Angela Merlano Oriental Dance

Audiences who experience my performances are in for a treat. Whether for a private event or for a festival, I bring the best that belly dance has to offer – beautiful props like silk fan veils, exciting sword dances, engaging crowd work, and even live music if requested. With a long rap sheet of performing at various venues and events, there's nothing I can't adapt to or have fun with. Being Arab and Latina, I know how to get a party started!

I have been professionally performing dance for the past 5 years. My work has included immersing myself in Egyptian, Iraqi, and Levantine culture to understand the music, dances, and diverse beauty of the SWANA region. With Colombian and Palestinian blood, I strive to represent the beauty of cultural arts first and foremost. Outside of performing, I am a professor of belly dance at MSU Denver, and I lead a music collective called Orientale.

I don't require much as a belly dancer. I may look like a diva, but I am very down to earth and I can manage with nearly every type of venue. That being said, if a green room/private changing area is available, it helps greatly to ensure I am ready to give the best performance possible. I can get ready before your gig, but having a secure spot to keep costumes and personal belongings is preferred. I ask that every client receives and downloads any pre-mixed music at least 12 hours before a gig to reduce changes of spotty songs or unintentional remixes. Without any exceptions, I must have a buddy attend the gig with me for safety, and to grab promotional content/help with logistics, such as commute, costume/makeup, etc. I repeat – I will not accept a gig if it requires that I come alone. Lastly, I can adapt to sound systems and use bluetooth/auxiliary plug-ins, but I recommend purchasing a sound add-on, where I bring a sound engineer with me who can supply a speaker, microphone, and soundboard.