Alina Sokolova

What my show actually looks like

I work a soft line: pastel colours, light movement, no aggression at all. That sounds simple and it is the hardest thing to do well, because without force you have to fill the room with something else. With me that is a slow tempo and eye contact.

My show opens quietly. I do not walk in and announce myself, I walk in and wait to be looked at, and only then begin. In a room where everyone is talking that takes thirty seconds, and they are the most important thirty seconds I have.

A lot of my work sits in the fashion line: clean movement, close to dance, nothing crude. That makes me one of the safe choices when there are people in the room who are not sure how to feel.

Who I suit

A birthday in a flat, a couples evening, a closed company event. Any situation where you want something beautiful rather than heavy.

A stag night where the groom is shy. I do not embarrass anyone and I do not push, so even someone who tenses up at the start usually ends the evening happy.

Where I fit less: a big group wanting high energy and noise. That needs a club style, and I will tell you so in advance.

Where it works

An ordinary flat, a bright living room, a hotel room. I am one of the few who actually work well in light — my line is clean and does not need darkness to read.

Most of my work is around north Tel Aviv and Herzliya, plus a good share in hotels, where the lighting is already right.

What I do not do

I do not switch to a “harder” show even if it is asked for halfway through the evening. It is simply not what I know, and it would come out pale from me. If that is what you wanted, we have dancers whose territory it is.

No touching unless I invite it, no filming. And the show ends when it ends, with no afterwards.

How I got into this

I trained in jazz dance for eight years and wanted to go into contemporary, but at twenty I realised I do not like groups. In dance you are part of a machine, and I wanted to stand alone in front of a room.

I came to private shows by accident when a friend asked me to cover one evening. I thought I would do it once and stayed four years.

The hardest thing to learn was how not to move. Dance school teaches you to fill every second, and in a small room that is exactly what ruins it.

What I bring and what I need from you

Two pastel outfits, shoes and my music — indie pop and dream pop, nothing heavy.

From you: a chair without arms, two metres of clear floor and a speaker. The lights can stay on; with me that is not a problem and sometimes it is better.

And if it is a surprise, someone to let me in quietly. I arrive dressed normally and change in a side room, which works best when the whole room does not watch me come in.

Mistakes people make when they book me

Expecting a high energy show. I am the soft line and it says so everywhere. If you read that and booked anyway hoping for noise, we both end up disappointed.

Turning off all the lights. With me that is unnecessary. In the dark the line disappears and only a silhouette remains.

Pressuring the guest of honour. My style is built on the opposite, and if everyone is shouting at him it falls apart within a minute.

Not mentioning a partner is present. I work differently when there is one, and better. Say so in advance.

What I ask before I confirm

I ask in order to check you have booked the right dancer, because my line is soft and not everyone is looking for that.

What show you are picturing. A simple question that saves disappointment. If the answer includes energetic or loud, I will tell you straight away that I am not the one and suggest who is.

How many of you and how much has been drunk. A room of five is different from a room of twelve, and after four hours of drinking a soft line simply does not register.

Whether it is a surprise. If it is, I arrange a quiet entrance — arriving dressed normally, changing in a side room, nobody seeing me come in.

Whether a partner is present. I work differently and better, directing part of the show at both of you rather than one.

Booking me

Name, hour, address, number of guests. If it is a surprise, say so and I will arrange a quiet entrance.

Standard price, no deposit. Closest to me: Sapphir Berkovich on the fashion line and Tamar Gold for something soft and close. The gallery is here.