REMEMBER:  There is *NO* workshop requirement to compete at Bellydancer of the Universe Competition!

If you are entering a 2026 Global or Regional Event,
you may select any of the styles on this page
or submit a style of your own!

Please take us up on *both* the Live and Virtual options to increase your chances of winning!

Global Bellydancer of the Universe ® Competition XXXVI
Sunday August 16, 2026 1-6pm
Assistance League Theatre, Hollywood, California!

Join the Global Experience.

Bellydancer of the Universe Virtual Queen XXXVI Requirements:

Submissions: July 10, 2026 - or until full.
Judging:  July 12 - 17, 2026

Solos:  2:30 - 3:00 minutes   ;   Groups:  5:00 - 5:30 minutes

Winner becomes one of the Totally Live Improve Finalists, be a soloist or group, performing with the Bellydancer of the Universe Orchestra, and a chance at the $3000 Grand Prize, on the day of the event: August 16, live on stage, in Hollywood CA USA! 

If you cannot join us on August 16, 2026, a $200 Cash Prize, plus title, will be yours!

You can enter the Bellydancer of the Universe ® XXXVI Virtual Queen Competition with any performance and style you wish, as many times as you wish!

To Compete, please fill out the Registration Form ; List *all* the styles you are competing in, and include a screenshot of your payment as an attachment, and email to BDUCVideos@gmail.com

Please define your particular choice in your style:
Examples:   1) Folkloric - Assaya/Tatib   ;   2) Egyptian - Megance  ;  3) Fusion - Zambra Mora

Once Registration and Payment has been received, we will email you a detailed packet with important information including dressing room, video, and scoring information.

When your videos are ready, please put them up on our YouTube link, listed in the Information Packet emailed to you.

Finally, you will need to email ( BDUCVideos@gmail com ) your submission confirmation, payment receipt, and an 8x10 clear photo of you, please send as an attachment.

Props can be used where appropriate to the music and style of dance.

You may use videos from a another competition, stage show, private party, showcase, etc.  However, you must blur any publicity or logo info within your video.  There are videos on YouTube on how to do this.

Please edit your video to the proper time and submit it to the proper category. Your video will be submitted in the category *you* are requesting. Video must be RECENT.

Please, you *MUST* register, pay, and confirm receipt of the rules and important video information in your welcome packet, before your video will be accepted.

Live Performance Entries: 

Solos:  2:30 - 3:00 minutes
Groups (2+ dancers):  5:00 - 5:30 minutes

No Video Requirement.

Show up on August 16, 2026, "Camera-Ready" and check-in at the Assistance League Theater. Competition begins *promptly* at 1pm, with pre-recorded music of your choice. Your musical performance choice should be submitted 2 weeks piror to the event, via a link that will be in the Contestant Info Packet.

PLEASE: bring your iPhone with adapter, with your music on it as a back-up

To Compete, please fill out the Registration Form ; List *all* the styles you are competing in, include a screenshot of your payment and an 8x10 clear photo of you, as attachments, and email to BDUCVideos@gmail.com

Please define your particular choice in your style:
Examples:  1) Folkloric - Assaya / Tatib ; 2) Egyptian - Megance ; 3) Fusion - Zambra Mora

Once Registration and Payment has been received, we will email you a detailed packet with important information including dressing room, video, and scoring information.

       ~ Acceptable Competitive Styles ~

Applies to Virtual and Live Events!   All styles are open to *ALL*

For updates on the Bellydancer of the Universe ® Competition,
please go to our *Official* FB page and give us a 'Like'!

Click here to go to our Official FB page!  

Solo Categories - 2:30 - 3:00 minutes:

Virtual Contestants:  $65 ea Style you enter

Live Contestants: Price:   $125 ea Style you enter

Groups (2+ dancers) - 5:00 - 5:30 minutes:

Virtual Contestants:

Price:  $100 for 2 dancers and $65 for each additional dancer


Live Contestants:

Price:  $200 for 2 dancers and $65 for each additional dancer

Pay via Venmo or PayPal using email: BDUCVideos@gmail.com

Registration Form ($3.00 non-refundable processing fee by Constant Contact will be added at Check Out):  BDUC 36 Registration Form

GOD/GODDESS OF THE UNIVERSE SOLO:   No one under 45 yrs old.

The highest scoring Goddess out of the Preliminary Performances on August 16, will go to the Finals along with 3 other Finalists and the Virtual Queen to compete *live* for $3600 in Cash:  $3000 for Global Queen ; $300 for 1st Place ; $200 for 2nd Place ; $100 for 1st place.

You may choose any style we offer, props are allowed.

*REMEMBER: this is a belly dancing competition so you must belly dance during some portion of the routine.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

LIVE ZIL IMPROV:   18+

*Live* with Drummers at BDUC 36, on August 16, 2026 - in the Oasis Courtyard, a $100 cash price, plus classes & gifts.     Sponsor:   Mesmera.com !

$65 to Enter

Live Interactive Fundraiser - $50 of each Zil registration will be donated to SPCA Best Friends Animal Society or Breast Cancer Research - your choice.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

GROUP - Age 18+, ANY STYLE / Group Props Allowed

2+ dancers ; 5:00 - 5:30 minutes

Adults only.

This is a creative category, props acceptable.

ANY Style of belly dancin allowed. Example: Fusion, Cabaret, Egyptian, etc

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

FUSION SOLO:   AGE: 18+

Fusing Bellydance music and movement with any other legitimate dance form and music.

