Heart of Samba Entertainment
- Los Angeles, CA
- Samba Dancer
- 44 Verified Bookings
Mark S. said “The dancers were on time and the costumes were beautiful. They did an outstanding job. Highly recommend!”
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I offer dance performances with partner Russian champion Vasily Golovin in all Latin styles (chacha, samba, rumba, paso doble, jive, and salsa) as well as Russian folkloric style.
I offer performance as a solo belly dancer in the complete "cabaret" styles as well as Middle Eastern and Turkisn/Balkan folk styles.
I offer solo belly dance performances with the virtuoso band Kalinka from Santa Barbara, California.
Jayilia was great, her preformance was a crowd pleaser.
Price Range: $200 - $1,050
Gig Length: 30 - 90 minutes
Languages: English, Spanish
Program 1: Solo belly dancer. This option is suitable for any event such as a birthday party, wedding, anniversary, corporate event, bar/bat mitzvah, other gathering or showcase. I offer one or two 20-minute sets, plus a short, fun participatory teaching in which I put hip scarves on volunteers and teach them some moves to follow, and end with a dance party for all for around 5 or 10 minutes, or as long as the host wants. Prices start at $200.
Program 2: Partner variety show, with Russian Champion Vasily Golovin. This option is also suitable for any event such as a birthday party, wedding, anniversary, corporate event, bar/bat mitzvah, other gathering or showcase. We offer the complete suite of Latin dances (chacha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive) in elegant costumes. We can tailor at least one of our choreographies to one of your favorite songs, if you like. We can do two sets (before and after dinner), and also offer a fun and simple class in basic chacha for all the guests. Prices start at $500.
Program 3: Solo belly dancer with musicians. This option is also suitable for any event such as a birthday party, wedding, anniversary, corporate event, bar/bat mitzvah, other gathering or showcase. We offer a range of music for the dancing and listening pleasure of the audience, including Middle Eastern, Balkan, East European, Roma, Klezmer, and Blues. Jatila will perform one or two solo dance sets, in belly dance and folkloric styles, as requested by the host. Length of performance varies according to your needs, from 30 minutes to one hour. Also included is a folk dance lesson for the guests, and plenty of time for open dancing. One option is to have the musicians play during dinner, and have the dance performance and audience participation with the musicians after dinner. Prices start at $1050.
Additional options: For any of the above options we can add one or more additional dancers. Prices will increase accordingly.
Jatila is one of the most versatile dancers in this region, performing a range of styles from Belly Dance to Latin International Ballroom style with expertise, knowledge, and grace. Said one reviewer for EdHat, "Jatila is one of my favorite dancers in our region. She throws herself into each dance with full energy and passion.” Another reviewer said of Jatila, "Her face was born for expression, and her feet for rhythm."
Jatila regularly performs as a solo belly dancer at Zaytoon Middle Eastern Restaurant in Santa Barbara, at showcases and festivals throughout the region as a Latin International Ballroom Dancer (Open Gold/Professional Level) with partner Vasily Golovin, with her ensemble "Dzhamala!," and with the versatile choreographer Harout Aristakessian.
Jatila's range of dance styles includes Belly Dance, Latin International Competitive Showcase Dance (chacha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive, with partner Vasily Golovin), Burlesque (solo and with a partner), and Traditional Folkloric Styles of the Balkans, Middle East, and former Ottoman Empire (solo, or with the band "Kalinka").
Jatila is available to perform weekends and evenings. Her price range varies according to the length of the performance, travel distance, performing solo or with a partner, and for belly dance - performing to recorded or live music. Please email Jatila at jatiladance(link hidden) for a quote, or call her at (phone number hidden).
Brief Bio: Jatila van der Veen (Ph.D.) grew up in New York City, immersed in dance from an early age. By 17 she was touring the US with a professional company. Among her credits are a government scholarship to study in South India for a year, eight years as a soloist and choreographer with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble, and ten summers of study and dance research in Bulgaria and Macedonia. She has won Gold and Silver medals at major dance competitions for her performances of the dramatic dance Paso Doble, with partner Vasily Golovin.
For more information, please see her website at (link hidden), or look for her on Face Book at (link hidden).
For Programs 1 and 2 (recorded music) I will bring music on an iPod, and require only a plug into your sound system.
For Program 3, with musicians, we will bring microphones and amplifiers, but will require some set up time.
Lighting is optional.
February 10, 2024 • 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Children’s Birthday Party |
August 27, 2022 • 8:00pm - 8:30pm | Wedding Reception |
November 27, 2021 • 7:00pm - 7:30pm | Birthday Party |
Program 1, solo belly dancer: 20-25 minutes of dance to a variety of songs from Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, and Armenia, and also Balkan Roma traditions. The set includes an opening fast-paced piece, a lyrical piece with a veil, a slow piece with a sword and floor work, a fast-paced drum solo, and several up-beat, fast-paced pieces. I dance to a range of contemporary vocalists such as Amir Diab, Nawal El Zoghbi, Nancy Ajram, Najwa Karam, and others from Egypt, Saad Lamjarred and others from Morocco, Haifa Wehbeh and others from Lebanon, Lilith Hovanessian, Sirusho, and others from Armenia, plus classical favorites such as Oum Koulthoum, Fairouz, and other classical singers.
Program 2, Latin International: We use a wide variety of popular music which fits with the beats of chacha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. Chacha songs can range from Tom Jones' "Kiss" to Mama Mia by Abba, and everything in between. Samba songs are typically from the Brazilian repertoire, but can also include Russian, French, Persian, and American aratists. Rumba songs are slow and sultry. Paso doble is typically done to the "Bullfight Song," otherwise known as "Espana Cani." Jive is like a fast-paced swing, and is danced to a wide variety of artists.
Burlesque pieces include such favorites as "Welcome to Burlesque" by Cher, "Hey Big Spender" by the Pussycat Dolls, and others.
For Program 3, with Kalinka (musicians) we offer a complete range of Balkan and Middle Eastern and Klezmer tunes, as well as some Sephardic pieces. An example of a Balkan set list includes folk dances in 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11 meters (Srbsko Kolo, Pajdushko, Makedonsko Devoiche, Racenitsa, Rompi Rompi, and Kopanitsa, for example). We work with the host to provide the program that fits the occasion.
Jatila van der Veen | dancer, choreographer |
Vasily Golovin | dancer, choreographer |
Latin International Professional Showcase Performance
American Smooth Professional Showcase Performance
Solo Belly Dance Professional Performance
Balkan and Middle Eastern traditional performance, with live musicians
Sound system for iPod plug in
For Program 3, with musicians, microphones and amplifiers.
Mark S. said “The dancers were on time and the costumes were beautiful. They did an outstanding job. Highly recommend!”
Dory F. said “First, Liz Watts is not only incredibly easy to work with -- she is a joy! Her dance performance was beautiful and she and her team were both professional…”
Ann . H. said “Jill was just incredible. Her choreography exuded grace and elegance. Beautiful movements and captivating. Will definitely be having her back.”
Franko V. said “Excellent, sweet, and gorgeous! Will book again!”