Belly Dance Rates by Region
Standard belly dance rates by region
This information is kindly provided to me by dancers from ALL OVER. Thank you to all those who have contributed. and who continue to email me with information and appreciation! Please email me with examples of your region’s rates or more up-to date information. Please feel free to share this page with other dancers. Also join the Biz of Belly Dance group on Facebook and help out discussions, ask questions, make new friends.
This page last updated Jan 5 2012
This list has been created for the express purpose of being a pro-active tool for dancers to gain awareness of the fair rates in their region. Remember its about being fair, not forcing higher rates than a region can support, or creating a hostile environment with anyone.
~Most of these rates are examples of minimum or starting rates for newer dancers.
~Variation based on experience is expected. Some rates reflect the variance in the area as has been reported by local dancers.
~These are rates for soloist dancers. Duet and troupe rates when known are indicated.
~”Restaurant” and “regular venue” rates are for weekly shows. For shows less than every week, the rate should be higher.
~These rates do not reflect extra for mileage, specialties, experience, or special circumstances.
~Smaller towns and cities should base their rates on those of the nearest greater metro areas.
~Class rates are sometimes listed by what the student pays and sometimes listed by what the teacher is paid. Please be careful with these differences. The list is dependent upon what is reported, causing some variances.
~Remember, when starting new venues that it is VERY difficult to get a raise once the rate is set. This means you want to start it at a rate where you’ll be happy two years from now.
~Communicate up front party rates to the restaurant so that does not come as a surprise.
~Professional dancers from different regions have sent in “suggested new gig starting rates”. Again, these are minimums for newer dancers. These rates are based on expenses, time as well as careful observation of owner practices, various types of venues, rates and inflation.
~Remember, a show is a show. Do not “cut it in half” and do two shorter shows. That’s still two shows and a professional will charge accordingly.
~Holiday rates (New Years, Valentines Day etc) are often either 1 and 1/2 or double, depending upon region.
ALABAMA:
ALASKA:
ARIZONA:
Phoenix, AZ:
**Classes: $10-$15 per hour class **Privates class: $30-$50 per hour **Private Party: starting at $125-175 and up **Restaurants: soloist $50-75 per set, duo: $75 and up per set, troupes: $50 per set up to $300 for two 30 minute sets
ARKANSAS:
CALIFORNIA:
San Francisco, CA:
** Parties starting at $200 ** Restaurants $50-80. (these rates recently went up due to online discussions and community support. Yay!)
Los Angeles, and Orange County, CA:
**Belly grams (10 minute show) starting at $150. Private Parties (20 min) starting at $200- $350, Wedding with zeffa (short zeffa set plus one set) $400+ Additional shows at same event starting at $100 (depending on wait time)
**Group Classes $10 – $20 **Private Lessons $30 – $75
**Restaurant work: $30 – $85* Some restaurants pay hourly wages plus tips
Southern California desert communities, CA:
**Private Parties: ranging from $100 and up. $150 and up is common with longer travel times. **Group classes: $20-40 for 4 **Restaurant work: $30-$85 per show
San Jose, California:
**Restaurants:$75-$125 per show. No discount for multiple shows.**Private parties: starting at $200-$400
Sacramento, CA
**Mini show (15 minutes) $200, **Classic show (20 plus audience participation) $250 and up, **Party Performance (20 min) plus lesson (30 min) $350 ** Restaurant Rates- one show $75, two shows $100. These are pro dancers outside of the major undercutting school.
SanDiego and surrounding areas:
**Parties $150 AND UP (close by), $175-$200 and up for out in the county
**bellygram (10 min) $125-$150 **weddings $250 and up for belly dance show OR zeffa $300 and up for both **regular restaurants $40/$50 and up for 1 show **New venues should be $50 or higher **classes $10/12 registered or $13-$15 drop in. **private classes $40-$60
COLORADO:
Boulder/Denver, CO:
**$125-$200 plus travel etc per show for Denver/Boulder (1/2 hour) – restaurants $65 for one/$85 for two
CONNECTICUT:
**Restaurants- $100/20 min show. **Parties: $225-$300 for 20-30 minute show **regular class rates $20 drop in, $15 for 10 or more. **Troupe rates $450 for duet 30 minute. ** Hen party $250-$300 plus.
DELAWARE:
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:
Washington DC and Baltimore, MD greater metro areas:
** Parties $250-$400 per 20 min show ** Restaurants $85-$150 per show up to 20 minutes. New venues should be started at a minimum of $100 per show. Double or more New Years. Extra for mileage.
