Wollongong Belly Dance Festival in Wollongong, New South Wales | Sport & recreation

Wollongong Belly Dance Festival

Locality: Wollongong, New South Wales

Phone: +61 2 4226 1861

Address: 6 Kenny St 2500 Wollongong, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.bellydancefestival.com.au

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• Dance studio

23.01.2022 Stallholder applications open! Do you have costumes, clothes, great stuff dancers would love to buy? Send your application in now!

22.01.2022 We'd like to say a big thank you to our generous Sponsors for Wollongong Belly Dance Festival 2017

22.01.2022 Meet the Teachers - Kirsty Kirsty is an established Canberra dance artist specialising in performing arts of the Near East. She is recognised within the Canberra region as an expert in her field and a dynamic and versatile dancer. Kirsty’s teaching style places a strong emphasis on feeling, musical interpretation and having fun. In her workshop, Around the World: Social Dance Extravaganza, Kirsty will delve into the dance styles of popular music scenes and social dance style...s from Greece, Turkey, Azerbaijan, the Gulf, Iran, Lebanon and Egypt. Social dance is the essence of celebratory occasions in the Middle-East. Each region has its own music and style for special occasions and parties. Participants will explore the specific social cues, nuances in the dances, and subtlety in dance technique of each country. Kirsty’s dance tuition first began in her teens with Western theatrical styles including ballet and contemporary dance. Her passion for dance that has led her to dedicate her academic study to the history, culture, languages, and politics of the dance. She has undertaken training with national and international master belly dance instructors, been a finalist in Amera’s Palace Belly Dance Star Awards (2010), danced alongside Turkish pop starts Fatih Urek and Tanyeli (2011), and has appeared as a guest artist with the prestigious Hathor Dance Theatre numerous times including the Bozenka Show (2011), Hadia Showcase (2014) and Aziza (2015).

20.01.2022 Meet the Teachers - Virginia Virginia is the director and principal of Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance, the Illawarra's largest centre for the study of traditional Middle Eastern dance and contemporary belly dance, and also director/producer of Wollongong Belly Dance Festival. An experienced and dynamic performer Virginia is well known for her charismatic stage presence and down to earth teaching style. This year she’ll be presenting a workshop on Moroccan Chaabi, exploring the rh...ythm, technique, and movements that are typical of Moroccan style set to upbeat modern music. The dance is earthy and joyous in nature and a whole lot of fun. Virginia has traveled extensively to study, teach and perform the art of belly dance. Her specialities include Egyptian, Turkish and North African dance. She is a regular guest artist at Australia's major belly dance festivals and continues to travel regularly to hone her skills. See Virginia and Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance perform at the Saturday Market Bazaar Showcase and Emeralds of the East Belly Dance Theatre Show on Sunday evening.

20.01.2022 Hello Everyone! We know some of you have been eagerly awaiting news of WBDF next year, I would like to thank you all for your patience and your support of previous festivals. I’m writing to let you know that for reasons wholly to do with the changing needs of my family, the festival will be on hold next year. My eldest daughter is getting ready to transition to high school and I need to be present and available during 2019. Don’t worry though - WBDF festival will be back! Pl...ease stay in the group and on our page and we’ll let you know when the cogs are in motion for the next big event! Yours in shimmies, Virginia See more

19.01.2022 Meet the Meerkats! Our 5 festival meerkats are working hard (and having fun!) behind the scenes to bring you an amazing festival experience. We're here to answer your questions and help find the things you need throughout the weekend. By way of introduction we'd like to share in the comments below our favourite festival memories, the workshops we're excited for and some great tips about our home town.

18.01.2022 Meet the teachers - Cristie Cristie has been dancing for 14 years after seeing Ghawazi Caravan on stage and having that magic moment that many of us experience I want to do THAT! or rather, not only ‘do’ that, but ‘BE’ that! Imagine her bliss when, after much training and focus, she joined that troupe and has been passionately performing, learning and co-teaching with them ever since. Snake! Tribal Fusion will have Cristie and her students working with slow gooey moves, qui...ck isolations, surprising mood changes, light and shade in a haunting and emotive chiftitelli piece, with plenty of movement ideas and combos for your own repertoire. Cristie teaches American Tribal Style (ATS ) and Tribal Fusion at Amera’s Palace and directs the troupe, Oreades Tribal Bellydance. If that wasn’t enough fun, Cristie performs in the trio, Bohemia, with Ali and Alex of Kush Cabaret, ‘painting a luxurious picture of vintage decadence, combining clarinet, Egyptian tabla, and Tribal Fusion dance’. Along with intensive training and performing with Devi Mamak, Cristie has studied with local and international teachers in a range of styles, but especially with Carolena Nerricio, including traveling to the FatChance BellyDance studio, San Francisco, in 2004 and 2011, completing ATS General Skills Certificate in 2007 with a ‘top up’ in 2009. She took Devi’s intensive Ghawazi Caravan Teacher Training program in 2008 and 2013.

