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Every April, MEDANZ holds a 3-4 day festival to showcase its dancers and provide a series of workshops with national and international teachers for members and non members alike. Of course, being a member assures you a place at a reduced price. Even if you have never attended a belly dance festival before, it is a very worthwhile and enjoyable experience for anyone with an interest in this beautiful dance form and it's associated musical styles.

Festival History

When MEDANZ formally became an Association in 1992, its members would gather for the AGM in Auckland. In 2000 Festival was held outside of Auckland for the first time, in Christchurch. This consisted of two full days of workshops, a show where dancers could dance for each other, their friends, family and the general public, a swap and shop and the AGM. Of those who attended, many were from Christchurch. However, other members also came from Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. The following year an extra day of workshops was added along with a professional theatre venue, and a grant was received in order for Gendi to organise it.

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The MEDANZ Archive has footage of many of the early shows from 2002 (all now converted to digital media) where you can see some of the popular NZ teachers in their bellybaby phase. 

The festival has been held thoughout New Zealand, with international keynote tutors as follows:

2000 - Christchurch 
2001 - Christchurch - Keynote: Maria Masselos (Azziza) from Brisbane, QLD and Barbara Wolfkamp (Zahraa) from Melbourne VIC
2002 - Christchurch - Keynote: Azziza (QLD)
2003 - Nelson - Keynote: Azziza (QLD) and Paivi Mielikainen (NSW)
2004 - Wellington - Keynote: Azziza (QLD)
2005 - Wellington - Keynote: Shamira (Adelaide, SA)
2006 - Wellington - Keynotes: Sahara (Sydney, NSW) & Shamira (SA)
2007 - Timaru - Keynotes: Devi Mamak (Blue Mountains, NSW) Sahara (NSW) and Tina Hobin (UK)
2008 - Auckland - Keynotes: Zahraa (VIC) & Yeow (VIC) Drum
2009 - Auckland - Keynotes: Lily Tsai (Austin, Texas, USA) & Matt Stonehouse (Melbourne, VIC) Drum
2010 - Tauranga - Keynotes: Zahraa (VIC) & Matt Stonehouse (VIC) Drum
2011 - Tauranga - Keynotes: Laura Bucknall & Kathy Sheean (Las Hermanas) NSW
2012 - Dunedin - Keynotes: Melusina (VIC) & Andy Busuttil (NSW) 
2013 - Dunedin - Keynotes: Darshan (USA) & Alan Burden (Wellington) Drum
2014 - Orewa (Auckland) - Keynotes: Ava Fleming (USA) & Karim Nagi (USA) Drum
2015 - Christchurch - Keynotes: Nerissa (QLD) & Evangeline (SA)
2016 - Wellington - Keynotes: Leila Haddad (Paris, France) & Alice Knox (QLD)
2017 - Christchurch - Keynotes: Kami Liddle (USA), Zaghareet Daniela (EGY/SVK), Doug Brush (USA/AUS) and Bilge Özgün (TUR/AUS)
2018 - Napier - Keynote: Saqra (USA)

2019 - Auckland

2020 - No festival held, AGM by Zoom - Covid 19 - NZ in lockdown Level 4.

2021 - Nelson - All NZ Teachers 

2022 - Online & Orewa Auckland - All NZ Teachers

2023 - Wellington - All NZ Teachers

2024 - Christchurch - All NZ Tutors - a community Fundraised event

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Each year the festival has improved and changed, using feedback from the previous years attendees and current members to guide keynote choices and Festival format and timing.

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Over the Festival weekend the Show, Open Stage (at the Bazaar) and the Hafla are popular performance platforms with groups and soloists from all over the country submitting items each year and often planning work especially for the MEDANZ festival.