Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, GTA and beyond.

Live Belly Dance Shows & Arabic Band

Nothing makes an event more dazzling or memorable  than  live entertainment ... and you cannot beat a live belly dance show with a live Arabic band to give your party a real Arabic flavour. Looking for live wedding entertainment? BellyUp together with the Layali El Sharq Band are no strangers to weddings, corporate parties, Christmas parties, family celebrations, and virtually any kind of festive occasion. Why not add a belly dancer to your bachelorette party or bridal shower ... it's fun and your guests will get a show and a belly dance lesson. And if you really want to rev up your party, add a traditional Arabic band along with professional belly dancers and you'll have yourself an event that will be remembered for years to come. Let BellyUp's Joharah and the popular Layali El Sharq Band bring the joy of celebration and a true Arabic ambiance to your next event.

Our entertainers are trained to entertain and engage the audience so you can relax and enjoy the entertainment along with your guests. From the moment the band starts to play and the dancers enter, they know just what to do to get the crowd involved and keep them mesmerized  throughout the show. We guarantee your guests will find it hard to sit still which is precisely our goal!  Our dancers and musicians are often booked far in advance so we encourage you to plan ahead in order to secure your show dates. Every event is unique therefore pricing varies. For basic belly dance rates please visit our rates page for information. While you're here though, check out some of our dancers. We are happy to provide an estimate for live musical entertainment incorporate live music once we have more details about your needs.

Joharah & Live Drummer

Joharah teams up with master Dumbek player, Joe Srouji, from the Layali El Sharq band to perform at all kinds of events and functions. Joe Srouji is undoubtedly one of the most talented Dumbek musicians going having played the Arabic drum since childhood. Joharah and Joe are a great complement to one another and share a dancer/drummer comraderie that is totally entertaining to any audience. Guests will have fun as Joharah and Joe interact with audience members which really adds an element of authenticity to your event. Contact info@bellyup.ca for booking information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bellydance Entertainment

How long is a typical show?

A typical belly dance show ranges from 20-40 minutes in length. Our experience with the non-Arabic audience is that 20-30 minutes is a perfect length for a show. Whereas Arabic audiences usually prefer a longer performance with lots of audience participation and often several belly dance shows. If you are hiring an Arabic band...they would be the centerpiece for your event's entertainment and dancing. And you can add belly dancers to perform shows at intervals and entertain and dance with your guests.

 How many dancers do I need for my event? 

That depends on the size and location of your event. One dancer is sufficient for a small-sized event however large events are better served with more than one dancer so that the dancers can circulate and fully entertain and engage your guests. Also if you want more of a grand entrance for the show,  BellyUp's dance ensemble is the way to go. Beautifully costumed bellydancers will enter and perform several crowd pleasing choreographies in a perfectly synchronized fashion that will really wow the crowd. Just email or call us to discuss your needs.

Will the dancer bring her own music or do I need a band? 

BellyUp highly recommends the use of a live Arabic band for the highest quality entertainment and success of your event. Otherwise the dancer will provide a CD with a compilation of music designed specifically for your event. We require a top quality sound system with CD or Ipod capabilities. We will not perform to a boom box!

Is the belly dance performance appropriate for children?

Absolutely. All performances are elegant, classy and perfectly appropriate for family occasions. In fact, children typically enjoy the belly dance show as much as everyone else and we always like to engage the children in dancing with us. 

What kind of music will be used?

Joharah and Layali El Sharq Band are both very partial to classic belly dance music from the Golden Era of belly dance (Oum Kathoum, Fariuz, Abdel Wahab, Farid El Trache) and others but is also flexible to provide a more contemporary, modern musical arrangement. Joharan and/or Layali Al Sharq Band are happy to work with you or your event organizer to develop a compilation of music that fits the theme, nationality and age group of your event.

What if I want more than one belly dancer?

No problem. We have a range of talented belly dancers available and we can select those best suited for your particular event.

Do we need to tip the belly dancer?

A gratuity can be added to your payment upon request and it is usually in the area of 20-30% depending on the number of dancers. However, while tips are most appreciated they are never expected. Audience members are welcome to tip the performer during the performance which is also customary. To tip in the most authentic way, the dancer is generally showered with bills as she dances. We discourage guests from stuffing bills into the belly dancer's costume.