18.01.2022 Tourist trail! First stop Kangaroos!

16.01.2022 Just in case you needed a bit more Esmeralda inspiration... LOVE!

11.01.2022 The Emeralds of the East DVDs are ready! Don't miss out on your copy of the sensational show starring Esmeralda Colabone and Darren Ho! Order online or local Wollongong customers welcome to collect from Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance by appointment. Online here: http://www.bellydancefestival.com.au/merchandise-shop.html $45 pick up local (or $5 extra for postage in Oz)... *Troupe leader / soloist discount $40 (pick up, or $5 extra for postage in Oz). *Discounts not available on Combo Deal payments payments made before 1st Aug *Performers - individual clips of your performances may be purchased directly through me. I will PM you with details next week!

09.01.2022 This is Wollongong #welovethegong

09.01.2022 Woooohooooo! #ItsOn #wbdf2017

07.01.2022 Meet the Teachers - Ekaterini Her expression of bellydance is elegant, authentic and polished, bringing presence and natural musicality to her performances. Her professionalism, dedication and passion to impart the beauty and integrity of Oriental dance make her a highly sought after teacher in Melbourne. Ekaterini will be teaching Soulful Saiidi, the earthy Egyptian folkloric dance incorporating lively steps and playful attitude, through a super fun and uplifting Saiidi chor...eography. The dance uses strong Saiidi technique without losing the grace and femininity. Founded by Ekaterini in 2010, Bellydance Bohemia has rapidly grown to be one of Melbourne's most recognised belly dance schools and entertainment agencies, entertaining audiences across the region and hosting an annual school concert which showcases the talent of students as well as local Middle Eastern musicians and professional dancers.

07.01.2022 As you know, the Meerkat festival committee take great pride in their work - here you see them toiling away, working hard for you by testing the cocktails for the upcoming Glittering Cocktail event for our valued Golden Ticket holders. Your enjoyment is our mission. #meerkatwork #WollongongBellyDanceFestival #GongBellyFest #cocktailtesting #qualitycontrol #yeptheyaregood

07.01.2022 Moroccan Indulgence in full swing! Delicious BBQ, mint tea in hand, baklava ... and film screening begun!

06.01.2022 Esmeralda Colabone is on her way to Australia to join us at Wollongong Belly Dance Festival 2017. We look forward to experiencing all she has to offer. We wish you safe travels. You will love Australia! #gongbellyfest #bellydance #esmeralda

06.01.2022 Now that you’ve met our wonderful Meerkat Committee it’s time to meet our fabulous teachers, starting with our very special headline guest Wollongong Belly Dance Festival is proud to present for the first time in Australia, Esmeralda! Presenting 4 signature workshops PLUS an Intensive Master Class, and starring in the Emeralds of the East belly dance theatre show, Esmeralda brings her sassy individualism and spirited exuberance direct to Wollongong - an opportunity not to ...be missed! A Master Teacher, Esmeralda will share her signature style and extensive experience through workshops in Lebanese Belly Dance, Tunisian, Beautiful Baladi, Drum Solo and a Technique Master Class for Advanced and Professional dancers. Esmeralda began her dance journey at the tender age of 4, studying ballet, jazz, contemporary and starting a career as a professional ballerina at a very young age. By her 16th birthday she had become infatuated with belly dancing, she explains I saw it as representing freedom it gave me the freedom to express what I wanted, and the way to express it, technically and emotionally. She has travelled and performed all over the Middle East and performed in some of the top 5 star hotels. Esmeralda became one of the most successful Brazilian dancers across the Arab world, South America and the Maghreb. She now runs a successful dance school Dancesmeralda [ www.dancesmeralda.com ] in São Paulo. We’re so excited to host Esmeralda for Wollongong Belly Dance Festival 2017.

06.01.2022 Meet the teachers - Johara Johara is an established performer and teacher based in Sydney. She has a wealth of knowledge having studied with many Australian and international teachers. Johara travels regularly to Egypt to further enhance her technique and style and immerse herself in Arabic culture. Johara's students enjoy her detailed knowledge, technical skill and precision, as well as her deep understanding of body mechanics. For early learners of belly dance the many topi...cs and styles can seem a little daunting. In her fun and informative introductory workshop Johara will take students through the fundamentals of belly dance movement. Intro to Belly Dance: with veil and zills will teach some key dance steps using hips, upper body, and traveling and how to put them together. Additionally you will learn how to move with a dance 'veil' and try finger cymbals (zills)! Her resume and her dancing are impressive and varied, which reflects her passion and love for the dance. A regular favourite at WAMED Festival (Perth), Newcastle Festival and Bahar Bayram Camp (Qld), Johara was invited to teach in Finland this June and is looking forward to presenting her latest workshop for beginner students at this years Wollongong Belly Dance Festival.

