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==>   Reserve Your Spot Now for the next Bellydancer of the Universe Competition -- Open to the Public!

You may submit the same video in more than one category, as long as it meets the category criteria.

You may submit videos from other competitions, shows, showcase, or event, as long as any logos, PR, announcements, or branding is eliminated from the video by scrubbing it. Please use this link for directions on how to do that:   https://youtu.be/BsRPwEr5ON4






 NO Refunds For Contestants in any of our Competitions.
We are not responsible for any injury or financial loss.  Thank you.

NOTE:   We reserve the right to cancel or change the event and/or location, judges, teachers, etc at any time.
We are not responsible for any financial losses to you personally as a contestant, vendor, or attendee.

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


If you are entering a 2024 Global or Regional Event,
you may select any of the categories on this page!



See you at the 34th Global Bellydancer of the Universe ®
August 11, 2024 - Assistance League Theatre, Hollywood, California!

Join the Global Experience. One video can change your life!


Instructions below pertain to the 2024 Competitions.

You can enter the competition with ANY performance you wish, but, your video is NOT to contain any business logo or visual promotional material, or verbal announcement during the performance.

You may use videos from a another competition, stage show, private party, showcase, etc.  However, you must blur/ scrub any publicity (link below the red Enter Now) and edit 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 a 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.



 ENTER NOW!

Youtube video on how to blur / scrub parts of your video: https://youtu.be/BsRPwEr5ON4


       ~ Category Information ~


Applies to Virtual and Live Events!   All categories 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!



There are 5 Recorded Choreography Categories in which you choose your own music to compose a Choregoraphy of your choice, listed below.

Group, God/Goddess, Fusion, Folkloric, Prop.

Finalists are chosen by their video submission, and will dance live to their recorded music, recreating their vidoe submission choreography, on Stage, August 11, 2024.

Solo Categories: $125 ea / PayPal $130    ;    Groups: $110 per person / PayPal $115

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


GROUP - ALL AGES, ANY STYLE / Group Props Allowed

ALL AGES and STYLE GROUP, 2 - 6 dancers - no more than 6 dancers.

3:30 - 4:00 minutes max. (2 - 6 people, all ages, any style)

That means ALL ages are welcome in this category, or combine all ages into one group.  Adults only or Adults and Children  NO Children Only Groups allowed.

Props acceptable.

ANY Style of belly dancing 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.


GOD/GODDESS OF THE UNIVERSE SOLO:   AGE: 18+

No one under 45 yrs old.   

2:30 to 2:45 minute routine, any style we offer.   

*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.


FUSION SOLO:   AGE: 18+

2:30 to 2:45 minute routine.

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, tribal-fusion, poly-belly, Flamenco, East Indian, Modern, Improv etc....

If you are performing to Fusion Music with a prop, it should go in the Speciality Prop Category.

*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+

2:30 to 2:45 minute routine. You must choose one of the dances below for your performance. Please do not combine dances

Ghawazi:   Zils Allowed
Maleya Lef:   Maleya is Required.
Tahtib / Assaya:   Multiples Allowed.
Traditional Shaabi
Mahraganat

Traditional music and costuming are required in this category.

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.


SPECIALTY PROP SOLO - ANY STYLE:   AGE: 18+

2:30 to 2:45 minute routine.

This category is to show proficiently and continuously with ONE OR MORE PROPS, same or different type of prop. Props should be used proficiently and continuously throughout the routine in a *seamless* 2:30 - 2:45 solo.

It can include veil (s) (circular, double, rectangular) ; Poi ; Capes ; Isis Wings ; Fans ; Sword (single or double) ; Shamadan ; Tray ; Cane ; Stick, etc.

Can include balancing, flipping quarters, dancing on glasses, etc.

Please specify type of prop you will be using. Any questions, please email us.

This is a BDUC original signature copyright format.

*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.

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.


4 LIVE Music Improvisational Categories!
Music provided by Oudist, Viken Najarian and The Bellydancer of the Universe Orchestra!

The 4 Categories that will be doing a *Live Final* are:   Egyptian, Retro American Cabaret, Drum Solo, and Taxsim

The 3 Semi-Finalists in each of the 4 Live Categories will dance to Live Music, on Stage, August 11, 2024, to music that is unknown to them.


EGYPTIAN SOLO:   AGE: 18+

  2:30 - 2:45 minute routine

Enter to any song you wish, Egyptian Cabaret, Raqs Sharqi, or Megance ; you may use veil as a prop only for the entrance in the Egyptian category. No Props, just bring your soul to the stage!

Choose your own music!!!

No separate drum solo is required....however, it is acceptable to have a drum solo if 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+

  2:30 - 2:45 minute routine

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) Add a Drum Solo.

5) Must play Zils proficiently!

6) Finish with a Finale!


*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+

2:30 to 2:45 minute routine.

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+

2:30 to 2:45 minute routine.

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.


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



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Bellydancer of the Universe® Competitions


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