dancers who show good leadership skills within their class groups.
Those willing to share notes, feedback with their peers, do self assessment and set themselves targets for their dancing.
Dancers willing to put the time, effort and money into their costume and beauty routine.
Performers who shine on stage.
A good understanding of professional standards in Bellydance and presentation skills both on and off stage.
Those who would be fun to spend social time with., and who will enjoy dancing with others with the same outlook and commitment.

We have no age limit, no body type, no ideal dancers in mind, but look for a mix of dance ability and troupe compatability.

If you still think you would be interested please contact Sara during the first half of the year and try to attend a class or workshop with one of the Mersin teachers before July. If you are performing locally we would love to come and see you. In Aug/Sept we host a workshop open to potential Mersinites and other advanced dancers, followed by a feedback session for those who wish to proceed. From that workshop we take forward around 6/8 potential members who are then invited to come along to Mersin sessions for about a month to see the process as we work towards our Celebrating Dance festival performance. They get a mentor at this point and help in preparing a dance folder. At the end of this time we hold an audition where those still interested are invited to perform and submit their dance folder for consideration.

In 2008 we are looking to find two new members.

Joining a Student Troupe

If all of the above seems a little bit much for you then why not consider joining a local Student Troupe. These tend to meet a couple of times a month and perform at local Hafla, fetes and charity events. Sara's Student Troupe Nashida Abla is open to all dancers in her intermediate and advanced classes who have studied for around a year and wish to perform. Nashida Abla have their own page her :

Nashida Abla Student Troupe