Which is where we hit my biggest pet peeve: proper presentation of a fusion belly dance. While it's hard enough to get the general society to be accepting of belly dance---there's just as many issues within the belly dance community with fusion forms of the dance (meet other people's pet peeves). If you read the Votives section, you'll understand some of what I'm referring to. Yes, there's probably even more bad presentations of traditional belly dance out there than there are bad fusion performances, but those seem to be the ones that people will remember more. (Well, that tends to be their intention in the first place--to present something different and unique...but the key is to make it a pleasant memory generated by an enthusiastic response...not the opposite.)

A good instructor will take the time to explain to their students not only the basics of the dance itself, and the music and costuming, but also the do's and don't's of performing. If you're not getting this information from your teacher, find someone who will teach it, and reference the wealth of info online. Some key points:

-trial run your costume AND your music. Take a good look in the mirror and ask others you trust for advice.
-always consider your entrance and exit, your dance begins even before you appear, and continues after you've left the stage.
-practice good form and smooth transitions, always
-always consider your audience--before, during, and after your dance!
-if you're working with a partner/s, practice together, go beyond choreography and understand each other's personality.

So, in a nutshell, if you're going to do it, you'd better damn take every effort to do it well, and not only well, but to the best of your ability and intent.