MEDANZ | Festival 2026 Update - January

Dear MEDANZ Members

Well done everyone! – we have raised our minimum target of $6,050, Festival 2026 is on its way!!

A big thank you to everyone who has bought their early bird tickets, and made this festival possible, I look forward to thanking you all in person in April. For those who have not got their tickets yet, it's not sold out, there is still plenty of room for you to join us.

The missing workshops have just been announced, with workshop details and teacher bios being added to the website over the next couple of days. We have some really fantastic tutors coming to share their knowledge and expertise, it’s going to be fabulous Festival 2026!

Saturday Open Night update – for those needing music for their placement rehearsal, we have a speaker system that can be used, you need to have your music on a player with a headphone jack (3.5mm jack).

Also, fantastic news for dancers that want PHOTOS of their stage performance! We are in talks with a professional photographer, there will be an additional fee to receive your photos. We are sorting out the details still, so can only give you this heads up now – more to follow….

We have started to receive submissions for performing on the Saturday night, there are still some slots available if you or your troupe are still deciding whether to perform or not. Filling in the form is not an automatic acceptance, MEDANZ will confirm to the successful performers by 20th Feb, 2026 remember that the cut off for the form and music return is Saturday 14th Feb 2026.

Vendor update – only $10 or a donated item for you to have a stall at the Festival 2026. We have a good variety of stall holders so far – remember it does not have to be belly dance related, but there is still room for you to join us! I’m working on getting tables still, so a further update will follow. If you want a stall, let us know by Friday 27th March 2026.

Sunday Cabaret Hafla update – we have had interest in performing on this night too, and yes there are still slots left for you to join this fabulous evening if you or your troupe are still deciding whether to perform or not. Filling in the form is not an automatic acceptance, MEDANZ will confirm to the successful performers by 20th Feb 2026 remember that the cut off date for the form and the music return is Saturday 14th Feb 2026.

Calling all angels! – now that Festival 2026 is definitely happening, we will need a group of 'angels' to help us keep things running smoothly. The main areas of responsibility are marking names off printed lists at the workshops, manning the information desk where the raffles will be sold, and helping to point lost dancers in the right direction…

Change to the AGM day – due to official needs, we have had to change the AGM to Saturday 25th April 13:00 to 14:30. You will receive the official Notice of Meeting by email in February. Please start thinking about who you would like to see on the next MEDANZ Committee, talk to your dance friends, and current committee members about the committee positons, and consider if it is time for you to actively participate in next year's committee?

Change of date for two classes – Canela Ferrara’s Poi Fusion will now be on Saturday 25th April, 09:30-11:00 and Nisha Suresh’s Bolly/Belly style choreography is now Sunday 26th April 11:30-13:00. Check the Festival Programme https://www.medanz.org.nz/events/festival/programme/ for the full Workshop list, workshop descriptions and teacher bios.

Any questions or concerns, please contact Jeena Monk at membership@medanz.org.nz

Regards,

Jeena Monk

Festival Co-Ordinator

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