Belly Dance Brilliance Blog | Sacramento Belly Dance Entertainment

Belly Dance for your Business?

by Nyla Crystal on April 16, 2012

A belly dancer is a perfect way to grab attention and create a fun atmosphere for your business, whether you are at a convention, trade show, having a grand opening, or a special sale event. Not only will a well-trained, family-friendly dancer create interest at your booth or store, her sparkly costume will draw in crowds from long distances wanting to get a better look at the shining mirage.

Grand opening entertainment

In addition to performing beautiful belly dancing, the dancer will get the crowd involved with some short belly dance lessons, posing for photos, or joking with the audience members. If pre-arranged, she can even help to promote your product or guide people into your display.

Belly dancers are not just for rug stores or Middle Eastern Restaurants.

Get creative! Belly dancers can work with many different types of themes. Below is a short list of ideas to include belly dancing at your next company event.

Location-based products and services:

Does your business service or product have any location-based relation to the Middle East? Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the EAU, Yemen, Jordan, Palestine, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Greece all have their own style and history of belly dancing.

Services can include travel agencies, hospitality management, translation or interpretation services, destination wedding planners, etc. Products can include Middle Eastern food, imported rugs, Egyptian cotton, perfume, teas, coffe, etc.

Example: Miraflores Winery in Placerville, California used a Moroccan theme one year and included saffron, cardamon, and cumin spices in their boutique wine. To help sell their Moroccan-inspired wine during a local weekend wine event, they hired a belly dancer to make their winery stand out from over 50 participating vineyards. It worked because the next year during the same winery event, people were still talking about the belly dancer and their fun experience at Miraflores.

Your business promotion wishes are granted!

Theme:

Using a theme, your business does not have to have any Middle Eastern relationship at all. A grand opening can have a 1001 Nights theme to imply that your product is luxurious, rich, and exotic. A Casablanca theme can portray elegance, something classic, or a 1940′s time theme (if you are tying in the movie). An Egyptian Pharoanic theme gives the impression of immortality and ancient wisdom.

Think sand, spices, deserts, pyramids, hookah, hieroglyphics, etc. Don’t forget about the treasure aspect either! If your product sparkles or is a “gem”, a belly dancer can sparkle and shine in your display room.

Does your product or service grant your customer’s wishes? Of course it does and you can use a genie theme to drive that point home to your potential clients. Watch Aladdin or I Dream of Jeanie for decorating ideas.

Belly dancers also fit in great with a circus theme. An “Under the Big Top” event can allow for fun theme incorporation like circus performers, clowns, animals, etc.

Example: Luxe Midtown Spa and Salon in Sacramento, CA promoted their hair and beauty services using a “Passport” or “Around the World” theme. Each hair and makeup style was represented by a country. The crowd loved the multicultural approach and had fun watching the different styles of dance from around the world.

Multicultural Business Theme

Motion:

Can your product shake, shimmy, undulate, jiggle, wiggle, rotate, or gyrate*? This can apply to machines as well as food items. Get creative!

Example: Acquiesce Vineyards in Lodi, California used their product to create Rose wine jello shots. Jello, of course, jiggles, so they thought it would be fun to have a belly dancer at their wine weekend event. It was a great hit and the customers were convinced that after having a wine jello shot (or two), they could jiggle much better.
*Most belly dancers do not like to associate the term “gyrate” with their dancing. If you can find a better verb, please do!

Female-based products and services:

Does your product or service target women? Belly dance is a very feminine art and in addition to being an empowering dance to women, it is fun and interactive. Examples include makeup lines, clothing, female gyms or fitness classes, girls night out services, etc.

Girls Night Out

However you decide to tie in a belly dancer to your business event, make sure you have clear communication with the dancer to discuss things like costuming, music, audience involvement, and your product or service information so she can tell customers about your business when asked.

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What is Norooz?

by Nyla Crystal on March 1, 2012

Haft Sin Table

Have you been invited to a Norooz party this year, but aren’t really sure what it is about? Or maybe you heard something about it and are curious. Norooz (also spelled Naruz, Noroz, Noruz, Nowruz, Norouz…) is the Iranian New Year, which is celebrated on the first day of spring.

Preparing for Norooz

Like many other cultures, preparing for Persian New Year includes a thorough cleaning of the house to symbolize a fresh start and clear out malities from the previous year. It is also customary to purchase a new set of clothes to wear on the first day of the new year. Houses are also decorated with flowers. Most popular are tulips and hyacinth.