FLORIDA:
North Florida:
**Restaurants 2-3 15 minute sets, $30 and up per set
Miami, Florida:
** $175 to $300 for private parties for 15-30 minute show ** $100-$125 plus tips for restaurant gigs, 2 or 3 sets (plus a meal at some restaurants!) ** $40-$60 Private lesson ** $10-$15 regular group classes
Tampa, FL:
**Restaurants: minimum $75 per set, usually 2 set minimum **Private Parties: starting at $125 **Classes: $12 per 90 minutes **Private classes: $45-50 per hour plus any studio fees
Melbourne, FL:
** $125 -350 private party, 15-20 min. show ** $75-$100 restaurant 2-3 15 minutes sets ** $10-$15 One hour group, classes ** $25-50 Private classes, 1 hour
Orlando, FL:
**Party (local) $200 and up for 35 min show. **Party outside Orlando $300 and up **Party with fire (local) $350 **party with fire (outside Orlando) $450. **Restaurant once a month all year $175 **restaurant weekly $150 **private lessons $40/hr
GEORGIA:
Atlanta GA rates:
**Large, popular restaurants: $75-$100 **small, rural restaurants: $35 and up **Private Parties: starting at $150/15min – $300/30min **classes: $12 **private classes: $40/hour
HAWAII:
IDAHO:
ILLINOIS:
Chicago:
**Parties: starting at $200-350 ** Restaurants with CD: $100 plus all tips for one set $150-170 plus all tips for two ** Restaurants with band: $100 and up for one set (no tips), two sets: $150-175. Nicer places may pay $200-350 for two sets.
St Louis, MO and southern Illinois:
**15-min show at a private party = min $100, 15-min show at a restaurant = min $50, 1 hour private lesson = $25-$35
INDIANA:
IOWA:
Iowa City, Iowa:
** $50 and up for one 15-20 minute restaurant show, $75 and up for two sets of that length in the same night ** $50 for a one-hour private lesson ** Group classes: if someone pays for a series of multiple classes (say, 6-8 week session)
classes are $8-$10 per one-hour class, but drop-in onesy-twosy rate lies in the $12.50-$15.00 range.
KANSAS:
KENTUCKY:
Louisville, KY:
**Parties (10 min belly grams): starting at $125+, **full shows $200 and up **wedding or other gala $300 and up for up to 30 min show** party lesson : $200, **Party lesson plus mini show $250, **Classes: $7 – $12 **Private Lessons: $30 – $50/hr. **Restaurants: $35-45/ set.
LOUISIANA:
MAINE:
New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine:
**Bellygram 10-15 minutes $125-$150, Standard Show 15-20 minutes $200 – $350 plus travel, Deluxe Show two 15 minute sets $300-$325, Add a 30 minute lesson $50 or more, Add a 60 minute lesson $100, ladies nights: $125-$250 per hour **Restaurants/ongoing: 15-20 minute show $100. Two sets with costume change, $160. Troupe Rates $75-$125 per dancer **classes $10-$15/hr
MARYLAND:
Washington DC and Baltimore, MD greater metro areas:
** Parties $250-$400 per 20 min show ** Restaurants $85-$150 per show up to 20 minutes. New venues should be started at a minimum of $100 per show. Double or more New Years and major holidays. More for mileage.
MASSACHUSETTS:
Boston MA:
**Belly gram 15 – 20 minutes starts at $150, Standard show: $200 and up, 45 minute lesson + performance starts at $300, Restaurant rates, better restaurants $75 per 20 min – 30 min set. Last minute gigs $300 and up.
MICHIGAN:
Southeast Michigan, Detroit Metro area:
Nightclub show $100 and up **wedding dinner show (30 min w CD) $250 **zeffa $200 **weddng show with zeffa $300-$350 and up, **regular party $250 and up
MINNESOTA:
There is a guild in Minneapolis. Their wage guidelines are:
**Recommended new venue rates $75 for one shoe $100 for 2 **club rates **$60-$75 for 1 show **$75-100 for 2 shows **$25 charge if performance is cancelled after the dancer has arrived ** private party: $150-$255 and up for 1 show **weddings $200 minimum plus more for specialties etc **classes $12-$16 for 1.5 hr class $15-$18 for 2 hr classes (drop ins) **rates are higher for travel time etc.
MISSISSIPPI:
Jackson, Mississippi:
**Basic Bellygram: (2 songs/ less than 10 min) $100 in Metro Jackson area **Bellygram - 20 minute/ up to 3 dancers $300 **Classes: $15 for a drop in **Private lesson: $40/hour **There are currently no restaurants that pay dancers in $$ (ouch!)
