We were lucky to catch up with Laura Barsalou recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Laura thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
It’s a bright and beautiful summer day, and I’m with a group of my husband’s coworkers at a major league baseball game. We’d been tailgating all morning, laughing and joking, and a few of us leave in the fifth inning to get some concessions and stretch our legs. Our group is comprised of five couples, and I follow one of the men down the long corridor when he suddenly leans over and whispers, “So…Is it true? My wife tells me you’re a real bellydancer?” he asks, in the same tone as if he were standing in front of a real unicorn or mermaid, and when I confirm that I am indeed a professional bellydancer, I can see in his eyes a thousand questions swirling. His voice drops another few decibels – determined not to be overheard, as he whispers, “So how does that…work?”
At this point, I’m well aware of what he’s thinking. His mind has conjured up images of seven veils, harems, and gyrating midsections. In his mind and world, I am as elusive as the mythical unicorn; everything he knew me to be – wife of a high school teacher, graduate of Stetson University, rabid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, has dissipated under the label of “bellydancer.” I launch into the positive experiences with the dance – how I’ve seen women blossom into feeling beautiful, to the health benefits, and above all, that we deal and cope with the same challenges as any other small business in the community, but it falls on deaf ears. He suddenly feels guilty speaking to me, and we meander silently back to the stands.
There have been countless instances where I’ve had to defend bellydance and my dedication to this specific dance form, to the general public and even those closest to me. Describing my decision to transition from a corporate job to pursue my passion for dance, I would receive an awkward “oh” or “that’s nice,” or not so polite expressions of “Why would you want to do THAT?” When you get past the makeup and costuming, professional bellydancers face the same demands of their corporate counterparts. There seems to be a disconnect between the image of the dancer and the reality of the profession. In my corporate past life, I was the lead manager of a 1,600-attendee black tie charity event, and the similarities between my former job and my dance job are remarkable. As the owner of BalaChandra BellyDance, I attend business networking opportunities to meet and reach out to prospective clients and future business partners. I conduct research among my students to create class schedules and have become well-versed in event particulars such as contracts, disclaimers and liabilities. Reaching out to other small business owners, I discover we often share insight and tips about web presence and marketing strategies. Bellydance professionals share the same concerns as any small business owner, yet why do we have a harder time legitimizing our industry?
All the hard work, planning, and years spent perfecting our art are not seen, therefore it seems we are dismissed as just girls in pretty costumes willing to shake it for a group of admiring onlookers. So how do I combat these instances of misunderstanding or disrespect? It’s all about education. While we may not be unicorns or mermaids, we maintain the same aura of mystique. But I want to bring people into my world by educating the public about the rich history, global influences, and the business side of performing and teaching bellydance. I strive to be present in my community and demonstrate that this path requires the same organizational skills and business sense essential to traditional corporate jobs.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am a professional bellydancer and dance/fitness instructor. My company, BalaChandra BellyDance, was founded in 2014 and has been featured at exciting venues and events throughout Orlando and the state of Florida. I started studying bellydance in 2004. I fell in love with the movements and expression of the dance, and more importantly, how it made me feel when I danced. I felt beautiful, confident, and strong. After immersing myself in training and practice, and under the tutelage of my instructor, I joined her bellydance troupe and started performing professionally. Wanting to share my love with others, I completed a teacher training course in 2011 and have been teaching classes and workshops at dance studios throughout Orlando ever since. I became interested in cross-training with different styles of dance and movement, which led me to pursue my certification to teach Barre classes in 2018. I now teach weekly classes online through the Lupa Fitness Den online boutique studio. My work through BalaChandra BellyDance is a dream come true. As a student and performer at other studios, I dreamed of working with my own troupe to create my vision for style and choreography. My goal was to meld my training in both American Cabaret and fusion bellydance styles to create an aesthetic that was glamorous and wildly entertaining, that I describe as “glossy fusion bellydance.”
While I love performing, being an instructor has become one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. Whether I am teaching steps of a new choreography, or honing technique at the ballet barre, I love how movement and dance brings joy and self-confidence to my clients. My classes have transitioned to an online-only format, allowing me to reach a new audience and grow beyond my local community.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part of my work is seeing firsthand how dance/movement can positively impact someone’s self-esteem and life outlook. I remember taking my very first bellydance class, and how I initially felt intimidated as a beginner, and how it was more challenging to learn than I had anticipated. But as I stuck with it and continued to practice, I felt more confident and comfortable in my own skin. I love watching my clients have that same experience, especially through my bellydance and specialty choreography classes, where I watch them get excited when they accomplish a difficult dance combo or movement. It makes my heart happy to see my clients express pride in themselves and their accomplishments, and truly feel beautiful. In my fitness classes, it is my mission to encourage clients to carve out some time just for themselves, as taking even a few minutes to stretch or move throughout the day is important. In addition to my online studio, I hold the contract to conduct regular fitness classes for employees of the local school district. Watching participants come into class, tired and worn down from the demands of their jobs, to laughing and feeling more relaxed and energized by the time class ends is a wonderful example of how taking time to reconnect with your body through movement can provide many benefits both physically and emotionally.
Have you ever had to pivot?
For many years, I taught weekly classes at the Serenity Now Yoga studio, a beautiful space in Longwood that was a thriving haven of yoga and dance. With a large client following and knowledgeable instructors, the studio was “home” to me, and I was fortunate to work as Studio Manager alongside the owner, Dacia, who is an incredible mentor and friend. In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our entire business model needed to change. Within the course of a weekend, we had to transition our in-person classes to an online format, like countless other businesses in our community. Throughout the year, the studio struggled to find its footing, as we contended with this new environment, then re-opening, social distancing, and temporary closings as cases increased and decreased in our area. Despite fully reopening for in-person classes in 2021 with no further restrictions, and maintaining our online class livestreams, we had not regrouped the following we had prior to the shutdown. As rent for the physical space continued to rise, it became apparent that the studio was no longer sustainable. Now for another pivot, Dacia and I examined the business model again, and the decision was made to give up the studio space and move to an online boutique studio. We streamlined the number of classes and instructors and started to rebuild, offering my classes under the new Lupa Fitness Den brand that Dacia had developed. Personally, I struggled with not having a physical space to teach my classes in-person, as I love to connect with my clients, and did not feel as comfortable teaching virtually. This move to online required me to shake up my teaching style and push out of my comfort zone. It required me to be open to major change and think outside of the box, and I found the focus to strengthen my skills as an instructor. By keeping myself open to new ideas, I have discovered the benefits of teaching online, such as gaining clients that do not live locally, and maintaining the interactive class experience I love to provide through web formats such as Zoom. It also opened my schedule to incorporate class times that would have been inconvenient if I was only teaching in-person, such as my current 6:30AM Good Morning Barre class. My clients love the ease of rolling out of bed for a quick workout before their work day begins!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.balachandrabellydance.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balachandra_bellydance/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balachandrabellydance
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7uRTPq-NIkyPdP2e5wNLgw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@balachandrabellydance?lang=en
Image Credits
The Dancer’s Eye Wild Artistry Peter Lanzarone Photography Adrienne Frankenfield