The Norooz celebration

On Norooz, the family gathers for a feast and to observe the Haft Sin. The Haft Sin is a table set up with seven items begining with the letter S (Sîn, س) in the Persian alphabet. All the items symbolize ideals of the seven creations and the holy immortals watching over them [1].

The traditional Haft Sin items are:

sabzeh(سبزه) – wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish – symbolizing rebirth
samanu (سمنو)- a sweet pudding made from wheat germ – symbolizing affluence
senjed (سنجد)- the dried fruit of the oleaster tree – symbolizing love
sîr (سیر)- garlic – symbolizing medicine
sîb (سیب)- apples – symbolizing beauty and health
somaq (سماق)- sumac berries – symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
serkeh (سرکه)- vinegar – symbolizing age and patience

Other Haft Sin items include:

sonbol – hyacinth flowers – the coming of spring
sekkeh – coins – prosperity and wealth
Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, naan-nokhodchi - symbolizes spreading the sweetness
Dried nuts, berries and raisins (Aajeel)
Lit candles – symbolizes enlightenment and happiness
Mirror
Decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family – symbolizes fertility
Bowl with goldfish – symbolizes life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving
Bowl of water with an orange in it – symbolizes the earth floating in space
Rose water – symbolizes cleansing powers
National colors or flag – patriotic symbol

Video of a Haft Sin table:

At the exact moment spring arrives, gifts are exchanged and the elder family members give Eidee or Aide (coins) to the children. Popular Norouz, dishes include fish with rice seasoned with fresh green herbs (Sabzi Polo), a rice dish cooked with noodles to symbolize helping the diner succeed in life (Reshteh Polo), and a vegetable and herb souffle (Kookoo sabzi).

Starting on the first day of the new year, the families will visit the home of the most senior family member. For the next 11 days, families pay short visits to the homes of relatives, friends, and neighbors. On the 13th day, called Sizdah Bedar, it is customary to spend time outside in the beautiful spring weather for picnics and outdoor activities. Celebrations are accompanied with singers, live music, classical Persian dance performances, and also Middle Eastern belly dancing.

For a great overview and history of Norooz, watch this video.

Want to celebrate Norooz this year or observe a Persian Norooz celebration in Sacramento? California State University Sacramento is hosting a 2012 Norooz festival on Sunday, March 4th from 1pm – 4pm at the University Union. Experience Persian dance and music performances, eat traditional Iranian food, and learn more about the Haft Sin and Norooz traditions.

Norooz Mobarak! (Happy New Year!)

1. Wikipedia

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Wedding Entertainment

by Olivia Nicholas on February 15, 2012

You’ve been busy planning every intricate detail of what will be the “main event” of your life – your wedding. While some details have been easier to plan than others, there is sure to be at least one topic that you need a little help with. For many brides, this is the topic of entertainment. How will you entertain the guests at your wedding? Sure, you can hire your local D.J. to come and add some life to the party, but what if you want something more intimate? The entertainment that you choose for your wedding will say a lot about your personality and in some cases, your class. When trying to determine what wedding entertainment will best represent your wedding, consider your theme. Many times, the theme of your wedding can lead you directly to the perfect entertainment.

Upscale elegance

If you’ll be clad in this season’s best and most expensive design, will be serving filet mignon, and will have a reception boasting the latest trends in wedding décor, your upscale elegant event calls for entertainment that fully represents the affair. Consider hiring a local opera singer to come and serenade your guests. A great idea would be to have a romantic story told through opera. Your local opera house may be able to help you out with wedding entertainment.

Beautiful splendor

If upscale is not really your style but you still want to host a romantic occasion with beauty at the forefront, there are many great entertainment ideas for you. If you have a love for gardening and flowers, why not bring this into your wedding entertainment. Choose to decorate your reception with every flower that is in season. The end result will be a beautiful oasis that will have your guest in awe. Have a few florists or botanist on hand to share information about the flowers. At the end of the reception, send each guest home with a potted plants and instructions on how to take care of it. This is definitely a unique entertainment idea that your guests will enjoy.

Relaxing grandeur

If your wedding will be one of calm and relaxation with soft hues and things of nature, this provides the perfect opportunity for truly one of a kind entertainment. A great idea is to find ways to pamper your guest. Have someone giving free massages, manicures, pedicures, etc. Perhaps you will choose to have a station set up in another room where guest can go to get ultimate relaxation. Be sure to include plenty of candle light, soft music, and relaxing smells so that your guest feel as if they are transported to another location. Send each guest home with a small package of relaxation essentials.

