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How to hire a bellydancer
Aug. 6th, 2014 09:36 amAn internet acquaintance of mine who is getting married wants a bellydancer at her wedding reception. She asked for advice on hiring someone and I offered the following three questions.
1. What is your style of bellydance?
If she doesn't respond with something like "cabaret," "American cabaret," "Raqs Sharki," "Egyptian," "Turkish," "Lebanese," or something along those lines, be very concerned. If she can't identify her style of dance, it means she's more of a "wiggle in a bellydance costume" dancer. If she says "fusion," or "tribal," she might be a good dancer, but is probably not what you want for a wedding. (She's marrying a man from Turkey, hence my suggested preference for traditional styles)
2. Do you perform a full performance set or just a couple songs?
Traditionally, a performance set includes these basics: An intro, a performance song (sometimes with veil), a drum solo, and an exit song. Someone who says she just does a couple songs might be an okay dancer, but if she doesn't even know what you mean, that's a good indication that she's not practiced in classical performance techniques and might be a questionable dancer.
3. Do you accept tips from the audience, and if so, do you allow body-tipping?
This is another trick question because there are totally legit dancers who accept body-tipping (I'm one of them), and totally legit dancers who don't (most my other dancer friends). But if she doesn't even know what you mean? Giant red flag.
I thought this might be helpful for anyone else who might consider hiring a bellydancer for an event. Fellow dancers, do you have any additional suggestions?
1. What is your style of bellydance?
If she doesn't respond with something like "cabaret," "American cabaret," "Raqs Sharki," "Egyptian," "Turkish," "Lebanese," or something along those lines, be very concerned. If she can't identify her style of dance, it means she's more of a "wiggle in a bellydance costume" dancer. If she says "fusion," or "tribal," she might be a good dancer, but is probably not what you want for a wedding. (She's marrying a man from Turkey, hence my suggested preference for traditional styles)
2. Do you perform a full performance set or just a couple songs?
Traditionally, a performance set includes these basics: An intro, a performance song (sometimes with veil), a drum solo, and an exit song. Someone who says she just does a couple songs might be an okay dancer, but if she doesn't even know what you mean, that's a good indication that she's not practiced in classical performance techniques and might be a questionable dancer.
3. Do you accept tips from the audience, and if so, do you allow body-tipping?
This is another trick question because there are totally legit dancers who accept body-tipping (I'm one of them), and totally legit dancers who don't (most my other dancer friends). But if she doesn't even know what you mean? Giant red flag.
I thought this might be helpful for anyone else who might consider hiring a bellydancer for an event. Fellow dancers, do you have any additional suggestions?