8 Little Things Bellydancers Can Do For The Environment

1. Carpool to workshops, shows festivals and other events - Not only does it save gas, but I have to tell you all, some of the best times I have had with my dance friends have been when we have been driving somewhere and been getting silly together. Put some tea in a thermos, crank up the "Kiss Kiss" song and save some gas.
2. Back to MAC - Did you know that you can return empty containers to MAC for recycling? They accept lipstick tubes, eyeshadows, mascaras, foundation bottles or compacts... basically anything made of plastic that wasn't a sample size. And if that wasn't enough, if you return six empties, you get a free lipstick!
3. Ditch the Febreeze - I don't even know what's in it, but it smells seriously artificial, and doesn't really do a good job anyway. When your costume is sweaty after a performance, spray the inside with a 50/50 mixture of vodka and water. It deodorizes the costume without leaving that weird scent, and also doesn't pollute your home environment. And of course, depending on how the night went, you can pour a little vodka for yourself too.
4. Get a low-flow shower head - The massaging, hand held kind. Since you can adjust the pressure of the spray and hold them right up to your head, they do a better job of rinsing out massive amounts of hairspray, all while still using less water than a regular shower head. (I'm fond of setting mine to super-massage strength after dance class. It stings a little but  really relaxes muscles a lot)
5. Turn down the lights when you practice - We all practice at home, right? I'm not saying practice in the pitch dark, you obviously don't want to hit furniture or anything. but especially for those of us without mirrored studios at home, one table lamp is more than enough light to not hurt yourself, and I've found practicing in a dim environment makes me feel less self-conscious (yes, I get self conscious even when I'm alone!) and makes my practice more effective.
6. Invest in high-quality skirts, veils and accessories - A well made skirt that will last 100 wearings is a much better deal, and a better choice from a waste perspective, than a cheap ebay special that falls apart the first time you wear it. And if you ever get tired of them, good quality costume pieces hold their resale value well
7. Buy second-hand costumes and sell your costumes on when you're done with them - As costumes are so expensive, I know most working dancers rely heavily on the resale market to keep fresh costumes in their closet and recoup some of their costume investments. But for all the baby dancers reading: Check out the "Swap Meet" on Bhuz, as well as various costume swap tribes on Tribe. Many local dance communities host local in-person swap events as well.
8. Invest in a cute belly-dance themed tote bag or travel mug - did you know that Starbucks takes 10 cents off your drink price for bringing your own cup? And for sure by now you've all heard about the benefits of reusable grocery bags. There's stuff out there for both cabaret and tribal dancers!

Of course these are small things, but I'm guessing you all don't need one more person to tell you to switch to CFLs and turn out the light when you leave a room, right? Overall, I think bellydance is a hobby with a relatively minor environmental footprint, but it never hurts to be mindful.

If you've got a moment, check out some of the other participants in Blog Action Day.