Pure personality

Not every bride and groom want a serious, romantic atmosphere. If you are one of these couples, then allow your personality to help you choose the perfect wedding entertainment. Get the party started by hiring a mariachi band or having your favorite local band come and entertain your guests. Live music is often a hit during weddings. Be sure that you see the band in action before you hire them for your party. Finding the best band may involve going to different locations to find undiscovered talent. Search your local area for live performers such as Irish dancers, belly dancers, salsa dancers and fire artists. While out of the box, these amazing entertainers will add a special touch to your big day and leave your guests amazed.

Traditional is good too

Traditional entertainment, such as hiring a D.J., is perfectly okay. For some people, having traditional entertainment is what they feel will be the best for their event. Perhaps you can provide a combination of entertainment for your guests. Many couples choose to have a D.J. and also include some type of special entertainment at some point in the reception. This would give you the best of both worlds, a fun signature entertainment option along with the traditional fun and music of a D.J.

As you can see, there are endless options when it comes to providing entertainment for your big day. Use your theme to help you find the perfect entertainment or simply go with things you love. Whether you choose to include a magic show or an onsite pampering station, do what your heart desires. After all, this is your special day.

Citations:

Photo Credit

Olivia Nicholas loves to write, talk about, blog about and talk about all things weddings. She writes for Storkie about her passion for weddings and honeymoons.

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Shake up Your Valentine’s Day

by Nyla Crystal on January 30, 2012

Do something different this Valentine’s Day.

Instead of the standard dinner and a movie this year, take the afternoon and travel with your sweetheart or gal pals to the 15th annual Lodi Wine and Chocolate Weekend. What’s not to love about a weekend of wine and chocolate in the Lodi Wine Country?

40 wineries will be participating this year and going all out to give you an amazing day full of entertainment, delicious food, fun themed wine rooms, and, of course decadent chocolate and award-winning wines.

Try the chocolate covered bacon at H-G Vineyards, party Mardi Gras style at d’Art Wines, enjoy chocolate covered baklava and other Greek treats at Omega Cellars, relax with live saxophone jazz at Harmony Wynelands, then shake things up with me (belly dancer, Nyla Crystal) at Acquiesce Winery for their grand opening of Lodi’s only all white wine winery.

Wine, Chocolate, and Belly Dance? What?

The grand opening of Acquiesce, an all white wine winery, is shaking up the Lodi Wine Country with their Rhone inspired white and rosé wines.

But the shaking doesn’t stop there!

In celebration of their grand opening, Acquiesce will have Rosé Jell-O “shooters” for you to sample along with their fruit-focused grenache blanc, Belle Blanc blend, and dry rosé, a blend of zinfandel and grenache.

Professional belly dancer Nyla Crystal

Still not enough shaking?

Enjoy a professional belly dance performance at Acquiesce winery. I will be there both days from 11am-5pm performing with beautiful silk veils, stunning red, pink, and wine colored costumes, and showcasing my thrilling sword balancing belly dance routines. Get inspired to throw your own Arabian Nights or Casablanca themed party.

Shimmy and shake with a belly dancer!

Throughout the day, I will be offering free mini-belly dance lessons for the ladies (and gentlemen if they are so brave). Concerned with your dance abilities? Don’t worry, I’m a trained belly dance instructor and can show you some fool proof belly dancing to make you look amazing!

You’ll be surprised at how easy some of the belly dance moves are. After your mini-lesson, show off your glamour and new found talent with a couple of snapshots to prove to the folks back at home that you really did belly dance at a winery!

Then you can indulge on the white chocolate Grenache Blanc gourmet cupcakes knowing you had your belly dance exercise for the day.

Acquiesce Winery

Wine, Chocolate, and Belly Dance. Now That Makes Sense.

Sound like fun? A Valentine’s weekend of wine, chocolate, and belly dance sure beats one night at a crowded restaurant, but with the event being on the weekend, your Tuesday night will still be free for that Valentine’s dinner too!

Come join me, an award-winning, internationally performing belly dancer (and PhD candidate in biochemistry at UC Davis), and Sue Tipton, the Rhone-inspired white wine wonder and owner of Acquiesce Winery for a fabulous Valentine’s Day celebration in the Lodi Wine Country.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $45 online or at the door of any participating winery for $55 and are valid for both days if you keep your wrist band on. Included in the entrance fee are a commemorative wine glass, a chocolate tin, wine tasting and admission to 40 participating wineries.