05.01.2022 Did you buy a new hip belt at the Bazaar and forget to take it with you? Found in the change rooms, please come chat to one of the meerkats if you think it might be yours.

05.01.2022 Meet the teachers - Rita A beauty professional since 2005, Rita has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to makeup, skin and brows. She truly believes in the power of AHA's, Vitamins A+C+E to maintain skin health and help with skin concerns, while creating a healthy canvas for makeup application. Her makeup style is about achieving a natural flawless finish to your complexion and gorgeous eyes that glow. This year we bring an exciting new workshop to Wollongong ...Belly Dance Festival - Stage Makeup 101: Everything you wanted to know about stage makeup! In this fun hands-on workshop Rita will take you through the Top 20 products to have in your makeup bag. She will demonstrate an Oriental Dancer's glamour look on a model participant then participants will apply the look on their face with Rita's guidance. Some highlights & tips and tricks include - base, conceal, contour, plus Arabic eyes and perfect lash application. In her time in the industry she has worked for numerous clinics, spas and luxury makeup houses from Chanel, Benefit cosmetics and Yves Saint Laurent. Even though Rita is a fully qualified and experienced beauty therapist and makeup artist she has chosen to specialise in Bridal Makeup, Brows, Skin Treatments. We're so happy to have so many wonderful teachers and workshops this year, there's certainly something for everyone!

05.01.2022 Meet the Teachers - The Ruby Lady Born and bred in Christchurch New Zealand, The Ruby Lady is now a jet setting international Belly Dance and Folklore performer who is steadily forming an illustrious dance career. She has been hosted for workshops in every major city in her home country of New Zealand where she has taught with passion and generosity to sold out audiences. She has also taught in festivals and private studios in Australia, the United States and in the Nile Grou...p Festival in Cairo. The Ruby Lady joins us in Wollongong for an intense workshop that’s all about Killer Technique and taking your dance to the next level, exploring new drills, techniques and exercises that will have you training like the professionals. Muscular accents, well executed footwork, layers and loose juicy shimmies will be deconstructed, reconstructed, drilled, blasted and mastered. The Ruby Lady has dedicated her life to studying this dance form, all the way from the cultural and aesthetic roots to the contemporary branches and beyond, and has traveled across the globe in pursuit of further knowledge and understanding of belly dance, the body and creativity. It is, and always will be, her most important goal in life to share the liberation that she herself has found through learning, teaching and performing the art of belly dance.

04.01.2022 UPDATE - Rita's Makeup 101 workshop is now *SOLD OUT* Still yet to book into your workshops for Wollongong Belly Dance Festival? Don't wait - spots are filling up!

04.01.2022 Festival Director Virginia Keft is shaking it up Moroccan Chaabi style! A challenging but fun filled workshops in a style Virginia is well known for.

04.01.2022 Esmeralda is in Oz! First stop - SOLD OUT Baladi workshop. Esmeralda is kicking of her Wollongong Belly Dane Festival fun and sharing some of that charisma she is renowned for.

04.01.2022 Can you believe it?? It's officially THIS WEEK! Eeeeeeeee!!

03.01.2022 Meet the teachers - Jamal Come and be inspired by one of Australia's master tabla players our Arabic Drumming workshop with Jamal, open to all levels. Give it a go, you’ll be hooked. Great for musicians and especially dancers who will appreciate understanding the common Arabic rhythms from another perspective. Master Tabla player Jamal Zraika is well known for his exceptional technique, vibrant performances, and outstanding teaching skills. He displays a unique musical sensitivity and ability to improvise and embellish the patterns familiar to Arabic Music. Jamal - better known as Mr. Tabla - is one of the most acclaimed performers of the Sydney Arabic music scene.

03.01.2022 ONLINE BOOKINGS CLOSE THIS WEEK! www.bellydancefestival.com.au

02.01.2022 Hands up who is excited?! It's not too late to seize for yourself one of the LAST remaining tickets to Emeralds of the East: Belly Dance Gala! This night of nights starring the one and only Esmeralda Colabone of Brazil is almost upon us! Showreel by BAM Studios.

02.01.2022 OK FOLKS, Time is nearly up.... ONLINE BOOKINGS CLOSE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! *Last chance for workshop bookings! *Festival events! *Performance bookings - 3 spots for Potluck remaining!! http://www.bellydancefestival.com.au/

01.01.2022 LAST CHANCE! Online Bookings close in 12 days! www.bellydancefestival.com.au