Update October 2025

MEDANZ | October 2025 Update

By Raffaella Cruickshank  ·  20 October 2025

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 excited to share that I will be heading to Cairo this November with an amazing group of belly dancers, organized by Candice from Phoenix Belly Dance. We will spend two exciting weeks exploring, dancing, attending workshops, doing some shopping, enjoying delicious local food, and immersing ourselves in the beautiful culture of Raqs Sharki. I can't wait to share all the stories and experiences with you when I return!

FESTIVAL 2026 UPDATE

I also have fantastic news—the MEDANZ Festival 2026 has been officially announced! Mark your calendars for April 24-26, 2026, in Orewa, Auckland. While it might seem like it is a little way off, it will be here before we know it! Can you believe it has already been six months since we all gathered in Palmerston North? With another six months to go, let's make sure we are ready! As you know, since we introduced free membership for MEDANZ in recent years, our everyday expenses are entirely funded by our members events.

It is important to mention that this festival will be self-funded, and we will need everyone—students, teachers, and performers—to come together and make this event a success. We will be sharing the festival package details soon, and ticket sales will commence after that. We are hoping to reach our target sales by December 31, 2025, so we can ensure this fabulous festival goes ahead!

TEACH AT MEDANZ FESTIVAL 2026?

If you are interested in teaching at the festival, please send in your expressions of interest to hello@medanz.org.nz by Sunday, October 26 (Labour Weekend Sunday). This way, we can start rolling out announcements in November 2025, and you won't want to miss that!

MEDANZ IN YOUR COMMUNITIES & PROMOTING YOUR EVENTS

I have been reaching out to some fantastic dancers and teachers around New Zealand who are doing wonderful things in their communities, encouraging them to join the MEDANZ community. Do you know of a bellydance group that is not currently associated with MEDANZ, maybe you can invite them to join us? Membership is free, and easy to complete at www.medanz.org.nz.

We are also looking to connect with dancers, teachers, and groups from all over New Zealand to learn about and promote belly dance events and projects happening in your areas. As a MEDANZ member, you can get the word out about your school and events for free on the MEDANZ website and social media, reaching local dancers and the entire MEDANZ community. Let's spread the word together!

If you are hosting any gatherings, please consider adding a little extra to your ticket sales or making a donation to support MEDANZ. Or talk to the Committee about hosting a MEDANZ Event in your area. Every bit helps us sustain our efforts and promote the beautiful dance form we love!

STAY CONNECTED WITH MEDANZ

Be sure to stay connected with us on our social media channels:

MEDANZ BLOG - ART OF RAQS BY JUNIPER

I also want to spotlight a recent blog post featuring our talented Member & Partner, Juniper, who creatively collaborated with two Gazan artists to create unique merchandise. Make sure to check out her fabulous Golden Era T-shirts here: artofraqs.com.

We always welcome your contributions to the blog. Share your articles and experiences about the belly dance world—get creative, get inspired, and connect with us!

"Life—just like dance—is a journey, so let us take our time and enjoy the ride!"

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

Yours in dance, Shimmy shakes!

Raffaella

President, MEDANZ 2025/2026

All Posts