More information from Acquiesce Winery.

22353 N. Tretheway Road
Acampo, CA 95220
(209) 333-6102

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How to Belly Dance With a Cold

by Nyla Crystal on January 20, 2012

A big smile helps conceal how horrible I feel at this show.

Previously, I wrote about how to belly dance in the cold. Though, if you perform enough in the cold, your weakened immune system might catch a cold or even worse, a flu!

Find a substitute

Whether it is for a restaurant belly dance show or an Arabian Nights private party, everyone will be much happier if you can find a healthy substitute to take your place. Most restaurant owners or event hosts will be glad you made the smart decision to stay home and not spread your germs at the show. If you are performing professionally, you need a list of professional dancers whom you trust will do a great job in emergency situations where you can’t perform. If you do not have any professional contacts, get some! Providing a client with a great substitute in an emergency situation will make you look so much more professional than cancelling on them without any referrals.

No subs! What next?

Every once in a while, you run down the substitute list and come up empty handed. Now what? At this point you have two options: dance sick or cancel the show. Think carefully and use good judgement. If you have highly contagious strep throat and are scheduled to perform at a baby shower, the pregnant mother will not be pleased if she finds out you infected her with strep throat right before her delivery day. Likewise, infecting a bride with a terrible flu at her belly dance bachelorette party will leave her cursing you if she is sick on her wedding day.

Most colds and flus give warning signs like sniffling, fever, fatigue, aches and pains. The Center for Disease Control(CDC) states that you can be contagious up to 5-7 days after the symptoms begin and recommends you stay home at least for 24 hours after your fever breaks (except to get medical attention). If you think it is unsafe for you to perform, communicate with the event planner and let them know the potential infection risks to others as well as the health risk to yourself. Most likely, they will appreciate your concern for their health and safety.

Image of a cold virus.

Sick, but not “that” sick

Edward R. Laskowski, MD, a Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, says mild to moderate physical activity is fine as long as the symptoms are “above the neck”. Attempts to exercise if you have chest congestion, fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches can result in serious injury or illness complications.

In a Ball State University study, exercise physiologist Dr. Leonard Kaminsky studied the effects of a cold on athletes. Surprisingly, his research showed that neither lung function nor overall exercise performance were decreased in subjects infected for two days with a cold virus (when symptoms were at their worst).

Additionally, there was no difference in symptoms or time to recovery between the control group and a group that exercised 40 minutes every other day at 70% of their max heart rate. Again, it was warned that subjects should not exercise when experiencing fever or chest congestion.

So you have had a cold for a few days and need to perform at a birthday party or restaurant show. You feel terrible, but no one can cover for you and the show must go on. Here are some tips to ease the pain of dancing with a cold.

Before the show

Rest as much as you can and drink plenty of fluids.
Take nasal decongestants and/or expectorants well before the show time to clear out nasal passages and chest congestion. Do not take these medications right before your performance. Ick! The nasal decongestant will also help dry out a runny nose. Anti-histamines also have this drying effect, but can make you drowsy.
Moisturize the skin under your nose if it is very dry.
Try your best to call in favors and have someone drive you to the performance so you can continue resting in the car.
Put on all your makeup except for concealer under your nose. It will just come off anyway if you blow your nose and further irritate your skin to keep putting it on and wiping it off. Wait till you get to the venue to dab on concealer.
Take a cough suppressant if you are coughing a lot.
Wash your hands.

At the show

Act normal. Don’t complain. No one wants to know that you are icky. Even if you feel terrible, put on a big smile. You will not receive brownie points or pity for dancing while sick; people will just think you are icky.
Minimize interaction with guests before and after the show.
Find a “hidden” area to stash water (or tea with honey) and tissues hidden under the props you will use. If there is a problem during the performance, you can duck behind the wall/door to fix a leaky nose or tearing eye. Don’t wipe your nose with your hand or veil or costume! Eww!
Wash your hands.

Centrifugal force pulls loose material away from the center (skirt, hair, etc.). This is why spins should be avoided with a runny nose. Eww!

