We all know the internet has drastically changed the way people access information. There is an overwhelming amount of news, gossip and merchandise at our fingertips. Today, we have the new and modern task of filtering information online to know if it’s reliable. Maybe we rely on fact-checking websites or look for some kind of quality assurance certification for e-commerce websites. Rarely does someone believe everything they read/see online and they save their confidence for trust-worthy sites. At least, I hope this is true.
Well, let’s look at how this relates to bellydance. Back in the day, getting “gigs” came from two primary sources:
1. The dancer was connected – knowing the right people led to more opportunities. Oftentimes, this was the dancer’s teacher, mentor or peer of professionals.
2. In-person bookings – The dancer who regularly performed would be seen by people who may decide to hire her based on the show they just saw.

In this pre-youtube phase, certain dancers were celebrated for their skill and everyone went to class to learn and build their network. There was an implicit “quality assurance” in this way because the dance community would share the opportunities with those whom they deemed deserving.
Today, any dancer with enough money for a costume, professional photography, a website and savvy SEO skills can book far more work than someone with greater dance ability. That being said, she risks not being re-hired or getting negative “reviews” if there is no talent. So I don’t think this applies to people without at least sufficient ability and training.
Furthermore, bellydancers today have to work harder to maintain an online presence with social media, blogs, a youtube channel and the like. With so much out there, how can someone decide who to hire for Uncle Bob’s 50th birthday? Is the general public skilled enough to watch a performance and say, “Yes, that woman has a beautiful arm carriage, an authentic style and her omis are out of this world.” Well, no. It’s not a realistic expectation even though some dancers devote years of training and practice to master those areas.
There are sites like gigmaster and partypop that seek to take the guess work out of the process for people looking to hire dancers and list them all in one place. Gigmasters has a rating system to help consumers make their choices but it is hardly a fool-proof system. I have heard too many stories from dancers who were treated poorly with an unfair review, been the victim of undercutting (offering lower rates to land a gig from someone else), and even phony client bookings to bump up ratings. Furthermore, it costs money to join plus a commission for every gig booked through them. The end result is either more money out of the client’s pocket – or – less money into the dancer’s pocket.
In the end, without talent, it’s hard if not impossible to earn a living (or partial living) as a bellydancer. But what about Uncle Bob’s party? How can the client choose? Every website you look at may say things like “Top Bellydancer in NYC” or “CT’s most sought-after performer.” How can there be so many top bellydancers? Here are some guidelines to help with the process:
1. Watch videos of not only staged performances but something that demonstrates his/her ability to engage the audience.
2. Ask how long she danced before she became a professional
3. Cultural appropriateness is gained by experience so it is best to ask the dancer to be sure she understands your needs.
4. Go see a show. Many dancers perform publicly so you can see a performance in person to help you decide.
5. Please understand that while getting a bargain is a great thing for things like clothing and furniture, in the dance world it doesn’t apply. I would seriously question any performer who is willing to dance for less than $200 for a standard 25 minute set. My rate is $250-$300 which is based on knowing what my colleagues charge.
Our dance has a lot of subtlety which takes many years to master. The average theme party may be content to have a beautiful woman in a professional costume that is bellydance-ish enough to fit their theme but, thankfully, there are just as many people who are truly informed and appreciate the subtlety. I am beyond grateful for the work I have and the clients who appreciate what I do. Every day, I pinch myself wondering how I got so lucky. My purpose in writing this is to try and shed some of the mystery about how to hire a bellydancer and what qualities to look for. I hope it helps!
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Tava is a professional bellydancer in CT and NYC. She offers bellydance classes in Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT.
Written
on April 13, 2013