Wow! It seems to me that using a stage/dance name or not is a personal choice and no one should pressure you into having one! Geez! If nothing appeals to you and you love your real name, why not use it?

I kind of understand the safety issue part but a real stalker or psycho is going to find out what your real name is (and where you live and all kinds of other creepy stuff) even if you're using a dance name.

Anyway, I think that it's a personal choice. I have a dance name, which is my handle here too. In my case, it makes it a bit easier to put on the dance persona, having a dance name. But that's me and that's my choice... and the Indigo gals use their real names... and other dancers use dance names...

I think that it's highly disrespectful, though, for people to impose a dance name to you.

I understand that stage names can help a dancer reach a certain persona...and for that it's a great tool. If you just want to have a different name...great.

Personally, I use my birth name...Regina Anne, it means Queen Grace...*works for me...Thanks MOM!

ok.....Rachel Brice, Sharon Kihara, Suhaila....all real names. Don't think that you HAVE to have a stage name. If you think it suits you and if you think it helps define you as a dancer, great. That is your personal choice. I know quite a few people who use their own names. Don't let someone dictate to you what you chose to call yourself. After all, Helen was the name of the face that launched a thousand ships!

I've always just used my real first name and left out my last name. I figure that takes care of the saftey issues. That's weird though, I've never thought of stage names as a "must," I just always thought people just wanted to be fancy when they had a stage name. Nothing wrong with being fancy! I figure, Darlina is unique enough to sound like a dancer name anyway. If you wanna use your real name, do it. Don't let anyone tell you different.

"A few weeks ago a show organizer returned our forms very upset because my "Dance Name" and "Real Name" are the same."

That´s so unbelievably foolish!!!!!...

In the troupe that I dance with we all picked super hero alto ego stage names, mine is Proncess Tiphanie but when I dance I usually go by my name

I thought about going by the name "Thuraya Shamara", which translated means "Star Wars".

I don't think you NEED to have a stage name if you don't want to.

If you want to put on more of a persona than just the one your costume gives you (well, I become a more powerful, spiritual, graceful version of my normal self), then hell, do it!

xxx

You don't have to have tham, in fact I reckon there may even be a half half split between dancers who have them and dancers that do not.

I feel a bit weird about adopting a different name to dance under actually, partly because I don't really have the good opiniono f my ability to adopt somethng that means something like 'beautiful' or 'graceful' in Arabic or any other language. That said my real name is very long. I would much prefer to be named by someone rather than choose something myself you know?

Personally, I like the name Rebecca, so I'm going to stick with it when I start performing.

But if anyone gives me crap about my real name and stage name being one in the same, here are a few of my ideas for a stage name:

Hul khalast? - Are you finished?
Besorao - Hurry
Saadni - Help me

I don't have much faith in my performance skills yet, so those are my ideas. My husband and I laughed for a long time at "Are you finished?" :)

Helen is a wonderful name for a dancer. Strong and unique.

I was determined to use my real name when performing. There is no difference from me on or off the stage. A lot of people think it is a made up name, but it's my real name. I stopped using my last name because it's too hard for most people to pronounce... but that makes them think even more that it's a fake name!

Names are very important, and as a performer, what you name yourself (be it your real name or not) says a lot about your persona as a performer. The most important thing is that your name portrays what you want to portray as a dancer.

I get confused too easy as it is, let alone trying to remember or even pronounce my friends who have dance names... I prefer my given name Monique or as everyone calls me, "Mo".

Shame on those that try to force anyone to choose a dance persona. That's like forcing someone to take their husband's surname when they get married. In this Century, women can have whatever names they want. (I prefer to take my husband's name myself, but that's a WHOLE NEW thread! hehe)

And as for safety, it might make that dancer /feel/ safer to have a stage name but as you mentioned along with others...it's really not a deterent for someone who is going to stalk you.

I used to use the name Aini, but I sort of stopped when I realized I liked my real name so much more (Eugenia). And also, the moment that sort of propelled me to stop using the dance name was the moment my troupe was doing a show and I neglected to respond to my dance name and felt stupid (and I had picked it myself!). If someone had arbitrarily picked a name for me, I probably would have felt and urge to come on and clarify my name to the audience, hehe.

I think the reason many people like using dance names is not so much the safety of the alter ego (they do see your face after all, so there goes any chance at anonymity) but to add the flair of the exotic to their name. I know it sounds silly, but the first time I heard Ansuya (and I don't know whether it's her real name or not) talk it sort of blew my image of her because I had thought she would have an exotic voice to match her exotic name.

Ultimately, like everyone else has said, it is just to each their own, and the choice of the image you want to evoke should be your decision. Clearly you want your name to represent you, so whatever you call yourself, just make it yours!

"A few weeks ago a show organizer returned our forms very upset because my "Dance Name" and "Real Name" are the same."

Can't help thinking that whatever that organizer's real name is, 'Complete Idiot' might be more appropriate!

Nobody should be "assigned" a bellydance name -- we're already "assigned" names at birth. I didn't chose mine so much as it chose me -- I saw the name and said it aloud, and liked the way the sound of it resonated within me....... like a Tibetan ritual bell. It just felt right -- then when I read the meanings, I just felt I should use it.

:-)

Plus it just looks cool in Papyrus font.

;-)

Wow, that's silly. I don't see why people should get upset because you have opted to use your real name rather than a stage name. A name certainly is a big deal as a performer because you want to make sure what people remember is a name that suits you, one that shows a lot about your character, but really? Why get upset at using one's real name? I can certainly understand the desire to protect oneself, but like you said, stage names don't deter the people who would be of the mind to harass you, anyway. They always find ways.

Most of the dancers I know dance under their real names. I don't perform anymore, but when I did, I used my real name (Astra) just not my last name. You have a good name. I don't see why you should have to change that for anyone. Oy.

my husband calls me Toonses... like the taxi-driving cat from SNL... He says I'm dangerous. I think that it would be funny to use my pet name "Toonsie" as a stage name.. I can see me as a Bellydance Superstar... "BDSS FEATURING THE NEWEST SUPERSTAR, TOONSIE THE DRIVIN' BELLYDANCER!" I also considered using a spin off of my name, Ashley... the only thing I came up with was ASHTAR... but then I keep imagining a giant red-headed bellydancer marching through Tokyo, knocking things over.... "BDSS FEATURING ASHTAR THE JAPANESE KILLING BELLYDANCER" .... I know that that was King Kong... but on Nickelodean's (sp?) Rug Rats it was Reptar.