During the show

Avoid spins, turns, or sharp head movements. Being sick or taking cold medication can alter your balance. Also a leaky nose plus quick spinning is a gross disaster waiting to happen!
Turn your music up a bit louder than normal to mask sniffling or a suppressed cough.
Do not lean your head forward or look down. Keep your head held high to keep a runny nose at bay.
Visit your tissue stash between songs or as needed. Drink some water or tea if your throat is itchy.
Don’t overexert yourself! Dial back a little bit so you can last through the show without collapsing.
Limit audience participation and speak sparingly. Show them how to do the movements, don’t voice instructions. The less you talk, the more convincing you’ll be that you are just fine.

Between shows

Rest!
Drink plenty of fluids.
Take care of expelling sick “ick”.
Nasal spray to dry out a leaky nose so you can breathe again.
Reapply makeup; especially under the nose if you are using a lot of tissues.
Wash your hands.

After the Show

Wash your hands.
Make a quick exit. Stretch and cool down, but don’t stay to chat with guests.
Go straight home.
SLEEP!

Although it is not advisable or preferable to dance when sick, sometimes it has to be done. Have you performed when sick? What did you do to ease the discomfort and hide the cold to the audience? Please share your stories and tips below.

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Beware the Belly Dancer: 3 Things to Avoid when Hiring a Belly Dancer

by Nyla Crystal on January 12, 2012

You’ve had the fantastic idea of hiring a belly dancer to liven up your next event, but in the back of your mind you start to wonder if the party might get too lively. You worry about inviting your parents or what people will think if children are present.

Where is her skirt?!

Sound familiar? Many people have these thoughts especially if they have seen a seductive movie scene featuring a belly dancer or if they have had the unfortunate experience of seeing an inappropriate belly dancer at the local Middle Eastern restaurant. Let the buyer beware because there is no belly dance license to assure that only qualified belly dancers perform.

In the belly dance entertainment world, performances range from professional and family-friendly to nearly R rated to downright embarrassing. While I won’t go into how these less than desired categories arose, I can help you find a belly dancer to hire who won’t make your party guests uncomfortable (unless that is the effect you are going for). Here are 3 things to avoid when deciding what belly dancer is right for your party.

1. Inappropriate dancing

The video above is from a Bollywood movie, but clearly illustrates one type of belly dancer to avoid hiring for your all ages event.

Protect your guests against inappropriate belly dancing by watching some of the prospective belly dancer’s videos. It really doesn’t take that long to watch a couple of performance clips. Look for inappropriate dance movements (vigorous pelvic thrusting, suggestive floorwork, chest shaking in someone’s face, etc.) or inappropriate interaction with the audience. You will know it when you see it!

Many dancers may take a guest’s hand to lead them up to the dance floor, however, a guest should never be dragged up to dance against their will. Anything beyond holding a hand or tying a hip scarf on the guest of honor is questionable behavior.

With free internet video services like YouTube, there aren’t many reasons why a dancer wouldn’t post a promo video or two unless she is inexperienced and has no videos or offers them privately to interested clients.

This costume clearly does not fit the dancer well and is a "Janet Jackson moment" waiting to happen both with the top and the skirt!

2. Inappropriate costuming

Professional belly dancers will have a wide range of well made costumes from full coverage dresses to some modern pieces that could be child-inappropriate. Check out the dancer’s photo gallery. Do you see a wide range of costumes or only a few ill-fitting or inappropriate costumes? The best way to avoid a costume disaster is to talk to the performer and agree on how conservative the costume should be before hand.

3. Inappropriate professional behavior

How the belly dancer behaves before and after the performance is also important to consider. Will she show up late? Will she be rude to your guests? Will she drain your bar and stick around too long after the show? Will she try to seduce your guests?

As ridiculous as some of these questions seem, they are valid. Is the dancer you wish to hire a well established professional with great customer reviews and a legitimate business or is she a party girl relying on her extrovert personality and a cheap costume to make some beer money posing as a belly dancer? A true professional belly dancer will care greatly about her reputation because her business is paying for her rent and retirement.

Taking 10 minutes to research these three “inappropriate elements” can prevent the stress and embarrassment of dealing with an inappropriate belly dancer. Your guests will be thankful to see a beautiful, classy, and professional belly dance performance at your event!

Have you seen an inappropriate belly dance show? What made it inappropriate to you? Please comment below with your story.

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Sacramento Belly Dancer Invades Modesto Mall

by Nyla Crystal on January 8, 2012

Well, it wasn’t that dramatic, but you should have seen the looks on the mall security officer’s faces when I showed up at the Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto, California with my giant scimitar (sword).

