10-TopTips to Hire a Belly Dancer
"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." - Thomas Merton
Live entertainment at an event never fails to lift it to the next level. You’ll add excitement, beauty, joy and cultural relevance to your wedding or party when you hire a belly dancer (or Bollywood style dancer). Here are tips to make it the very best experience for you and your guests.
The sooner you book, the better. High quality pro dancers can get very busy. Venues often book 2 months in advance to get the dancers they want. Weddings often book a dancer a year ahead of time. While you might luck out and fit in with your chosen dancer’s bookings in an evening, it’s best if yours is the first, and you get the timing you prefer.
Authenticity is key: When hiring a belly dancer, look for someone who embodies the essence of the dance form. Seek out performers who have a deep understanding of the cultural roots, traditional movements, and music associated with belly dancing. To have this level of knowledge requires years of education, practice, experience along with a great deal of passion and dedication. With a quality belly dancer you are hiring so much more than just a beautiful face.
Professional experience: It's essential to choose a belly dancer with a proven track record of performing at various venues and events. Check their performance videos on their website and socials, read reviews and testimonials to ensure their professionalism and skill level. Ask venues with dancing, or friends who are of the cultures if they have favorite dancers they recommend. If they perform at regular venues, you can go out to dinner and enjoy their show, then speak with them in person about your event. This last option gives you a really great feeling of what you’ll get on the day of your special event. Professional entertainment should have performer insurance, and some venues will require this.
Versatility in styles: Belly dancing encompasses a wide range of styles, from traditional to fusion. Look for a dancer who can adapt their performance to suit your event's theme and audience. Whether you prefer classical Egyptian, Turkish, a traditional mix or modern fusion, find a dancer who can deliver the desired styles, and has the knowledge to gracefully guide you through the decision making process of planning a show.
Costumes and props: The visual aspect of belly dancing is captivating. Inquire about the dancer's costume collection and props they use during performances. A belly dancer with a diverse wardrobe and captivating accessories can enhance the overall experience and add vibrancy to your event. They should be guiding you through the decision making process, and will use their experience to help you make the best decisions for you and your guests to have the most exciting and memorable experience.
Interactivity and audience engagement: Belly dancing is not just about the dancer's performance; it also involves interaction with the audience. Seek out a dancer who can engage and involve your guests, making them feel like an integral part of the show. This could include simply interacting with an individual guest while they are sitting down, or inviting willing participants to get up and join in on simple dance moves. This latter kind of audience participation usually happens during a pop song or when the dancer is playing finger cymbals. If the dancer is performing with a balancing prop such as sword or candle tray, or large props such as wings or veils, it’s best to wait to participate. Interaction can also take the form of tipping the dancer. You can ask ahead of time how tipping is done, or follow the dancer’s cues during the show. Tipping is family friendly, and is generally a welcome and celebratory addition to the show.
Flexibility and adaptability: Events can have unexpected changes or delays. It's important to hire a belly dancer who has the knowledge and experience to be flexible and who can suggest adaptations to these situations. It’s also important for you as the client to understand that you have hired your dancer within a time frame and there may be fees if the dancer is able to stay longer to accommodate your delays. Current technology generally has dancers sending their playlist to the DJ before the event, which helps prevent technological issues in your event, which is great, it also prevents playlist editing if your party runs late and it needs to be shortened. If you need someone who can adjust their performance length, accommodate last-minute changes, or work with big changes to your event schedule seamlessly, you can make the choice to book extra time with your performer.
Considerations and guidance: An experience dancer will know what extra touches different kinds of events require. They will know to ask if you’re having a planner for your wedding or event. They should offer to work with a contact person on the day of your wedding, so that you can enjoy your guests and your time on your special day. They will work with other vendors seamlessly and professionally and communicate with them as well. They will provide you with multiple payment options- and tell you when they expect payment, so that also goes smoothly. A dancer will also guide you in deciding where in the timeline of your event the performance should be. You’ve done your research in finding a wonderful and experienced professional, let their expertise help you make your event spectacular.
Price considerations: Most belly dance shows in the US are 20-25 minutes. Anything up to 25 minutes is one show. If you want longer, hire the dancer for 2 shows and have them do a costume change between shows.
It’s a huge mistake to think that you are simply paying the dancer for that 20-25 minutes, however. A dance show is truly a package price. What is included in your package should be some variation of: 1. Communication with you and other vendors. 2. Music, prop and costume prep. 3. Day of event prep in hair, makeup, costume, etc. 4. Travel time and expenses. 5. Arrival and settling into event space. 6. Usually up to 15-20 minutes grace period, in case your party is running late. You may incur fees if you are running very late. 7. The 20-25 minute performance time (any amount of time up to 25 minutes is one show). 8. Photo ops! After the performance everyone wants photos. 9. Time to collect all belongs and travel home. What you SEE is a performance up to 25 minutes. What you don’t see is the hours of prep, travel and more. Your dancer will be at your event around an hour, sometimes an hour and a half. You are paying for a performance of up to 25 minutes within a time frame.
Years of education and all that time means quality belly dancers are not available at bargain basement prices. Some dancers negotiate and some dancers don’t. Some dancers you'll hire through an entertainment or talent agency. In Egypt and overseas a dancer will have a manager, but in the US belly dancers do not have a manager.
You’ll likely be disappointed and possibly embarrassed if you simply hire the cheapest option. Choose someone with high recommendations, experience, great reviews, current videos and higher prices. You don’t have to go with the highest prices in your area, but you do want to remember that you get what you pay for with entertainment.Clear communication and contract: Before finalizing the hiring process, ensure that you have clear communication with the belly dancer regarding their availability, pricing, performance requirements, and any specific requests you may have. The pro dancer will provide a written agreement either via email or official contract, that outlines all the agreed-upon terms to avoid any misunderstandings later on. By setting clear expectations everyone is 5-star happy!
“I see dance being used as communication between body and soul to express what is too deep to find words.” — Ruth St. Denis
Remember, hiring a belly dancer adds a touch of magic to your event. Take your time to find the perfect fit and you’ll create such a memorable experience for your guests that they’ll be talking and reminiscing about your special party for years.
See Samira’s Belly Dance page and Bollywood dance page for more info on hiring her for your next event.
