to keep the website manageable, we focus on the London area only ... however, some events are too good to miss out on, so a special spot has been found for them! this section will be updated occasionally - send us details of any events you would like to be listed ...
2008
February 29 to 02 March - the 10th annual MAJMA belly dance festival takes place in Glastonbury (Somerset) - "MAJMA is the foremost belly dance festival in Somerset & we celebrate the 10th anniversary in 2008 with some of the very best international teachers for workshops, a wonderful shimmy-on that everyone can take part in, as well as bazaars & entertainments"
01 to 11 March - Fifth Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality & Peace - "Spiritual, educational, artistic & cultural festival celebrating peace & mutual understanding, bringing together people from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds, educators, teachers & scholars, people from artistic & cultural backgrounds, people from diverse cultures & traditions, from across Scotland & internationally."
Friday 28 to Sunday 30 March - EGYPTIAN MOONLIGHT WEEKEND of workshops & shows - "Don't miss this great opportunity to take part in workshops with top Egyptian teachers Asmahan from Cabaret, Lubna from the Kaomeya Troupe & Kazafy from the Reda Troupe, plus London-based teachers & performers Khaled, Shafeek & Tara. Plus shows on Friday & Saturday nights at the Windmill" - Littlehampton (West Sussex)
Friday 28 to Sunday 30 March - FIFTH ANNUAL KASBAH IRANIAN NEW YEAR BELLY DANCE FESTIVAL from dancer Vivienne (who appeared on Mastermind answering questions on her specialist subject the history & culture of Arabic dance), with workshops, show & huge souk, including national & international teachers & performers
Saturday 12 April - Katie Holland's BODIES & BEATS festival - "Dance workshops & evening performance by Hossam & Serena Ramzy (below right) & their full Egyptianl orchestra, plus an exhilarating blend of daytime workshops to whet your appetite with styles from across the globe ... AfroBrazilian, Egytian, 
GothicTribal, Bollywood, jazz, classical Indian, Niggunim, flamenco, bazaar, henna, world music DJs, Moroccan song & dance!"- Shoreham Community Centre (West Sussex)
Friday 18 to Sunday 20 April - SIROCCO FESTIVAL 2008 - "Wendy Buonaventura presents a festival of Middle Eastern & Mediterranean dance & culture. Sirocco is a wind which comes up from the Sahara, bringing its warmth to Europe. Our new festival celebrates this meeting of cultures, with dance that has journeyed from East to West to find a welcome here. We gather together some of the most inspiring international artists & a huge range of dance styles, from Egyptian raqs sharqi to American Tribal … & all styles in between." - Frome (Somerset)
Friday 18 to Sunday 20 April - 1001 Nights Persian, Egyptian & Turkish music & dance festival featuring Hossam & Serena Ramzy (above right), workshops & gala show - Bath
Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April - BELLY DANCE CAMP - "(No tents involved!) Spend the weekend with the Learn Belly Dance team in beautiful Cheshire countryside. A full programme of workshops, hafla & show. Great place, great food, great people - what more could you ask!" - Chester
BRIGHTON FRINGE FESTIVAL featuring 2 Bellylicious shows with Galit Mersand - "Belly dancing unveiled! Find out what's behind the shimmies hip circles & chest drops, & experience an authentic 'old school' Cairo style cabaret ... well almost! Sexy, funny, revealing ... this show is not to be missed!" - plus The Bellydance Diaries by Daphne Pena - "Sold out hit of Edinburgh 2006/7! Peek behind the seven veils via dance & stories based on the lives of bellydancers in Cairo. Live music from to Arabic musicians." - Brighton
Saturday 31 May & Sunday 01 June - MIDLANDS ARABIC DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA from aria D'Silva with Egyypt's star oriental dancer Randa Kamel plus numerous other exceptional dancers & teachers - Nottingham
13 to 15 June - RAQS BRITANNIA - the Bellydance Superstars workshops weekend returns to Blackpool - London-based dancers Tara & Shafeek will perform in Friday's show!
July? - BRIGHTON ORIENT - belly dancer Katie Holland's weekend of workshops in Brighton with local, national & international teachers
Saturday 26 July - BELLY DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA end of year show featuring Galit Mersand & her students plus guest dancers - Brighton
08 to 15 August - JOSEPHINE WISE ACADEMY OF ARABIC DANCE 18th SUMMER SCHOOL at Tring (Hertfordshire) with 1, 2, 5 & 7 day courses (residential or non-residential; early bird discounts before 01 May ...)
September? - INTERNATIONAL BELLY DANCE CONGRESS - the first weekend of workshops in Bognor (Sussex) was held in September 2007 - see the website for updates of when or whether this is to take place again ...
13 to 14 October - JEWEL OF YORKSHIRE - weekend of workshops in Saltaire (Yorkshire)
31 October to 02 November - CELEBRATING DANCE - Afra Al Kahira's weekend of workshops in Torquay (Devon) with local, national & international teachers including Morocco & foromer Bellydance Superstar Dondi
International ...
Many UK belly dance teachers take students to these international festivals & events ...
April, June & November - NILE GROUP FESTIVALS - since 2005, the Nile Group has run week-long spring, summer & autumn festivals in Cairo
May - STOCKHOLM BELLY DANCE FESTIVAL - 8th annual festival, with nearly 40 Swedish & international teachers & artistes
July - AHLAN WA SAHLAN FESTIVAL - Raqia Hassan's vast annual belly dance festival in Cairo, with teachers from around the world
November/December? FESTIVAL OF ORIENTAL DANCE - Layla Jouvana & Roland's 10-day belly dance festival in Duisburg (Germany), which celebrated its 15th year in 2007 with the first Belly Dancer of the World competition
International events ...
Events we are notified of will appear here ...
NEW 2nd Saturday in May each year - WORLD BELLY DANCE DAY - "Started by Lydia Tzigane (Dubai), our mission is to unite the initiative of many dancers around the world to celebrate the wonderful art of belly dance as a holiday on the second Saturday in May every year. The event is a reminder that belly dance is an art form, a cultural event, a sport, & a social & family entertainment."
NEW Miles Copeland's Bellydance Superstars come to Spain - Barcelona belly dancer Salma is hosting a series of weekend workshops with Amar Gamal (May), Sonia & Tamalyn Dallal (both in June)
NEW 14 June - SULTANS OF RAQS show & workshops - "the first international male oriental show" with Mr Habieb (Belgium), Prince Kayammer (Greece), Serkan (Turkey/Belgium), Ekrem (France), Malek (Greece), Dansci Ahmet (Turkey) & Zadiel (Germany) in Gent, Belgium