I was there to promote my business, Belly Dance Brilliance Event and Wedding Entertainment, at the Party and Wedding Faire along with DJs, wedding dress shops, florists, photographers, wedding planners, and more.

One particularly interesting booth featured custom made bibs for the wedding party. The last thing you want happening at your wedding is spilling all over your beautiful white dress! The owner, Sandi, of Bib 4 Brides provides a pretty solution to that problem.

Bib 4 Brides owner Sandi

Although the mall was alive with commerce, many people were just passing by to quickly collect information (or free candy) before continuing on their shopping expeditions. I was a little concerned that no one would stay long enough to see my live belly dance demo.

I feel the best way to tell someone that belly dance is great entertainment for all ages is to show them! Many people (Americans especially) have only seen belly dance in a seductive context in movies like James Bond or Charlie Wilson’s War. That is absolutely not true and I was determined to show that to the brides and their families.

Before my demo performance at the Modesto Mall

By noon there was still not a considerable crowd gathered, but I started my demo performance regardless. Opening with a flashy Isis wings dance, I was happy to see a large group of people walking through the booths stop dead in their tracks to watch. Within minutes of starting my 15 minute demo, people started gathering around the stage and the upper floor over looking the stage. By the time I got to the sword dance, the upper floor had a significant gathering of viewers and the area by the booths was crowded as well. For any of you wondering if one dancer can keep attention of a large group of people, see the videos below.

Start of the show:

10-15 minutes later:

It made me very happy to show so many people how belly dance can be enjoyed by everyone. Many of the viewers came by to ask questions about belly dance and learn some more about the dance history and culture. Surprisingly, many also said that was the first time they had ever seen a live belly dance performance and were surprised themselves that they stayed to watch the whole show and enjoyed it. While it is sad that so many people see belly dance as a sexy and child-inappropriate dance, I was grateful for the chance to show that belly dance can be family-friendly, joyous, and elegant.

This just goes to show that if you are planning to hire a belly dancer, but are unsure of what your guests will think, make certain to do your research and hire a belly dancer who upholds professional qualities. Watch demo videos for “family-friendly” style, read testimonials to see what previous clients say about the show, and talk to her. Professional belly dancers will have good answers to your questions. Don’t be afraid of offending the dancer with your concerns. A professional belly dancer understands the stereotypes and anticipates those kinds of questions.

What was your opinion of belly dance before you saw a professional performance? Has your opinion about belly dance changed? Please comment below.

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Wedding Entertainment: A Belly Dance Show for Conservative Guests

by Nyla Crystal on January 2, 2012

Vinasa Winery: An Italian Dream

If you haven’t visited Vinasa Winery in Sonoma, CA, you should definitely include it in your next trip to the Napa and Sonoma wine country. Seated on top of a hill looking the Sonoma valley, Vinasa Winery is constructed and decorated with a strong Tuscan theme that makes you feel like you are in Italy.

The Barrel Room, where Ali and Tara held their marriage ceremony, was beautifully romantic with soft candlelight reflecting off the textured walls. It was hard not to wander around the gorgeous winery when I first arrived, but I managed to enjoy the scenery as much as I could before meeting with the coordinator to prepare for the show.

Custom Belly Dance Performance Considerations

Combining families of Turkish and Scottish descent, the couple wanted to showcase authentic Turkish belly dance wedding entertainment that would be enjoyed also by the Scottish and American guests. With this mixed group of cultures and religions, Tara and Ali were a little nervous of possibly offending some of the more conservative guests, but after reading my customer reviews and watching some of my performance videos, they were comforted in their decision to incorporate the cultural experience and trusted me to put on a tasteful and professional show.

Conservative belly dance costume for a wedding.

With the costuming being one of the biggest factors, I talked to Tara about options ranging from full coverage dresses to modest two piece costumes. To satisfy the conservative crowd as well as the Turkish family members wanting to see a performance that didn’t remind them of a Renaissance Fair, she decided on a two piece costume with a color matched stomach cover. A nice modest, but modern selection.

Secondly, we talked about the dance style. I picked out a traditional Turkish dance to be appreciated by the Turkish side of the family and added in some more modern Turkish dances to appeal to the Scottish and American guests. I also decided to not include floor work, which is very popular in Turkey right now, as it can be seen as inappropriate without the cultural background on the dance. Instead of boring the guests with a dissertation on Turkish dance traditions and styles, I thought it would be safer to leave it out all together.

