Ishani Ishaya
- Portland, OR
- Fire Dancer
- 2 Verified Bookings
Michael P. said “One of the greatest shows my little town out in the middle of nowhere has ever seen. We had a Hawaiian luau for my girlfriends birthday and had about…”
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Belly dance with Henna is the celebration your party needs! Whether raqs sharqi (belly dance) is part of your culture or you are looking for a sparkly, fun addition to your festivities, Heather Louise brings polished, exciting performances each and every time.
Trained in classic Egyptian style belly dance, Heather Louise has performed for countless weddings, birthdays, bridal showers, kids' parties, and everything in between. She has honed her performance skills by dancing in restaurants, with live music, and on festival stages. There is no audience that she can't befriend. Contact her for ideas on how to incorporate belly dance into your celebration!
Good performance. Responds quickly, was prompt. She made for a delightful party!
Response from Exquisite Belly Dance by Heather Louise:
Thanks Nick!
Henna did an excellent job entertaining our guests and the birthday girl. Additionally, she was super flexible with us! Go ahead and book Henna for your next event!
Response from Exquisite Belly Dance by Heather Louise:
Thank you, Roza! It was a pleasure to dance for you and your friends :)
Henna was amazing! We hosted our son's wedding rehearsal dinner with people of varied ages, she was prompt, her dance was appropriate for the group and she was able to engage all of our guests. We were completely satisfied with her performance and highly recommend her for any event. Mark and Becky Ketcham
Price Range: $300 and up
Gig Length: 10 - 60 minutes
Languages: English, Other
Insurance: Yes
Upon booking, Heather will call to discuss the details of your event (location, time, occasion, etc). You'll receive an email with an agreement for both parties to sign. Heather is available to discuss changes or to answer any questions up until the day of the booking.
On the day!
You'll receive a text from Heather confirming and reminding you of her arrival time. She brings a sound system that is suitable for indoor or outdoor spaces. If this is an event space or ballroom, she will plug into the house sound system or meet with the DJ or band to arrange for adequate sound.
Heather arrives about 30 minutes before the start time. She will check in with you, test the sound, and take a look at the dance space. She will need a private space to change and to store her things during the performance. Please let Heather know ahead of time if this is a surprise performance.
A classic belly dance performance is about 30 minutes, or 6-7 songs with a few extra songs for dancing with you and your guests. After the performance Heather will change, pack up the sound equipment (if needed) and follow up with you in the next few days. Payment can be made ahead of time or on the day via Venmo or cash.
We understand that this is a busy day and our aim is to make it as easy as possible so that you and your guests can simply enjoy!
Heather Louise has been studying and performing belly dance since 2002. Known for her passionate expression and charming personality on stage, she danced regularly at various events and venues in Tokyo, Japan for four years before returning to the U.S. in 2009. Middle Eastern audiences enjoy her natural style and solid understanding of Arabic and Turkish rhythms and instrumentation.
Heather teaches and performs as a soloist and collaborates with the top dancers and musicians in the Northwest.
- Sound system with 1/8" plug in (headphone jack size)
- Heather brings a sound system if needed
- Floor that is flat and recently swept or vacuumed.
- If outdoors, the area should be free of debris
December 31, 2023 • 8:30pm - 9:00pm | House Party |
October 22, 2022 • 9:30pm - 10:00pm | Birthday Party |
December 31, 2013 | Birthday Party |
A mix of classic Egyptian and Lebanese songs that are suitable for raqs sharqi (belly dance). A typical set begins with a fast and dynamic entrance piece often with veil or finger cymbals for an exciting introduction. We then move into a mid-tempo piece where the guests and Heather can engage more naturally, then to a slower or moodier piece for a little drama. This is usually followed by a song with a prop like finger cymbals, cane, or a balancing prop. An impressive drum solo caps off the performance and usually inspires guests to wiggle in their seats, which is perfect for the easy to dance to pop songs that finish the set.
Heather is happy to take song requests or tailor the set to your audience. She is knowledgeable about Egyptian, Lebanese, and Turkish music and is always willing to learn more. Please feel free to share your vision with her or ask for her current set list.
Nadia Gamal, Taheya Carioka, Naima Akef, Aida Nour, Lucy of Cairo, Amani of Lebanon, Samia Gamal, Aziza, Fifi Abdo, Nabaweya Moustafa, Nagwa Fouad, Mona al Said, Nesrin Topkapı.
Space of at least 15 x 15 feet
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