Bellygram and Bellydance Shows

Having a party?

The most popular occasion is a birthday. Wives and girlfriends love to hire a belly dancer as a treat for the birthday boy as well as for the rest of the guests. Other popular occasions are retirement parties, holiday parties, office parties, weddings, anniversaries and bar mitzvahs.

My shows are in good taste and never vulgar. You do not have to send the kids out. In fact, I will often give them little tambourines and incorporate them into the show. My top priority is to make sure everyone has fun and remembers the party as something special. Bellydancing is an exotic art, and I respect it as such. At the same time, I have honed my skills as an entertainer and take great pride in being both an authentic middle-eastern dancer and excellent “showgirl.”

What to expect in a party show

Usually the guest of honor is seated in a chair in the middle of the room, so that all the guests can see his reaction. The music starts (I provide my own) and I come dancing out to a very lively tune, playing my finger cymbals and swirling around, causing great excitement, surprise, and clapping. Then I do a slower veil dance, ending with me wrapping the veil around the birthday boy's shoulders (his “cape”). After that, I present the Sultan's turban and place it on his head. It is jeweled with a big feather.

At this point, people are finding it hilarious. So I grab a couple of his male friends and dress them up like harem girls. More hysterical laughter. They help me feed the Sultan grapes, and I get them to dance a little for him as well. After that, the Sultan gets a set of his own finger cymbals, I have him and the "harem girls" dance, then follow me dancing around the room, so that all the guests can get a close-up look at us and clap, cheering the Sultan on.

Toward the end of the show, I get the whole room to stand up and follow me as I teach a few bellydance movements. Sometimes we dance in a circle around the Sultan. I will stay and pose for pictures on request.

Planning your party show

Prices vary depending upon length of show requested and traveling distance (from Bergen County). Saturday nights are most in demand for a belly dancer and the fee is slightly higher. The most popular request is for a 15 to 20-minute show, known in the business as a “bellygram.”

I travel anywhere I can reasonably drive to in a day. Of course this means anywhere in Bergen County - North Jersey, northern New Jersey (Hudson County, Union County, Passaic County, Essex County, Middlesex County), New York City (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island), Westchester County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County (my second home).
Photo credit: Mark Forman It also includes Long Island, central NJ, lower upstate NY, Connecticut, even Boston. Looking for a belly dancer in New Brunswick or Bridgeport? Or in Trenton or Poughkeepsie? I love bellydancing and I love a good road trip. Just give me a snack for the drive home while you bask in the glow of how I helped make your party a hit!

Make your party a memorable event. Email Shamira ( shamiradance@aol.com ) today to inquire about booking a bellygram or belly dance show.

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Shamira lives a career as one of New York City's top bellydancers, dancing everywhere from Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall to more than a few firehouses and even (on!) a bowling alley, with numerous clubs and private events in between.

Shamira was chosen by Christina Aguilera to choreograph and dance in an "Arabian Nights" opening to her 2000 MTV Video Music Awards performance. In 2003 and 2004 Shamira was commissioned by Lincoln Center to create, direct, choreograph, and perform in a showcase of Middle Eastern music and dance; "The Divine Divas of Oriental Bellydance" Part 1 (2003) and Part 2 (2004) presented by the Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors series. Shamira again returned to Lincoln Center more recently to entertain for a pre-show gathering of investment community supporters in the Allen Room prior to a Diana Krall concert.