The Wedding Show

When the big day came, I was still a surprise to all the guests. After the final round of toasts, the DJ started my music and alluded to a special surprise. The guests were delighted to see a dinner show and the Turkish family members were excited to see a piece of home at the wedding.

The bride and guests enjoy belly dancing at the wedding reception.

My show began with a modern Turkish Oryantal piece complete with silk veil dancing. Next I danced to a traditional Turkish song in the 9/8 rhythm using authentic hand gestures made popular by the Turkish Romani. Finger cymbal (zill) playing is highly popular in Turkey so I made sure to play finger cymbals in the traditional dance as well as with a fun drum solo in the Turkish style. For the American audience members, I performed a sword dance, which was a definite crowd pleaser.

After my show, I got Ali and Tara up to dance to fun Turkish pop music and soon the rest of the guests were up and dancing with us. It was a fantastic way to transition into the DJ dancing for the rest of the reception.

Q & A with the bride

Q: Did the belly dance show live up to your expectations?

A: The show was amazing! We had so much fun. It really gave the wedding some extra pizazz – everyone was very impressed. I would say that the show was better than expected, but I already had so much faith in you even before the show began. I was very pleased indeed.

Q: What was your favorite moment of the performance?

A: My favorite moment was seeing my husband and father-in-law’s reaction to the dancing and the Turkish music – they have probably never seen anything that authentic in the U.S. They were very surprised, and that was exactly the effect I had been dreaming of. Thank you so much for that! Also, that sword dance was amazing. Another big highlight for me.

Q: Was there anything that would have made the show even better for your wedding?

A: Can’t think of anything that would have made the show better – you were so considerate, and in the midst of so much chaos I felt like you had really taken my wishes to heart when others definitely hadn’t.

_____________________________________________

To see more gorgeous photos of the winery and the wedding, please visit the amazing Vinasa Winery photographer’s blog.

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How to Belly Dance in the Cold

by Nyla Crystal on December 15, 2011

Winter is coming and outdoor shows can provide interesting challenges for performing belly dancers. While it never gets too far below freezing here for Sacramento belly dancers, dancing during a northern California winter does require special consideration. Outdoor performances are popular for holiday parties and usually allow for the most space so everyone can see.

1. Always warm up

You should be warming up before shows anyway, but when the temperature drops, it is even more important to get your muscles warm before performing. If you are a surprise performer hired for a birthday party, make sure to let your host know that you will arrive a little early to spend some extra time warming up. Jumping jacks, shimmies, running in place, and some dynamic stretching are all great ways to warm up. If your are a surprise performer, make sure to put your belt on last if if has coins or tie your veil around the coins to dampen the sound. You don’t want guests outside wondering what that “jingling” noise is! For ideas on dynamic stretching, check this video out:

How to do a Quick Warm-Up, Dynamic Flexibility Workout

2. Dress for warmth

Even with your stomach exposed, you can dress warmly for an outdoor belly dance performance.

Coordinate a bolero top with your costume.

Wear layers of harem pants with multiple skirts to keep your legs warm. If you harem pants are opaque, you can even wear tights or long johns under them!
Wear shoes! Dancing on cold concrete is terrible for your foot muscles. Wearing shoes will keep your toes nice and warm, allowing for better balance.
Wear your hair down. Long hair has its advantage in the winter by keeping heat on your back. Have short hair? Wear a wig or tie a scarf around your head, letting the tails hang down your back for warmth.
Wear long arm bands. Stretch velvet is very warm. Better yet, a bolero type top you can wear over your bra is another great way to keep your back, shoulders, and arms warm.
Wear a body stocking or stomach cover. Mostly made of sheer stretch material, they keep a little heat on your belly
Wear a baladi dress for even more warmth. Opt for stretch velvet over thin spandex.

Special tip: Avoid wearing costumes with coin drapes on your bare stomach. The metal coins keep very cold and will be constantly on your skin. brrrr!

3. Use zills with caution

Have you ever played finger cymbals with cold, numb fingers? Loss of finger control leads to off tempo and terrible zill playing. If you plan to play zills, make sure to use them within the first one two songs while your hands are still warm. Bring a hand warmer pack (sold at many outdoor stores) to super heat your hands right before starting your show.

Brrrrr! It is cold out here!

