Mariyah. Sublime Bellydance Artistry.

July 6, 2011

It’s summer, and the season brings with it many beautiful and joyous weddings!

One of the most popular requests that come my way is for bellydance bridal showers and bachelorette parties. Next to the wedding reception itself, these pre-wedding events are some of my very favorite parties. Bellydance is glamourous, sexy, fun and empowering. It is also a perfect choice if you are looking for an alternative to the typical bridal shower or bachelorette activities. Brides and bridesmaids who are planning these events often have many questions for me so I decided to put together this guide with some options to consider when booking a bellydancer for your party. Be sure to let the dancer know your vision for the event so she can arrange an entertainment package that is uniquely suited to you and your guests!

• Lesson– A lesson most often comes to mind when booking a bellydancer for a bridal shower and it’s a great way to get to get everyone involved. Get an introduction to the basic movements of belly dance with a focus on fun and shared experience! A mini lesson can be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the details of your event. Remember that though these mini-lessons are casual and focused on fun, they are still pretty active and most guests just aren’t prepared for a full 1 hour dance class in the middle of party. If you are interested in a full length class, it is best to book space at a dance studio and have the lesson as a prelude to a night out or day of activities.

• Performance– A spirited and glamorous bellydance performance is an excellent addition to any a festive event! The show can be anything from a shorter presentation to introduce a lesson to a full length performance. One of my most popular requests from clients is the lesson/performance combo. If you feel your guests won’t need a lesson to coax them onto to dance floor you may prefer a standard performance with plenty of time for audience participation!

• Extras– Coined or beaded hip scarves and veils can add to the fun and enhance the experience of your party. Depending on the size of your group, the dancer you book may have scarves available for rental during the lesson or you can purchase them for the guests to take home as party favors. Ebay is a great source for inexpensive scarves in bulk.

• Additional artists– A bellydance performance or lesson is an excellent focal point for your bridal shower entertainment. Depending on the size of your event, you may also want to consider additional artists to add to the atmosphere. A henna artist is one great example. Elaborate henna decoration is a traditional pre-wedding ritual in many parts of the Middle East and hiring a henna artist to do smaller designs for you and your guests is fun way to incorporate this tradition into your event. Many henna artists can do traditional designs as well as modern glittered designs. Mini-readings by a tarot or palm reader can also be a great addition.

Happy planning, and see you on the dance floor!
-Mariyah

Planning a bridal shower in the NYC or NJ area?
Contact Mariyah to help arrange the perfect entertainment!
Phone
347.743.6545
Email
[email protected]

Mariyah is an NYC based professional bellydancer.
To learn more, or to inquire about booking for performances, workshops or classes, visit www.easterndancer.com,
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