News & Updates
Community stories, updates and partner features from the New Zealand belly dance world.
Greetings MEDANZ Members, Firstly, let me apologize for the lengthy delay between updates! This committee has been challenged by sickness, technical difficulties, well deserved holidays and a whole host of other minor things since Festival…
Special offer to MEDANZ Members! You loved it at Festival 26 in Orewa, but if you didn't get the chance to attend, or you would like to attend this workshop again, Nisha is giving you the opportunity to do her Bolly-Belly Dance Workshop in…
Hi all, I'm sorry this is very, very late in getting this out to you. Attached is a map of the venue for the weekend. If you are driving to Orewa College you can park in the carparks in either gate 1 or gate 2. Orewa College, 76 Riverside…
Well hello all! What a busy last week it has been! The final organising for Festival 2026 is well underway. It is great to see that tickets are still being purchased - don't forget you can purchase tickets for your supporters to come along…
Hello all, My goodness time has been zooming past sooooo quickly! We are getting close to the sharp end of organising for Festival 2026...... Apologies for the length of this update, but we have had a few things happen since the last…
Hello all, Well, as you can imagine, things are getting rather busy with the behind the scenes organising of the fantastic Festival 2026 we have coming up in just 2 months time! We have a few things to update you on, and announce too!…
Dear MEDANZ Members Over the past two months, our focus has been firmly on the preparation and organisation of the MEDANZ Festival 2026 in Orewa, Auckland over Anzac Weekend. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who registered early…
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…
I still remember the first time I met Helen as vividly as if it were yesterday. It had been a long day after work, and a few girlfriends and I went to the famous Bodrum Turkish restaurant in Newmarket. I had never been there before and was…
MEDANZ FESTIVAL 2026 - OREWA, AUCKLAND, 24-26 APRIL Greetings MEDANZ Members Here we go all! Time to buy tickets and look forward to a simply fantastic Festival 2026!! I know that there is still lots of info that you will be wanting, and…
MEDANZ FESTIVAL 2026 - OREWA, AUCKLAND Since my last update, things have been progressing well. Many dancers from various parts of New Zealand have joined as new MEDANZ members. We also have a fabulous lineup of tutors (yet to be…
Spring is finally here! With longer days and blooming flowers all around, I hope you are feeling this refreshing energy in your daily life and in your dance. It is such a joyful time to be a part of our vibrant community! I am really…
Art of Raqs is a fundraising site, offering ethically and sustainably produced merch for "serious movers and shakers." I'm drawing from my history as a graphic artist, uniting my love of dance with my care for the people who originated the…
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…
Hello, I'm Gillian. My bellydance journey began in 2002, and for over two decades, it has been a journey of constant learning and evolution. I started learning and performing Cabaret style under the wonderful Monique Feron, and since 2010…
The new MEDANZ committee welcomes you to another engaging year of belly dance events around the country, connecting belly dancers of all styles and skill levels. If you are interested in the background story of your committee members who…
Well hello everybody! Thank you all so much for becoming a member of MEDANZ. We are such a small community in a small country and it seems so odd to know there is so much home grown talent out there and hardly any of our local populace…
Interviewee: Asli Rakkas Interviewer: Setsuna S: I'd like to start off by talking about elements of Turkish oryantal dance. If I were, say, in the dance community, how would I be able to know what Turkish oryantal dance? A: That's a good…
Thank you to all of our members who have already purchased tickets to our upcoming Festival in Palmerston North in April, we really appreciate your contribution, and are looking forward to celebrating our evolving dance style with you over…
It's 2025 and we hope you're all back on track after a restful break for a wonderful year of dance! Dancing, alone or with friends, is one of the healthiest, easiest ways to boost your mood. But making a commitment to doing it is sometimes…
Greetings MEDANZ Members! Wishing you all a restful and happy holiday season, may you enjoy some time with family and friends over this summer time. MEDANZ FESTIVAL 2025 TUTOR ANNOUNCEMENTS Following the October announcement of our three…
MEDANZ FESTIVAL 2025 TICKETS The last of the early bird tickets are now available for purchase at a 25% discount of $187.50. Once sold, there will be no further discounted tickets available, so if you are attending festival and wish to…
MEDANZ FESTIVAL 2025 TICKETS There are now only 16 early bird tickets remaining for purchase at a 25% discount of $187.50. When these tickets are sold, the full price of $250.00 will apply. Now is the best time to buy! HEADLINE FESTIVAL…
We are excited to announce that MEDANZ Festival 2025 will be held at Danceworks Studios, 62 King Street, Palmerston North. Danceworks have six beautiful studios, and we have booked 3 of them for the belly dance workshops. Festival 2025…
We are excited to launch our new Partner Programme designed to connect students with teachers, and assist with the promotion of events hosted by MEDANZ members who are teachers. If your dance school already appears in our dance tuition…
MEDANZ members can now connect online in small groups of 3 dancers from different regions of New Zealand, find out what's going on, what others are working on, what inspires them etc. The groups can be a one-off online meeting or you may…
Be part of New Zealand's premier belly dance event in 2025! Purchase your Early Bird Festival 2025 ticket with a 25% discount. Limited to 30 tickets. Payments are accepted via Stripe with your credit or debit card. Just $187.50 including…
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