Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it OK for children to be there?
A. Absolutely, children are some of my best fans. All my performances
are family appropriate entertainment.
Q. How much do you charge per hour?
A. Actually I charge per show. Show length typically ranges from
15 to 30 minutes. If you want additional time for me to get audience
members up to dance at the end of my show then I can extend the
time of my set to a maximum of 45 minutes, but I will charge a
little more for an extra long set. You can also request more than
one short show to be interspersed in the time of an hour. I do
give a discount on a second show at the same venue provided there
isn't an extended wait between the two shows. I will change costumes
if I'm doing more than one show. If you want a dancer to create
"atmosphere", as opposed to performing, at your event over an
extended period of time, you can contact me to discuss this.
Q. Can I get a lower rate if I request a shorter
show?
A. The preparation and expense for me to get out the door to your
event is the same if I dance for 5 minutes or 25 minutes. I am
willing to do a short show if that fits your needs, but my minimum
party rate will apply.
Q. Why is it so expensive?
A.There are many things behind the scene that make a belly dance
show the wonderful and enjoyable experience that it is for you.
I've written a short article below, behind the
rates, to explain exactly what goes into a belly dancer's
pricing.
Q.Who provides the music?
A. I will bring a CD with my show music burned onto it, you provide
the sound system. If you're sound systems has special requirements
and a burned CD wont work please let me know. Also, if you are
interested, I can put you in touch with or arrange Middle Eastern
musicians for your event, but this will require a little extra
notice time.
Q. What kind of music is used?
A. I usually use Arabic dance music, but I'm happy to use upon
request Turkish dance music and I will take other special requests.
I even have some wonderful Indian belly dance music. (Please keep
in mind that I don't do Indian dance, but if you are looking for
Indian dancers, let me know.)
Q. Will you dance to my special song?
A. I'm happy to take a musical request. Just provide me with a
copy of the music in advance of the performance so that I can
become familiar with it. Also keep in mind, whatever kind of music
it is, I'll be belly dancing to it.
Q.Can you bring a boombox?
A. If you let me know in advance that it's needed, I can bring
my own boombox. Also let me know if I'm going to need batteries
as well. Please keep in mind for large events where something
more than a boombox is needed for adequate sound, you will need
to arrange to have an appropriate sound system available.
Q. Where do you get your music?
A. I purchase most of my music online from vendors that specialize
in Middle Eastern Music and dance music. I have a list of belly
dance music vendors on my community links page. There are
additional links to Middle
Eastern music information and download sites.
Q. Can we take photos/video?
A. Yes. It is your special event and I want you to enjoy those
memories. I always appreciate it if I'm sent copies of photos
and videos as well.
Q. What kind of props do you use?
A. My standard show will include finger cymbals and a veil. Provided
there is adequate performance space I'm also happy to perform
cane, double cane, sword, double veil, Isis wings, meleya leff
and candelabrum dances.
Q. What will you wear?
A. My belly dance costumes are all high class, professional, culturally
appropriate costumes made in Egypt, Turkey or custom made by my
local designer. I have different costumes appropriate for the
different ethnic and folkloric dances I perform. For belly dance
the costumes are usually two piece costumes showing my belly.
If you have particular request, perhaps a more covered costume
if you have a conservative guest list, or a certain color, just
discuss it with me and I'll do what I can to accommodate your
needs.
Q. Can you bring costumes for my guests to wear?
A. I can't bring entire costumes, but if you give me some advance
notice I may be able to bring hip scarves for your guest to wear.
Q. Where do you get your beautiful costumes?
A. There are several vendors that import high quality costumes
from Turkey and Egypt. I have links to several on my community
page.
Q. How is payment expected?
A. I welcome payment in cash or check at my arrival to the event.
If you prefer to use paypal, you may pay me at least 24 hours
in advance of my performance in full. I don't usually require
a deposit, although on occasion I may ask for a 50% deposit to
hold a busy night for you. This deposit will not be refunded if
you cancel within a week of the performance, because at that point
I will have turned down other work on your behalf.
Q. What do you need when you get here?
A. I have outlined several things to consider when hiring a belly
dancer. Please take a moment to read through them.
Q. Do you dance at all male events?
A. It would depend on the nature of the event. I don't dance at
bachelors parties, but I might consider other events, as long
as I feel my safety is assured and I will be treated with respect.
Q. Is tipping allowed?
A. Tipping is appreciated. Appropriate ways to tip a belly dancer
are discussed under Things to Consider when
Hiring a Belly Dancer.
Q. What if I book you, and then I cancel the appearance?
A. As long as you cancel at least a week in advance I will refund
any deposit you may have made.
Q. What if I book you, and then you have to cancel
on me?
A . If I have taken a deposit I will refund it and if it is within
a week of the performance I will arrange for a quality professional
a dancer to take my place. You can rest assure that I will only
cancel under extreme circumstances.
Q. What is your area of operation?
A. I live and teach belly dance in Baltimore, MD and regularly
travel to Washington, DC and surrounding areas for various belly
dance performance engagements.
Q. Can I get free entertainment for my charitable
event?
A. I do donate a few select performances per year to charity,
but I do limit this. You are always welcome to make the request.
