FatChanceBellyDance, Inc.

Certified Studio Terms and Conditions

Welcome! Congratulations on completing Teacher Training!

You are now eligible to become a FatChanceBellyDance® Certified Studio. As a Certified Studio, you will join an international community of dancers who are dedicated to FatChanceBellyDance®Style.

By becoming a Certified Studio, you are indicating to us, your students, your fellow dancers, and yourself your commitment to accurately and faithfully present FCBD®Style as developed by FatChanceBellyDance®. In return, we will support you in your efforts to strengthen our community and spread the joy of FCBD®Style.

Please be sure to read the following Terms and Conditions in their entirety. Certified Studio registration is available at the bottom of this form.  Once your application is received, you’ll receive confirmation, be added to our global listing, and receive additional resources. Please allow 5-7 business days to process.

Terms and Conditions and email any questions to certifiedstudio@fcbd.com

We look forward to having you as a member of our community!  Please keep in touch and let us know about your dance accomplishments and adventures.

Sincerely,

Terms and Conditions

WHAT IS A CERTIFIED STUDIO?

A Certified Studio is a theory more than a physical place — you don’t have to own or rent an actual studio. Being a Certified Studio means that you are committed to presenting FatChanceBellyDance®Style, whether through instruction or performance, as developed by Carolena Nericcio and FatChanceBellydance®.

Be sure that both you — and your troupe, if applicable — are truly ready to adopt the total FCBD® way of dancing. If your troupe is used to taking ideas from other sources, it can be a problem if the dancers (or you) start to feel restricted by the boundaries.

When you feel freedom in the boundaries, you are ready to become a FatChanceBellyDance® Certified Studio.

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Please describe yourself as “a FatChanceBellyDance® Certified Studio.”

GUIDELINES FOR INSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE

For instruction and performances presented as FatChanceBellyDance®Style, we require that you strictly adhere to the FCBD®Style vocabulary as developed by FatChanceBellyDance®.

You are welcome to teach FCBD®Style at studios and festivals that are presenting other styles of dance — we encourage it! — as long as you make clear that what you are presenting is FCBD®Style as developed by FatChanceBellyDance®.

You may teach Fusion or other styles of dance, but it must be separate from FCBD®Style instruction. In fusion classes, you may reference FCBD®Style, but do not teach FCBD®Style in your Fusion classes.

Being a Certified Studio does not restrict you from studying, performing, or teaching other styles of dance.  Your responsibility as a Certified Studio when presenting FCBD®Style is to accurately represent our dance form.

TERRITORY

Certified Studio status does not guarantee territory. Certified Studio status will be granted to anyone who fulfills the aim of increasing the global reach of FCBD®Style. You may be the first Certified Studio in your area, but others may follow. We can accomplish more if we collaborate rather than compete.  We’re all in this together, so work together and play nice.

FCBD®STYLE MOVEMENT DIALECT

While we ask that Certified Studios adhere to the FCBD® official vocabulary when presenting FCBD®Style. Becoming a Certified Studio does not restrict you from developing your own movements or concepts. Vocabulary that is unique to your troupe is known as an FCBD®Style Movement Dialect.

As a Certified Studio, we ask that you are clear in your instruction about what movements fall outside of the FCBD® vocabulary and are part of your FCBD®Style Movement Dialect.

Be advised that developing an FCBD®Style Movement Dialect is somewhat at odds with FCBD®Style as a universal language.  Having your own vocabulary will take you out of flow when dancing with others outside of your troupe. That said, the motivation behind the FCBD®Style Movement Dialect is to allow for creativity in an open and honest environment. 

TEACHING YOUR OWN WORKSHOPS

You CAN teach classes and workshops in FCBD®Style. You can offer a certificate of attendance for your class or course.  You must use this wording on any certificates: This Certificate of Attendance is issued to XXX for the following course XXX.

You CANNOT offer Certificates or Certifications in FCBD®Style, General Skills or Teacher Training for FCBD®Style. The only entity that can officially certify in FCBD®Style, General Skills or Teacher Training for FCBD®Style is Carolena Nericcio and her approved Advanced Level Instructors.

For example, you cannot teach a certification course called “FCBD®Style Bread Baking Dialect". Instead, you must be clear in your advertising and use wording like “Prana Bellydance Bread Baking Dialect for FCBD®Style".

Any attempt to offer an FCBD®Style certification will be understood as nullification of Certified Studio status. If you have a question about the title or nature of your intended course, please contact certifiedstudio@fcbd.com.

AND FINALLY…

We’re delighted that you’re interested in joining us, and we’re eager to serve as your mentors, offering guidance and insights to support your business’s growth. In fostering this relationship, mutual respect is essential. Kindly communicate with us respectfully, as we don’t engage with demands. Before sending emails, we encourage reviewing them, as haggling over workshop fees or merchandise isn’t our practice; we strive to provide the best possible offerings.