Performers Attending Shows

Continuing on the issue of belly dance events that was started online and I replied to in my previous post:
"Questions Regarding the Differences Between "Professional" and "Student-Level" Performers"
Now we move to the larger issue of lack of support for shows by performers.

There have been quite a few comments and questions over the last year or so from different regions of the U.S. about performers not attending shows unless they are performing in them.  This is oddly fascinating to me.  Where is the love of the art form?  And the respect for the community as a whole?   Or is belly dance a narcissistic dance form? Don't the performers want to share their art with other performers? What drives some performers to organize date nights or nights out to a bar with their dance "sisters" rather than to watch others in their community perform that same evening at the same time as the impromptu organized outing?   And how would it feel to those performers to see these public postings of organized outings (created after the event was posted) with other dancers during their performance?  Would they feel less supported, less like a community of artists, or does the idea of support within the dance community (regional or global) mean anything to them as a artists? Is it better to save the $10, $20, $30, etc it would cost to watch others in (and outside) your community express themselves in the dance you enjoy?  Is this art form all about the ego?  Does narcissistic motives matter more than support for the creative drives within others? Or are there other reasons this is epidemic in the larger community of belly dancers?

Based on some small research I have done, I have found that:

• Some dancers do not like to attend events that offer performances in styles that are not their own.  It's beneath them.  
• Some dancers do not like the promoter, so unless they are "personally invited" to perform (and get paid for it) they will not attend their shows.  
• Some dancers do not want to spend the time to create a new choreography for a show so they will not request a spot to perform and do not want to spend the money to watch others who did take the time to create and rehearse choreography for it.   
• Some dancers stated that they could see any of the performers listed in any of the shows I asked them about anytime they wanted to (apparently even the celebrity out of towners are at their viewing beck and call).
• Some dancers will only perform at certain venues.  Several stated they do not like to perform in a dance studio.  It's beneath them. 
• Some dancers only wanted to perform in shows with the words "Pro" or "Professional" listed in the title (regardless of their dance status as a student/hobbyist). 
• At least one was "afraid" to perform in certain venues unless there was an agreement that certain people in the community she did not get along with were not allowed in.  
• Finally some dancers do not want to attend a show they need to pay to watch because they feel the promoter is making huge amounts of money off it and that bothers them.

On a very personal and professional level, I was fortunate enough to host an instructor and performer who is world renowned and very much loved by the larger community.  While the workshops brought in a modest number of dancers, the show did not.  I was horrified and embarrassed for how it made our community look.  As a promoter, instructor, director, and performer, I often pay attention to what is going on in the community. I admit that I often count heads at all the events I attend (which are many) to get a feel for how many other promoters, instructors, directors, and performers actually attend events, particularly if they are not performing in them. It helps with my research and understanding of the community. My embarrassment and utter sorrow was because many dancers, even those in the workshops, did not want to take the time or spend the $10 to support the show.  Her show.  Her beautiful and technically amazing performance.  We were super fortunate for her to come out as she had suffered a recent, personal tragedy and could have canceled for understandable reasons.  But dance was what kept her going. Dance is what she loved and gave love through it and could receive the love back if others would have the love to send back.  As performers we all know that we can see who is in the audience when we walk onstage, as we mingle, we see the faces of love and support, of compassion and interest. We can also witness the absence of this.

The next morning I had asked a few of the dancers that I knew pretty well why they were not able to attend the show, the answers ranged from "I got free tickets to a concert" to "I didn't feel like it" to "I'll catch it next time."  But they all expressed how much they loved her and how happy they were that she was here and hoped I'd host her again.  But they did not support her performance.  Since then I have been pondering the community and the dance style for answers and suggestions on how we can elevate the art and support each other.  So this is important to me on many levels.

I offer an opportunity to send me your questions, comments, and feedback on this subject as it seems to be epidemic in the larger belly dance community.  I would love to try to find a way to make shows appealing to the audience, the performers, and the promoters so we do not continue to lose remarkable performers and fabulous shows and so we can elevate the art form with a mutual love and support for all involved.