Hire an I.H.W Dancer
Make your special day one to remember, and give your guests a gift they won't soon forget! Our I.H.W team are experienced and dedicated artists and professional entertainers who will delight audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you are seeking an authentic Middle Eastern dance experience, are looking for a edgy tribal spectacular or would like a lighter-hearted, modern fusion approach to suit an audience with diverse tastes, I.H.W has the performance for you.
Below, find a list of our frequently asked questions, and som information and resources you may be interested in to assist you to get the most from your booking.
We hope to hear from you soon!
Book a Performance
In order to receive a quote for your performance[s], please send us the details via e-mail. The more detail you can give us, the better we can tailor our performance to your needs- to truly make your event a fantastic one!
Please include information such as the following:
-Date/time of proposed show:
-Show venue and address:
-Event type:
-Is this event for a company, a charity or private?
-Special requests [Specific music/costume styles. Specific apparatus you want or we cannot use, costume colours to match theme, etc]
-Number of dancers to be quoted for:
-Did you find us through a dancer in the studio or a previous client?
-Have you booked us before?
F.A.Qs
Are performances family friendly?
Absolutely. All I.H.W performances are family friendly- children are some of our best fans, and often like to get involved in the audience participation sections of the show.
Will the dancers provide the music? And stereo?
Our dancers will provide their own music . Be aware I.H.W cuts its shows pre-formatted to C.D. for ease of play. If other formats are required or there will be a play problem on a CD-R, please be sure to let us know well in advance. We ask the booking party to supply all music equipment. We can organise a 'boombox' if requested, for small parties using the 'show and teach' format, but a higher-quality reproduction system will be needed for most functions, and you will want the best! Speak to your DJ for the function if you are confused about anything, they will be more then happy to assist with the technical aspects.
Can you use xyz piece of music?
We are happy to take music requests, provided sufficient advance notice and a copy of the music in question is provided. Bear in mind, we will still be performing belly dance to it, whatever it may be.
What will you wear?
All costumes worn by our dancers are professional, appropriate and classy. These will mostly be two piece costumes showing the belly unless otherwise requested. If you have a particularily conservative audience, we can accomodate a more covered look. If you want an idea of our costuming style, be sure to check out our galleries. If you have a specific request, please discuss it with us and we will do what we can to accomodate your needs.
We want you to get the guest of honor up to dance?
The final moments of our performance sets do include audience interaction, and the guest of honor will be our first choice here. If you know your guest is too shy or otherwise unable, please be sure to let us know.
May we take photos or video footage?
Yes. It is your special event, and we are there to help make your day more special! We do request that any photos or video taken are used solely for your own memorabillia purposes, and are not distributed commercially or on sites such as youTube without prior permission.
What props will you use?
We use a variety of props in each show. Check out our speciality page for more information on what we offer. Please let us know if there is a prop we may not use at your venue, from space or zone restrictions.
Can you provide a costume for the guests?
The majority of professional dance costumes are custom designed for each dancer, and costs run into many thousands of rands. So it will not be possible for us to costume your guests fully. We can bring hips scarves for your guests to use for the duration of the show, however, if you let us know.
Will you dance at all male events?
This is influenced partly by the nature of the event. Bachelor parties and other events looking for titilation will not be booked. Any other event will be considered, however, provided we feel that the dancer[s]' safety can be assured and that they will be treated with respect.
Is tipping allowed?
Yes, unless disallowed by the event host. Tips may be handed to the dancer, placed in her tip basket or prop or thrown over her head in a 'money shower'. Body contact tipping is not encouraged, although at the dancer's discretion tips may be tucked into the side of her hipband or her gauntlets or sleeves only.
How soon should I book?
The earlier you can book, the more able we are to guarantee our dancers will be available to take your performance, and we deeply appreciate it. We do our utmost to accomodate all clients including late-booking performances, especially if you are able to be flexible on your start time, but we may not be able to assist you if all of our dancers are already booked for functions which clash with yours. For distance functions or if you have special requests, 2 weeks notice is always appreciated.
What about out of town and international performances?
I.H.W will perform out of area, nationally and internationally. Advanced notice for such performances is highly appreciated.
What do you charge? Why do you charge your rates?
We charge a rate based on the requirements for your show, so these quotes will be tailored to fit your requirements. Contact us to discuss your needs. For more information on what goes into creating the rates for performance, and why you may receive different quotes for your show from others, we reccomend this short article.
Will I get a lower rate if my show is shorter?