Q. Will you get the guest(s) of honor up to dance?
A. Absolutely, just point them out to me. You may also want to
let me know if you absolutely don't want me to get them up to
dance.
Q. How soon do I need to book?
A. The sooner you book, the more assured you can be to have me
at your event. In particular if you have special requests or if
it is outside my area more than 2 weeks notice is appreciated.
Q: Where does belly dance come from?
A. If you are interested in learning a little more about the background
and history of belly dancing, I've written a short article about
the history
belly dance for you to read.
___________________________________________________________________________
Behind the rates - Why Belly
Dancers Charge What They Do
Everyone wants their event to be a grand success. You've
chosen the most delicious food, you've put great attention into
your guest list, you've selected the right location and now you
are thinking about entertainment. Although most of us would love
every thing as grand and wonderful as possible, we also have to
consider our budget. A belly dancer, like most things, can be
acquired at different prices. The quality of entertainment can
also vary widely for those prices, so you need to decide, do you
go with the cheapest dancer or with one that is more expensive.
How do you know you can trust them to be professional and reliable?
What if you want a dancer that is above and beyond the norm in
grace, ability and entertainment value? What goes into the pricing
of a belly dancer?
What's behind the pricing of a belly dancer?
Like most all performing arts, the expense is in the preparation.
Before arriving at your door step, a belly dancer will have already
have spent time putting together music for your event, preparing
the dances she will do to that music, selecting the right costume
or costumes, applying her performance make-up and journeying to
your event. A quality dancer will have spent hundreds if not thousands
of dollars on dance training, music, make-up, accessories, props
and costumes as well as a typical business's expenses of advertising,
computers, software, web site, business cards, accounting, photographs,
gas, car maintenance and travel. She will also have spent hundreds,
if not thousands of hours, in practice, studying, editing music,
adjusting costumes, talking with clients, working and performing.
Although the price tag may seem high for a relatively short performance,
what you are paying for is all the things that make it possible
for that performer to be able to give you the quality entertainment
you deserve. Because of the high cost of belly dance necessaries*,
many belly dance performers make very little profit at all, but
do it because it is something they enjoy.
*For example one professional costume
can range in price from $300 for a relatively simple ensemble,
up to $1300 for a more deluxe outfit, most professional ensembles
average from $500-$1000. The costumes are handmade in Egypt and
Turkey. Want to know where we get them? Here
is a list of vendors.
Why do different performer's rates vary?
In most communities the belly dancers come to a general consensus
about how much it is appropriate to charge. If you ask around,
you will find most working dancers charging near the same rates
for the same service.
If you find a dancer charging significantly less,
then you can expect that individual to have lower than professional
standards - beware of them, they may embarrass you in front of
your guests. Some of these dancers may be students, or women who
do it as a hobby, but perhaps don't take it very seriously.
Dancers at the middle to higher end, in general,
tend to be stronger dancers, more in demand and therefore able
to ask for a higher amount. Sometimes they offer rare specialties
or have particular cultural insight. They also might be choosing
to limit the amount of work and type of work they are getting
by only working for higher end clients. Obviously higher cost
doesn't guarantee higher quality, but as a general rule you will
find the more expensive dancers worth the added cost.
When you see a price posted on a web site, that
may indicate what they actually charge or it may indicate a base
rate upon which they add. For example, a dancer may advertise
a base rate of $175, but she will add for travel, she will add
if you want props and she'll add if you have a special request,
so your final price will be more around $250. Another dancer may
state on her site that she charges $250 for a 20 minute show in
the DC metro area and that will be pretty much exactly what you
pay.
Most dancers adjust their rates for different clients
depending on several variables. These will usually include travel,
how long and how many times you want them to dance, special requests,
if it's a wedding or a larger event that might require more flexibility,
some charge per prop (sword, cane, zills, veil,candelabrum, etc.).
What night the performance is will also be taken into account.
For example, if it's on a Saturday night a dancer might be giving
up her regular restaurant engagement to work for you and if she
has to travel a long way or wait a long time, she might be giving
up more than one possible weekend engagement to be at yours. She
will need to take that loss into account when she sets her rate.
The frequency of a performance and the exposure
it gives a dancer will also be taken into account. For example,
if a dancer is hired to perform once a week at a club or restaurant,
she generally accepts a little less per performance than she what
she is paid to perform at a one time event. This is because it's
an ongoing engagement giving her a steady income that might also
net her customers that will hire her for special events. To expect
a dancer to perform for those same wages at your one time special
event is unfair to the performer. If you hold your special event
at a restaurant that has regular dancers, then you can either
plan it at the time of her regular performance and be willing
to share her attention with all the other patrons, or you can
hire her at her special event rate to dance just for your
party at the restaurant.
Some dancers will also take into account the relative
income of the person looking to hire them. If it is a small party
for an obviously lower income family in their home, a dancer will
often ask for less than when it's a huge event for hundreds in
a grand hotel ballroom. If you can afford to be, please be generous.
Belly dancers are struggling artists who work very hard and put
in major and ongoing investments for very low pay. They are one
of the few professions who are making less now than they did 20
years ago.*
The enjoyment your dancer brings to your special
occasion will be worth every penny you spend and more.
*To understand this phenomena better
I recommend reading Morocco's article "If
Prices Are Up All Over, Why Are Oriental Dancers Getting Less?"
