MEDANZ | September 2025 Update

Hello MEDANZ Community,

A New Chapter for MEDANZ

As we step into the vibrant energy of spring, I am writing to you with some important organisational updates and to share our vision for the coming year. This is a time of transition and renewed focus for our beloved association.

Leadership Transition and a Look Ahead

Firstly, I want to announce that in August, our nominated president, Majida, stepped down from her role due to personal reasons. We are immensely grateful for her contribution and wish her all the very best. As we all know, life sometimes gets in the way of our aspirations and passions, and we support her decision completely.

Following this change, and as the serving Vice President, I was encouraged to step into the role of President. I am honoured to accept this responsibility and to serve the Middle Eastern Dance Association of New Zealand.

Our Dedicated Team and Core Goals

Having served on the MEDANZ committee as a volunteer three times, I can confidently say that this year’s team is truly exceptional. We have a group of dedicated individuals who get along wonderfully, helping and respecting one another in pursuit of a common purpose. Our unwavering goal is to do our best for our members and the association.

The 2026 Festival

A major focus for us is delivering a successful Festival in April 2026. The committee is hard at work on the planning, and while we are still finalising the location, we are excited about creating another memorable event for our community.

Growing Our Community

Alongside the festival, we are committed to growing our New Zealand belly dance community. A key objective is to increase our membership, bringing more dancers together to share, learn, and celebrate this beautiful art form.

The Role of MEDANZ in the Modern Era

MEDANZ was founded many years ago, in a time before the internet, email, and social media. Back then, dancers and students struggled to find news, music, videos, or information about Middle Eastern Dance. Today, we are incredibly fortunate to have access to a world of information, with online classes, international festivals, and endless music at our fingertips.

This digital abundance has led us to reflect on the purpose of our organization today. We've asked ourselves: why does MEDANZ still matter?

The answer is clear and more important than ever: connection. In-person classes, friendships, and face-to-face meetings remain invaluable for the dancers in New Zealand. These real-world bonds are the heart of our community, and we are not going to give up on fostering them!

How to Stay Informed

To better connect with everyone and share our work, the media committee and I are actively enhancing our presence on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels. We encourage you to follow us for regular updates and community highlights.

For official business, the MEDANZ website remains your primary resource. There you can find the updated MEDANZ Constitution and the write-ups of our committee minutes, which are religiously jotted down every month by our wonderful Secretary, Jill.

A Final Thought for Spring

As we embrace this new season, I wish everyone a bright and serene Spring. I’ll leave you with an inspiring quote that beautifully captures the spirit of our art:

*Dance from a Place of GRATITUDE, LOVE and ABUNDANCE When you Dance, you are telling your story

— From the book The Secrets of Egypt - Dance, Life & Beyond - 2nd Edition by Joana Saahirah*

Faithfully,

Raffaella

President 2025/26, MEDANZ

PS: The next round of Raqs Chat will be sent out in mid October, so if you would like to connect with other MEDANZ members from around the country please tick the Raqs Chat box when updating your Account Profile on the MEDANZ website - deadline for this round is Friday 10 October 2025.

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