What to expect and timelines for the 2026/7 Challenge
Click here to go directly to register and book your place.
After you have registered, please send us a recording of yourself performing a Majence or piece of oriental music of your own choice. It can be something you already have, providing it is footage from a recent performance, or it can be something you record especially, in your own space. It may contain a drum solo but please do not submit a drum solo by itself. You will not receive any feedback on this, but the Bellydance Now Team will use it as a reference as to where you are currently in your dance development.
You must also let us know which category you would like to enter when booking your place:
Category 1: Dancer, teacher, student or professional – final stage performing live at Fantasia
Category 2: Dancer, teacher, student or professional based abroad and who know they cannot travel to London for 20th February 2027.
Category 3: Amateur dancers with less experience wanting to develop their skills
“This is a non-petition really – aimed at nurturing talent and creating dancers that can shine in their own right….” – Yasmina of Cairo
We will be asking those who sign up for the Challenge to work towards the final through different stages, each designed to bring them closer to their goal of personal development. Below is a summary of the stages / challenges followed by a more detailed description of each stage. All mentoring sessions will be recorded – so you can catch up if you can’t make them ‘live’.
- BDNIC TIMELINE OVERVIEW
- 1st Challenge: Classical Challenge – music received on registration
- 29th March: First group mentoring session
- 29th April: Second group mentoring session
- 15th May: Classical challenge submission deadline
- 2nd challenge set: Drum Solo
- 14th June: Third group mentoring session
- 28th June: Drum solo submission deadline
- 28th June: Fourth group mentoring to go through and explain Folklore challenge
- 3rd challenge set: Folklore
- 1st August: Fifth group mentoring session
- 30th August: Folklore challenge submission deadline
- 14th September: Sixth group mentoring session to explain the Improvisation Challenge
- 4th challenge– Improvisation
- 14th to 20th September: Live Improvisation Challenge sessions through the week
- 11th October: Seventh group mentoring session
- FIRST SET OF ELIMINATIONS
- 25th October: Eighth group mentoring session for remaining participants
- 5th Challenge: Dancers choice
- Mid November: Optional Zoom talk with judge Camelia Mourad
- 23rd December: Dancers choice submission deadline
- 14th January 2027: Finalists announced & winner of category 3
- 6th Challenge: Live performance at Fantasia
- 24th January 2027: Ninth group mentoring session for finalists
- Saturday 20th February 2026: The Final at Fantasia Festival.
The challenges change each year – this year’s challenges in more detail:
CHALLENGE ONE – The Classical Challenge
After you have signed up and sent us a reference recording of yourself, you will be given access to a choice of classical songs for the first Challenge. You will choose one and can begin working on this right away.
If you wish you may enlist the help of a mentor (not obligatory) while preparing for this and the ongoing Challenge submissions. We have lined up an amazing list of international mentors to help you:
Brenda Diaz (Cairo/Argentina)
Shahrzad (Cairo/USA)
Abeer Will ( Egypt/Germany)
Julia Farid (Ukraine)
Sara Farouk (Cairo/UK)
Lorna (UK/Cairo)
Maelle (Dubai/UK/France)
Zara Abdel Rahman (Cairo/UK)
Serena Ramzy (UK), Kay Taylor (UK), Dorte Evelyn / Ishtar Dance (UK), Carmen Tormo (Spain/UK), Amera Eid (Australia), Rakiya el Maaza (Belgium), Katie Alyce (UK), Yallar (Latvia/UK) We have specialist folklore mentors: Khaled Seif, Doaa Salem, Mohamed Salah, Vanessa and Shining.
Check our mentors page for more details about what each one offers and to decide which one might be best for you.
Lessons given by mentors will be at the competitor’s expense. They are each ready to give you private classes expressly to help you during the Bellydance Now International Challenge. A list of mentors, contact details and prices will be sent to participants.
Sunday 29th March 2026: First group mentoring session
if you have missed this you will have access to the recording.
Yasmina and Carmen will answer questions about the Challenge you are working on and check your progress, as well as laying out the format and expectations for the ongoing stages. It will be recorded so if you cannot make the session, you can catch up later.
You will then continue work on your first submission. This should be performed in costume and must be submitted by 15th May. The choreography can be your own or that of someone else. However when you submit your video, you should let us know which.
Thursday 30th April: Second group mentoring session
This session is all about finding out how you are doing and help with any queries about your first submission.
15th May: Classical Challenge deadline
Within three weeks of sending in your submission you will receive detailed feedback from our panel, comprising a minimum of two judges from the Bellydance Now team.
We will also send you the music for the second Challenge:
CHALLENGE TWO – THE DRUM SOLO CHALLENGE
This is aimed at honing in on your technique and rhythm skills, as well as your creativity. You will choose from a short list of drum solos provided. Work on your submission, record it and submit by 28th June.
14th June: Third group mentoring session …checking in to see how you are doing and an opportunity to ask questions.
28th June: Drum Solo Deadline
Within three weeks of your submission you will receive detailed feedback from at least two of our Bellydance Now judges.
You will also receive the music options for the third Challenge.
CHALLENGE THREE – THE FOLKLORIC CHALLENGE
You will be given a piece of music in a folkloric style (you will be able to choose from a short list supplied by us) to work on for the next submission. You will need to research and study technique, costuming and presentation in the style you have chosen. We highly recommend engaging the help of a folkloric mentor when working on this challenge.
28th June: Fourth mentoring session with Yasmina, Carmen and Abeer
to talk about the folkloric challenge…..this is an important session to look at your choices and how to approach them.
A talk on ‘The importance of folklore in oriental dance’ will also be made available to help support the contestants in the next stages.
1st August: Fifth mentoring session
A catch-up with participants, get together and discuss progress.
