Amy is the only professional of her two troupes (Unmata and Verbatim), if we exclude all other forms of income. If one defines professional as someone paided to bellydance, gigs, not free student shows, then all of the members of both troupes qualify. We have a member who is a College Student (April Rose) and one who works as a freelance massage terapist and clothing designer (Lynsay Brown--she created Unmata's new block pants and cropped hoodies.) So Bellydancing is a huge part of their income.

Me, I can't pay rent with what I make, but I can pay for my habbit...the dancing one that is. I don't teach though, I just entertain.

What a fascinating subject! Another myth to bust. ;o)

I am not a professional anything by those standards. I don't make a pay check. But I work incredibly hard. I'm laughing at being a house manager hobbyist! I use Outlook, plan projects, manage a budget, etc. All things that people with businesses do. And I would have to say I do my job better than most people who are bringing in cash for it. I've been told by many people who work in the outside world that I am a management genius (but I only use my powers for good... LOL). My dh has the mad skillz people pay top dollar for, so we figure it's better for him to spend as little time as possible making as much as possible and I manage the income. Best of both worlds, really. He is currently pursuing certification in integral psychology and has plans to use that later when he's done squeezing the IT industry [g].

That said, my current dream-plan is to take what is happening in the studio now and build on it and see where it takes me and as many other people as possible... [insert diabolical laugh here]

So, I am not a professional dancer. And I doubt I will ever be a professional anything by the standards listed above. My life goal isn't to pursue that kind of thing. I'd prefer to communally support my family with numerous endeavors instead of just one thing.

I do intend to do a General Skills Intensive and would love teacher training so I can lead my tribe better. But I seriously doubt that will ever return itself in cash directly. I find these things are more valuable to me personally because they expand my awareness in so many ways and that is the return I'm looking for. I probably won't do it for at least another year. We are a cash based household, so I will have to save for it.

It is my impression that there are several troupes and individuals that make a significant amount of their income belly dancing. However, bringing it in as the sole provider, hmmm. Hard to say.

My answer to your direct question about how many pro dancers making their living on tribal dancing is "I can't answer that." I don't have the data. My guesses would be:

Carolena Nericcio (FCBD)
Kajira Djoumahna (BSBD)
Paulette Rees-Denis (GC)
Jill Parker (Ultra Gypsy)
Rachel Brice (Rachel Brice ;o)
Zoe Jakes (Indigo)
Mardi Love (Indigo)
Sharon Kihara (Indigo)
Amy Sigil (UNMATA)
Megha Gavin (PURA & Devyani)
Frederique (Frederique)
Christine Hamer (Zafira)
Olivia Kissel (Zafira)
Maria Hamer (Zafira)
Tamara Nelson (Zafira)
Sharon Moore (inFusion)
Ali Arnold (n.o.madic)
Andrea Makris (Underbelly)
Trisnasari (Underbelly)
Sera (Solstice Dance Ensemble)
Kendra (Hands of Kali)

Off the top of my head. All well known. And I know I'm leaving out lots of people. I am sure there are plenty of local celebrities who make their living off of bellydance. However, to my best knowledge, none of the bellydance divas in our community make their living solely off of bellydancing. Yet I would definitely call them professionals. No one in Austin makes their living off of Tribal.

And I do wonder if the GSI and the certifications other groups and individuals do are attended mostly by hobbyists or are there more pros?

Here's our household definition of professional: a person who is expert at his or her work (or) an authority qualified to teach apprentices.

I *love* this discussion! Well done!

Andrea.

Some more "purely bellydancers":

SriTarasita of Rakadu Gypsy in Lexington, KY
Heather Stants of Urban Tribal
Rose Harden of Barbary Coast Shakedown and Ultra Gypsy
Jill Parker of BCS and Ultra Gypsy

Currently, all my living expenses are made by teaching bellydance, but I'm in professional school so my tuition is covered by loans.

I think a better wat to ask, because what a "professional" is will never be agreed on, but just to state... who makes their living off Tribal Style dance....

The word professional is always debated on my DJ sites... am I a professional just because it is what I do full time? It is my job? Am I a professional just because I get paid?
Can I be a "part-time" professional? I get paid for DJing, but have a full time job?

LOL

When it comes to talks like this and the one about the publics idea of what a DJ and a BellyDancer are.. Kajira and I notice at how close our two job are so much the same. :)