How to Hire a Belly Dancer

Entertain guests with a mesmerizing performance.

Maddie Sheely

Account Specialist + Contributor

Photo credit: Gordana Sermek/shutterstock.com

Whether you're looking to get your guests off their feet, or provide them with a show they can sit back and enjoy, a professional belly dancer can be a great addition to any event! Even though the art of belly dancing has been a tradition for centuries, these performers are more popular than ever and will make your next event unforgettable. It’s easy to hire a belly dancer for your next event here on The Bash.

Belly dance shows are a fun, professional, family-friendly form of entertainment. The Bash’s own belly dancers have gotten to perform at some awesome celebrations including Kamillah (North Miami Beach, FL) who put on a show at a celebrity birthday party for Mary J. Blige.

A belly dance performance is the perfect addition to special events like birthday parties, corporate events, and themed parties. We asked some local belly dancers for some tips to help you with the process of finding and booking the perfect belly dancer.

Here’s everything you need to do to hire a belly dancer for your event:

Select Your Style

Perhaps the most important thing to consider when looking for a belly dancer is which style of dance will match the needs of your event. For instance, if you're having a traditional Turkish wedding, you'll want to make sure the dancer is familiar with traditional Turkish dance, music and costume. The style of the dancer is also important to fit with the tone of your event.

Chances are you'll want a certain style for a corporate meeting or party with children present, versus a bachelorette party. If the celebration is upbeat and lively, find a dancer with a style to match. Because each performer is unique, we would suggest asking for videos of the dancer to make sure they'll fit the nature of the event.

Discuss the Details

Carrara Nour (Orlando, FL) tells us, "A great belly dancer will work with you to create a show that's fun, meaningful and visually stunning." To ensure that the performance is all of these things, there's some details that need to be discussed in advance. First, you should fill the dancer in on your expectations for the event. Do you want the dancer to interact with guests? Is there a certain theme or color scheme the performer can try to integrate into their costume?

These little details can make an impact and make your event stand out among others," advises Lauren (Boynton Beach, FL). If you would like to see the belly dancer incorporate props, like a sword or even a snake, make sure these are things that can be accommodated. Lastly, if the event is a surprise, don't keep it a secret from the performer. Inform the belly dancer so they can make proper arrangements as to not spoil the fun for the guest of honor.

Be Vocal About the Venue

For a successful performance, any entertainer needs to know specifics about the venue where they will be performing. Getting the logistics down before the event is very important. One of the most crucial details about the venue is whether or not it contains a sound system. If not, the dancer or event host will need to be prepared to bring their own.

Another important detail to acknowledge is the size and surface of the performance area. Dancers need to know if they'll be working on hard floors or grass, in case they need to modify their attire or routine. Also, be sure to let the dancer know if there will be a dressing area available, or if they should plan on arriving in costume.

Ask Questions Before Hiring

Here are some recommended questions to ask before you hire a belly dancer:

How long have you been dancing? How many years of experience do you have?
What style of dance do you specialize in?
What types of events do you perform for?
Do you have a video demo?
Are you the dancer who will perform at my event, or do you contract out other performers?
Can you make the performance interactive?
Do you use any props?
How much prep time do you need?
Do you have your own sound system/what kind do you require?
Is the dancing family friendly?
Why do you perform?