How soon do I need to book a dancer and/or the band? 

BellyUp's Live Entertainment Services is a very popular division of BellyUp so we suggest you reserve your entertainment sooner than later in order to secure your dancers and/or live musicians for the event. Last minute bookings are no problem as long as we're available. Christmas, New Year's and Summer are all busy times for parties and weddings! It's best to plan ahead to avoid disappointment. 

What can I expect from the belly dance performance?

Expect a professional,  elegant performance that will be lively, lots of fun and very engaging for your guests. We will provide you with an overview of how our choreographed show will work so you know entirely what to expect.

What can I expect from the live band?

Joharah and Simon Rahmoun of Layali El Sharq Band will work with you to plan an outstanding show for your guests. And if you choose to hire the band without belly dance entertainment that's fine as well. You can plan directly with Simon to determine the best sized band and musical arrangements for your party.

How much room does the belly dancer require?

The dancer or dancers require plenty of room to perform plus a cleared path for entering and exiting from the dance floor. The dance floor surface must be suitable for dancing barefoot. A minimum of 12' x 12' cleared area is required. The belly dancer's entrance should be one of surprise and mystique. Please ensure her pathway to enter to the dance floor area or stage is cleared of furniture, chairs and people so she can make as dynamic an entrance as possible.

What type of sound system is required?

Again we encourage the use of a live Arabic band for the best belly dance show possible. They will provide you with details regarding their sound requirements. We will perform only to a high quality sound system and will not perform to a boom box. The sound quality should be excellent and the volume loud enough to drown out conversation. If we are performing without a live band, we will provide our own music on CD or with Ipod if you have Ipod capabilities. If you are using a DJ, have the DJ speak with the bellydancer or her assistant as soon as she arrives to obtain the CD and  will arrange with you for her entrance requirements. Please ensure the volume is loud enough to command attention and drown out conversation.

Do I need to point out members of the audience for the belly dancer to dance with? 

Please advise her as to where the guest of honor is seated prior to show time. Our dancers are trained professionals so please allow the dancer to perform her show and allow her to do what she is trained to do. She will know exactly when it is time to select someone to dance with her. Please allow her to choose who she will dance with and do not push your guests on to the dance floor with her unless she has invited them to join her. We ask that you relax and enjoy your party with your guests and let the belly dancer assume the reigns for the full length of her performance.

How should the audience respond to the belly dancer?

Please participate throughout the belly dance show with lots of clapping and cheering and encourage your guests to do the same. Dancer's feed off the energy of the audience and she will perform with more enthusiasm if she feels yours in return. If your guests wish to tip the performer, please instruct them to shower her with bills instead of stuffing bills into her costume which is considered inappropriate. Your audience will appreciate the guidance to treat the belly dancer in a more authentic and respectful manner.

What type of event is most suitable for a belly dance show?

A traditional Belly dancers add a special flair for birthdays, engagement parties, weddings of course, anniversary parties, Bar Mitzvahs/Bat Mitzvahs, corporate functions and conventions, community festivals, Arabic themed parties, Persian New Year's, Valentine's Day, family celebrations etc. Please note we do not perform at bachelor parties under any circumstances.

When will she arrive at the event? 

The belly dancer will arrive 15 minutes prior to show time. Please do not delay her show as she may have other engagements to get to that evening. Also by having her wait, will only decrease  her energy level from having to wait around in costume. We allow for a 15 minute delay but beyond that we must charge $100 for every 1/2 hour we are kept waiting beyond the scheduled performance time.If you are unable to designate a specific time for the show, you can book the dancer for a flat rate of $500 which will include a performance and 1.5 hours of flex time.

How do I pay for the bellydancer?

A 50% deposit is required to hold a booking which is refundable until 2 weeks prior to the event. This reserves your time and is non-refundable within 2 weeks fo the event, but may be transferred to another show of equal value at anytime. The balance is payable by cash or cheque the day of the event. Prices are listed above and do not include additional travel expenses or add-ons if required.