30th August: Folklore Challenge Deadline
Within three weeks detailed feedback from ONE Bellydance Now judge will be received, with the option to request additional feedback at £15 per set. No matter who gives the feedback, it will also include an overview on your folkloric style by Abeer Will, our folklore dance expert.
CHALLENGE FOUR: THE IMPROVISATION CHALLENGE
Live Zoom improvised performance (First elimination round)
13th September: Sixth mentoring session
This next group mentoring session with Yasmina and Carmen is really important as they will explain the process of recording your journey and how the live Zoom performances and elimination round will work. This session will be recorded for participants who cannot join live.
You will work on your own development, with or without your mentor, and prepare a short summary for the panel about your journey so far. This can be written or recorded, and include your thoughts about what you are learning, the challenges you are facing, your sources of inspiration etc.
You will also prepare and develop your improvisation skills in preparation for the third Challenge.
Week commencing 14th September:
Zoom sessions will be tailored to different time zones, in which each competitor will improvise to a piece of music given to them 1 hour beforehand.
Within two weeks of this Challenge you will receive feedback from ONE Bellydance Now judge, with the option to request more feedback at £15 per set.
All four submissions will then be taken into consideration when deciding who goes through to Stage 4. Everyone will receive feedback and evaluation from the Bellydance Now panel on their work so far to support their own further development.
Participants who do not go further will receive a ‘Bellydance Now International Challenge’ Certificate.
October 11th: Seventh mentoring session
This is the final one for all participants, sharing experiences of the first four Challenges, followed by an announcement of the eliminations.
CHALLENGE FIVE – Recorded submission of journey + Dancers Choice challenge (Second elimination round)
25th October: Eighth Group mentoring session
Your group mentoring session with Yasmina to discuss the next stage is only open to those who have been successful in the elimination round. You will begin to prepare your final stage piece (maximum length of four minutes), while at the same time continuing to record aspects of your dance journey. You will choose your own music, and create your own choreography, but if you are working with a mentor, they can help guide it.
Mid-November: The Dancer in competition, Online Lecture
Join our Zoom lecture with our star judge (to be announced) on how to prepare, what judges look for and how to help the competition develop your dance. Challenge participants will be able to access this at a discounted price.
Wednesday 23rd December: Fifth Challenge Deadline
Deadline for submitting your final performance piece, along with a short video presentation of your journey and experiences. You can request feedback on this submission from any of the judges, at £15 per set.
Saturday 16th January 2026: Finalists will be announced
The Bellydance Now panel will select six finalists from Category One, who will be invited to perform at the Fantasia Festival in London on 20th February 2027. Three finalists from Category 2 will be announced, and will have the possibility of performing live on zoom to the judging panel earlier in the month. Date to be confirmed. A winner will also be selected for category 3, the development category.
CHALLENGE SIX – Live performance at Fantasia Gala show
Sunday 17th January 2027: A last group mentoring session
Yasmina and Carmen will meet up with the finalists to discuss the final stage.
Saturday 20th February 2027: The winner will be crowned at Fantasia Festival, London
Our finalists will perform their piece for the opening of the Fantasia Festival Gala Show. The music must be under 4 minutes. We will also show a short video of each finalists’ BDNIC Journey before they perform on stage.
Our panel of judges will be announced soon, but will include Yasmina of Cairo, Carmen Tormo, and invited stars of Fantasia 2027
The live audience will also take part in the final of the competition by nominating their ‘Peoples’ Choice Award’ on the night.
Before you sign up for our ‘Bellydance Now International Challenge’, what do you win?
Category 1:
1st Prize: Full Fantasia Superstar package and performance in our Gala show, London 2028
50% off Full Festival pass for ‘Etoiles d’Orient’ 2027 run by Levana in Majorca + performance at Gala show. Also if you are an experienced teacher, the opportunity to teach at Fantasia 2028
2nd Prize: Weekend of workshops at our International Bellydance Summer School – August 2027 (accommodation not included but can be arranged)
3rd Prize: Free weekend of workshops at Bonnie Bellydance in Scotland
Category 2:
1st Prize: 1 years access to our on line ‘Bellydance Music Explored’ on line course PLUS a 4 day in person music workshops / course at our International Bellydance Summer School – UK August 2027 (accommodation not included but can be arranged)
2nd Prize: 2 workshops and Gala show ticket at Fantasia 2028
Category 3:
1st Prize: Perform at Fantasia Festival, London 21st February 2027 – includes access to one workshop and the Gala show in 2027
2nd Prize: Free workshop at Fantasia 2027 and Gala show ticket
To join our challenge, book your place here
Questions you may be asking yourself:
How much is it going to cost me in total?
This partly depends on your budget: £145 to register, plus the private lessons with whomever you choose to mentor you. You can ask your own teacher or you can work with one of our mentors – or you can choose to work on your own. A 1-hour private lesson costs from £35 to £75 per hour (depending on whom you choose). Most teachers do discounts for block bookings for our participants. When you register we will send you a detailed list of the mentors’ prices, and how to contact them.
You can choose to request additional feedback from specific judges at £20 per time.
What will I get from it?
Eight mentoring sessions through the first four Challenges.
Six sets of specific feedback on four submissions designed to help you develop as a dancer.
The chance to work with some amazing mentors. engage with other participants, make new belly dance friends and widen your experience.
All participants will receive a ‘Bellydance Now International Challenge’ certificate.
To get the most from it put all the dates in your diary once you have registered. Join as many of the mentoring sessions in person as you are able to. Be organised, plan your time, your practice and time to video your submissions.
We are passionate about Belly dance, and we love to help dancers develop their skills and provide new opportunities and different ways of building the belly dance community.
If you choose to drop out of the challenge at any point the registration fee is non refundable.