4. Re-think your props

Swords will be very cold to touch. Make sure you are at least aware of that before doing a balance trick on your stomach or hip! Maybe tossing around a thick veil isn’t such a great idea in the cold as it stirs up more cold air to remove the heated air layer around your body. Consider your audience too. They might be in coats, but might not appreciate being fanned by your veil. Tone down your veil use or at least direct your air disturbances away from yourself and the audience.

Special tip: Some outdoor performances will have tall space heaters in the way. Make sure to not let your veil touch one of the lanterns or you will soon be warmed by your flaming veil.

5. Know your limits

Keep your sets short. Breathing cold air is hard on the lungs and keeping your muscles warm will tire you out more quickly. Your audience will also appreciate not having to stand motionless in the cold for long periods of time. Instead of admiring your dance skills, they may start to wonder just how blue you are going to turn!

Have you had a cold belly dance performance experience? What did you learn? Share it below in the comment box!

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5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Belly Dancer for Your Company Holiday Party

by Nyla Crystal on November 28, 2011

The end of the year is coming quick and you are in charge of keeping everyone entertained for the annual office holiday party. The White Elephant Gift Exchange has been done to death and no one is very interested in a good old fashioned sing-a-long. Forget the pin-the-carrot-nose-on-Frosty-the-Snowman game and consider having a cultural dance performance for your company holiday party entertainment. Your co-workers will greatly appreciate the educational and fun diversion!

Hiring a troupe of Chinese acrobats or a kick line of tap dancers might not logistically work out for most holiday parties in a space-limited office or on the boss’s new hardwood floor, but a belly dancer can perform on most home or office surfaces and in small or large spaces. When performed properly by a professional belly dancer, belly dancing is a beautiful and feminine art that anyone can enjoy and appreciate. Hiring a belly dancer for your holiday party is a great way to create a memorable and fun experience for your co-workers.

Belly dancing at a holiday party in Sacramento

Worried about what the boss will think? Don’t! If you do your research, you will find a wonderful professional belly dancer who is experienced in working with diverse audiences and performs family-friendly belly dance shows. You would be surprised at the difference between a real professional belly dance show and what you may have seen in James Bond movies. A professional belly dancer will not seduce your guests and will not drain your bar. Most professional belly dancers, like myself, uphold very high professional standards and take the shows very seriously. It is our business and from reading customer reviews and viewing performance video clips, you can be assured that you have found a belly dancer you can trust to tastefully entertain your company’s holiday party.

Not fully convinced? Here are 5 more reasons why you should hire a belly dancer for your company holiday party:

Sacramento belly dancer at company holiday party.

1. It’s unexpected

Unless you are having an Arabian Nights themed holiday party or Casablanca themed gala event, you can work in a major element of surprise for your co-workers and friends by having a belly dance performance at your holiday party.

2. A belly dance show creates a shared unusual experience

Sure to leave an impression, belly dancing is a unique way to create fun memories with your guests that will keep them entertained and talking long after the belly dancer has left. Did you know Bob from accounting had such graceful snake arms?

3. Belly dancing will wake up your party guests

Wine and a filling feast are the perfect recipe for falling asleep or leaving a holiday party early. Keep everyone alert and active with an attention-getting belly dance show and audience participation. Professional belly dancers can custom design a highly entertaining show to keep diverse audience members engaged through the whole show and excited to interact with the belly dancer at the end of the show.

4. Belly dance shows keep the party multicultural and diverse

For an office holiday party, many guests may not celebrate holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah and could feel awkward when made to sing carols or partake in other religious based traditions. A belly dance show is fun and exciting multicultural entertainment that people of all ages and from any background can enjoy. If you have a conservative group, talk to your belly dancer about modest full dress costuming.

5. You really want to see your boss belly dance!

Who wouldn’t want to see their boss shake up the holiday party? Although a professional belly dancer would never force anyone to dance with her, she will definitely encourage special guests and VIPs to get up and learn some new belly dance moves.

Is your company located in the Sacramento or San Francisco Bay Area? I specialize in corporate belly dance performances and have entertained large companies like SanDisk, Herbalife, and Nordstrom and small companies like Asurea Insurance, Physic Ventures, private law, and medical practices. To ensure the best experience for your company holiday party, I will work closely with you to design a custom show taking into account your company background, employee preferences, and overall party atmosphere. My weekend performances fill up fast so call or email today for a free belly dance performance consultation.

916-572-3559
nyla@nylacrystal.com

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