There will be a pricing variation between different lengths of show. Our preperation time and expense to get to your event, however, will remain the same regardless of ultimate length. If a short performance suits your needs best we are more then happy to accomodate, but we do have a minimum party rate [based on that for our 12 min performance] and that will be the lowest rate charged.
How many dancers should I hire?
This is up to you, your plan for your function and your budget. However, if your function is very large, you may consider hiring several dancers so that all guests can see easily and feel incorporated into the entertainment.. For our corporate clients, we do advise that you consider 2 [or more] dancers. Whislt a solo show is a fantastic and enjoyable performance that will thrill your audience, many of your guests may have been exposed to a bellydancer before- leading a traditional wedding precesion, during teambuilding or at a restaurant or birthday party. Even if your corporate function is quite small, you may desire a more formal image. The added dimension of choreographic interaction in a multi-dancer show can add that extra opulance and black-tie feel . At day's end, however, we understand that your budget will be a major determining factor in your choice. Rest assured, regardless of how many dancers you choose, your guests will be given a slick, classy and entertaining performance that will linger in their memories fondly
How is payment expected?
We ask a 50% deposit to secure your booking, with the balance payable before the dancer performs. The easiest methods for deposit payment is E.F.T or direct deposit into our account. The balance may be paid to the dancer in cash, cheque if pre-approved or via E.F.T. If you choose the E.F.T method, please be sure to pay the remaining balance 24 hours in advance.
What if I book, and you have to cancel?
Rest assured, I.H.W will not leave you in the lurch days before your performance. Should we be unable to fufil our contract- an circumstance which will occur only under extreme circumstances- within one week of your due performance date, we will organise a quality professional dancer to replace us. We are happy to do this should we have to cancel at an earlier date also, or else we will return all money paid to us.
We are a charity. Can we get a discount or free show?
We will offer performances at a discounted rate for all registered charities and concerns. We also donate a few free performances per year to concerns and charities we support. These are limited, but you are always welcome to make the request.
Things to consider when hiring a bellydancer
The contact person:
Having an assigned contact makes things a lot easier both for the dancer and the hiring party. They can assist should their be a snarl in directions, meet the dancer to show them to the waiting area, handle payment, ensure her music reaches the DJ and liase in general, and it is appreciated if they assist in recovering dropped tips at the end of the show. Please be sure to give us the number of someone to fill this role. This could be you as the booking party, but this may not be convenient if, for example, you are the Bride-to-Be and will have lots of other concerns on the day. It should be someone who will have the cell phone number you provide turned on and answerable at the scheduled time of performance, so the dancer can get in touch. This becomes especially helpful if your performance is going to be a suprise for the rest of your guests.
Dance and changing areas:
If your venue is within the Jo'burg or Pretoria areas, dancers will arrive and leave in costume. If your venue has significant travelling time, however, they will need an area set aside for changing. Even if you are within our 'home base' areas, if there are pre-arranged breaks in performance or waiting times, you are going to need somewhere to put the dancers! Having them linger in areas your guests are going to traverse regularly will look awkward and detract from the glamour of that special performance. This area should be safe, private, clean and secure with somewhere for the dancers to sit, and access to drinking water is always appreciated.
Likewise, please take a moment to consider the area of performance. Is the floor there clear of unnecessary obstacles? Are waiters warned that there will be a performance and aware not to cross that space when the dancer is on? If you have requested fire, is your cealing, along with drapes, wires and other decor, high enough not to cause interference? Are smoke alarms off? If you have chosen a performance at which there will be several dancers, is there a clear space for a group performance? This can be worked around, but advanced notice makes the process much smoother. Please, take a moment to consider the needs of the dancer[s].
Directions and Parking.
Please be sure to provide us with an accurate address, and a map if you feel it would assist in finding your venue. We also appreciate any other information which may assist the dancer in her arrival. Sometimes, these may not be things you automatically mention, particularily if this is your home or a locale you frequent- but remember, the dancer may not know your area like you do! So if your street is a one way, bisected or shares a name with one nearby, you live in a boomed-off suburb with specific entrance streets, your housing complex requires specific protocol for entrance or the signpost at the end of your street has been removed, let us know. The nearest cross-street on the road is also useful. Likewise, if parking is liable to be problematic, we appreciate assistance in either arranging a specific area, or informing us of nearby parking options.
Thanks for considering us for your event. We will get back to you with a quote for your requested performance, and a booking conformation, as soon as possible.
Don't forget to look through our gallery of previous performances in the meantime!