MISSOURI:
St Louis, MO and southern Illinois:
**15-min show at a private party = min $100, 15-min show at a restaurant = min $50, 1 hour private lesson = $25-$35
MONTANA:
NEBRASKA:
NEVADA:
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
**Bellygram 10-15 minutes $125-$150, Standard Show 15-20 minutes $200 – $350 plus travel, Deluxe Show two 15 minute sets $300-$325, Add a 30 minute lesson $50 or more, Add a 60 minute lesson $100, ladies nights: $125-$250 per hour **Restaurants/ongoing: 15-20 minute show $100. Two sets with costume change, $160. Troupe Rates $75-$125 per dancer **classes $10-$15/hr
NEW JERSEY:
New York City and surrounding metro area (Northern New Jersey):
** Parties $250-$400 for one 20 min show ** Restaurants $75-200. New venues should be started at $100 or more. Many are paying $150 now. Double or more New Years
**Other New Jersey rates: restaurant: $100 and up ** Private party rate: starting at $200-220 for 15 minute set **Weddings etc start at $300 **Restaurant rates in southern Jersey might be different-most bistros have no liquor license
NEW YORK:
NEW YORK: ** Parties $250-$400 AND UP for one 20 min show ** Restaurants $100-200. New venues should be started at $100 or more. Many are paying $150 now. Double or more New Years. More for Mileage.
NORTH CAROLINA:
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (The Triangle):
**Party rates: $125 and up 10-15 min show (additional show $75 each)
**$175 and up 15-25 min show (additional show $100 each)
**15-25 min show for wedding or other large event $200
**$225 and up for 25-30 min show ending with audience participation
**$175 and up- 10-15 min show with a group lesson (such as hen parties)
**Added costs include travel outside the Triangle, last minute bookings and double for New Years.
**Restaurants – two shows $75-$100
NORTH DAKOTA:
OHIO:
Cleveland Ohio: *Restaurants regular weekly show $75 (2 sets – average 15min ea.)
Night Clubs regular weekly show $80 (1 set 15min)
**Private Parties $125-$150 and up (1 set 20min)
Columbus, OH:
**Private parties: starting at $125 and up. Some formal events over $250 for one show **Restaurant rates: ranging from $50-75 for one show, $100-$135 for two shows **Group lessons: $10-15/hr/student **Private lessons: $35-45
Dayton and Cincinnati OH:
**party rate $200 and up. Regular venue rates: $45-$60 per show, 2 show minimum.
OKLAHOMA:
OREGON:
PENNSYLVANIA:
Philadelphia:
** Parties $175-250 ** Restaurants: 50-100 for 2 or 3 shows, except Marrekesh: 100-150/show. New gig recommendation: $75+/20 min show
PUERTO RICO:
RHODE ISLAND:
SOUTH CAROLINA:
SOUTH DAKOTA:
TENNESSEE:
TEXAS:
Dallas, Fort Worth TX:
**Restaurants: $60-80 per show or $100 for 2.**New Venues should start at a minimum of $75/20 min show. Private Party: $200-225 minimum for one set (15 min), additional $25 outside Beltway 8 but still in Houston. ** $250-$300 and up for 20-30 min show. Additional show $100 and up. **Classes: $15-20 drop in, $10-15 ea with multi class card **Private class: $40. **Hen parties with short show $300 and up. Without short show $250 and up. **Group shows- minimum $200/dancer/hr onsite
Houston, TX:
**Restaurant (2005-2006): $75 per set (15-20 min), Restaurant (2007): $100 per set (15-20 min), Private Party: $200-225 minimum for one set (15 min), additional $25 outside Beltway 8 but still in Houston. ** $250-$300 and up for 20-30 min show. Additional show $100 and up. Troupe rates: $175 PER dancer for our private parties – though sometimes a discount for more than two dancers. Bella Donna also does a signature 2-girl show 5 nights a week in Houston. We charge $100 per dancer (so $200 total) for this show and it is 30 minutes in length.
Killeen / Fort Hood (including Harker Heights and Copperas Voce areas):
**bellygrams (10-15 min) $150 and up **Hens night (1hr lesson plus mini show) $175-$225 **weddings $250 and up **restaurants $100 and up for 2x 15-20 min shows **nightclubs one off events $175 and up for up to 20 min. Regular/repeat bookings $125 and up for 2 shows up to 20 min each. **classes $40/month or $15 drop ins **private lessons $50/hr
UTAH:
Southwest utah:
**Parties $175 and up per 20 minute show
VERMONT:
New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine:
**Bellygram 10-15 minutes $125-$150, Standard Show 15-20 minutes $200 – $350 plus travel, Deluxe Show two 15 minute sets $300-$325, Add a 30 minute lesson $50 or more, Add a 60 minute lesson $100, ladies nights: $125-$250 per hour **Restaurants/ongoing: 15-20 minute show $100. Two sets with costume change, $160. Troupe Rates $75-$125 per dancer **classes $10-$15/hr
VIRGINIA:
Washington DC and Baltimore, MD greater metro areas:
** Parties $250-$400 per 20 min show ** Restaurants $85-$150 per show up to 20 minutes. New venues should be started at a minimum of $100 per show. Double or more New Years. More for mileage.