Fusion Solo: belly dance blended with other traditional or authentic dance styles.

Examples: tribal-fusion, poly-belly, Flamenco, Bollywood, Modern, Improv, Zambra Mora etc.

*REMEMBER: this is a belly dancing competition so you must belly dance during some portion of the routine.

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

FOLKLORIC SOLO:   AGE: 18+

Any folklore style from any Region of a country that embraces the dance. Props are allowed.

Traditional costuming and music are required, and the choreography must reflect the style chosen.

You must focus on the one style you have chosen. Music, Costuming, and Choreography *must* reflect the style chosen.

~ * Authentic Music Requested. * ~

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

EGYPTIAN SOLO:   AGE: 18+

Enter to any song you wish, Golden Era, Egyptian Cabaret, Raqs Sharqi, or Megance ; bring your soul to the stage!

Choose your own music!!!

No separate drum solo is required unless it is within the musical piece.

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

RETRO AMERICAN CABARET - 5 Parts - SOLO, THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE:  AGE: 18+

Drum Solo is optional.  Choose your own music!!!  

NOTE: You *must* follow this sequence in your dance:

1) Enter with a fast rhythm.

2) Go into any slow rhythm, veil required. Floor work is welcome, but not required.
(No props other than zils and one veil of any kind (rectangular or circular) allowed in this category.)

3) Fast.

4) Finish with a Finale!

5) Must play Zils proficiently!

*YOU MUST USE VEIL AND PLAY ZILS DURING SOME PORTION OF YOUR ROUTINE OR YOU WILL NOT QUALIFY TO WIN THIS CATEGORY!


Floorwork is welcome, but not mandatory.

* Please, NO OTHER PROPS ALLOWED in this category!

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

DRUM SOLO:   AGE: 18+

Any combination of Middle Eastern or World Ethnic Rhythms is acceptable.

Choose your own music!!!

REMEMBER: this is a bellydancing Competition so please mix Bellydance rhythms and movement with any other rhythms you choose.

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

TAQSIM or TAXSIM / BELADI TAQSIM SOLO:   AGE: 18+

Choose your own music!!!     ~ Do NOT include a drum solo! ~

Just Bring your internal beauty and externalize it on the stage!

The most tradiitional instruments used for taxsim are the oud, kanoun, nay, buzuq, rebab. Often, other instruments adopted from western music are used as well, such as violin, cello, accordion, flute, clarinet and even guitar or saxophone.

It is a beautiful part of many Arabic and Turkish musical compositions and performances ; as dancers we will often come across a piece of music that contains a taqsim.

Beladi Taqsim:   Traditionally, Beladi music has a framework that is divided into sections, during which musicians and dancers improvise to.  Taqsim is one of those secions, and is melody without percussions, played originally on an oud, and more recently on accordion, sax, or keyboard.  The dancer dances on a spot with small and contained movements.  Usually the dancer sways to long notes (called awwady) and shimmies to tremolando sound.    (https://www.worldbellydance.com/baladi-and-shaabi/)

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

TURKISH:   AGE: 18+

Choose your own music!   Zils Optional.

Turkish-style belly dance is lively, athletic, "aggressive", and floor-oriented. &Nbsp It is also known for their use of zils.

It uses large, full-body moves like leaps, kicks, spins, and often includes drops, splits, and backbends.

Costume should reflect the style.

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

LEBANESE:   AGE: 18+

Choose your own music!   Zils Optional.

Labanese-style belly dance is an energetic, theatrical, and fast-paced style lending Subtle Technique with Lively Athleticism - it is recognized  by their use of the 9/8 rhythms, zils and frequent wearing of high heels!  

It is characterized by rapid, layered shimmies, intricate hip work, frequent use of floor space and incorporates folkloric elements like Dabke.

Costume should reflect the style.

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

Workshop and Performance opportunities in Southwest Region of USA ; Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area ; Southern California/Los Angeles Area ; plus Global Opportunities pending mutual agreement.

Zambra Mora is a traditional, often barefoot, Andalusian flamenco dance, specifically from the Romani (Gitano) communities of Granada and Almeria. It features significant, historical, and stylistic, links to Arab-Andalusian, Moorish culture and bellydance.

It is characterized by a less rigid  and more improvisational rhythms than traditional flamenco, and often incorporating musical games and songs.



The Difference between Lebanese and Turkish Style Bellydance

Lebanese Bellydance is characterized by its high-eneergy "up" Cabaret Style that blends Egyptian elegance with Turkish theatricality. It features intricate arm movements, 9/8 rhythms, and the frequent use of high heels.

Turkish-style Bellydance is more athletic, aggressive, and floor-oriented. It incorporates high kick, deep bakcbends, and a Romani-influenced flair.

A Key Difference between Lebanese and Turkish Bellydance:   Lebanese is energetic, but refined and features "hoppy" / bouncy movements.

HALL OF FAME:   Any 3 solo wins in any category, any year, at any time.

TRIPLE THREAT:   Win any 3 categories at any one event.

PLEASE!! NO FLAME OR NUDITY and NO LIVE ANIMALS IN ANY CATEGORY!
YOU MUST REMAIN ON STAGE DURING YOUR ENTIRE PERFORMANCE!

Good Luck and remember........

"Reach for the moon... if you miss you will still be among the stars!"- Les Brown