WASHINGTON (STATE):
Seattle, WA:
**clubs/restaurants: $40 and up one show, $60 and up for two **parties: starting at $125 **classes: $10-12 **privates: $35+
WEST VIRGINIA:
WISCONSIN:
Milwaukee, WI
**BellyGram – (2 songs, apprx 10 min show) $85 and up **Full Set – (apprx 20 min show) $125 and up **Performance + Mini Lesson (2 song, 10 minute performance & 30 minutes of basic instruction) $200 for up to 20 guests **Mini-Lesson only – $50 per half hour **Restaurants (waiting for more info).
WYOMING:
Common International rates
Australia:
Sydney: Restaurants $120-$150 for 2 x 12 min shows with 30 min interval.
Perth: Restaurants $80-$100 for 15-20 min show. Other venues: $100-$150 per dancer for 15-20 min show. Double New Years Eve.
Parties $200 for dancer, or $150/per dancer (if troupe) for 15-20 min show. Or $250 and up for 2 x 15 min shows.
The Netherlands:
**Restaurants: 75 euro for two 10 minute shows **Private parties: 175-200 euro for 15/20 minute show **Corporate parties: 15/20 minute show 200+ euro. **Cultural events, charity etc: 75-150 euro **Classes: 7E/hr, Private classes: 20 Euro **Bachelorette party, or party “workshop”: 2 hours, 200 E for up to 10 people. 20 E per person over 10.
Belgium:
**Classes: Paid in packages of 10- 10E/1,5 hour class; 7,5E/hour class **Studio workshops, range between 10E and 15E per hour, depending on topic and level. **Private classes, between 30-50E per hour **Introworkshops on location 125E for up to two hours. 50E per additional hour. **Bachelorette party (mini performance, 45min teaser lesson, tea session), 200 E **Parties: 1 set, 10 to 20 minutes, 175-200E; 2 sets of 10-15min each with costume change, 250-300E.
**Parties with two dancers, 150€ per dancer for the first set, 100€ for each additional set (per dancer), 300 E
**Restaurant: 1 set of 15 min, 100E.
Athens, Greece:
**Parties 200 euro + for 2 sets **Weddings 300 euro + for an hour **Restaurands 100 euro for a set **Massive Oriental Clubs 150 euro + for an hour and more **Small Oriental Cafe’s 50 for 15 min
Malta:
**10-15 min 125-150 Euro **20-40 min 250-300 Euro **costume changes 50 Euro **Christmas/New Years Eve double **waiting time 25 Euro first 30 min, 40 Euro second 30 min, max one hour between shows. *classes 6-12 Euro per hour class *12-16 Euro per class drop in rates
Germany:
**Party rate: 18-20 min show 185-215 E plus travel fee **bellygram 10-12 min show 155-175E plus travel. **Corporate show 25-35 min or more than one show 295-495 E plus travel **weekly class rates 8-10E /hr **private class rate 30-40E per hr plus studio rental fees
UK:
**private party £150-£200 for 20 minute set divided in one or 2 costume changes
£60 **restaurant gig: 3 different songs with 20-30 minutes breaks in between each one, each time with costume change£30-40/h **private lessons£70/h **workshops £9/h – drop in class (1 hour) or £8/h for drop in class (1 hour) paid in a course
Brighton, UK:
**private party – £100 – 15 min set or £150 for 20 minute set divided in one or 2 costume changes£60 **restaurant gig: 3 different songs with 20-30 minutes breaks in between each one, each time with costume change £30/h **private lessons £60-70/h – workshops
£7/h – drop in class or £6/h for drop in class paid in a course
CANADA:
Ottawa, Ontario Canada:
**Restaurants(weekly shows): $100 for one 15 minute set, $150 for two 15 minute sets on the same night **Private Parties: $175-$200 15 minute set **Weddings: $225-$250 zeffa and 15 minute set **Private lessons: $50-$100 per hour (may or may not include studio rental) **Regular classes pay: $25-$30 per hour with community centres and school boards, $40-$60 per hour at dance and fitness studios
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
**Party $110 and up for 15-20 min show (add for travel) **Hen parties 125-225 or more. **teaching minimum $25/hr