Congratulations to our first Queen of the Bay Competition winner Zahara!. Read Zahara's interview and come watch her perform at our upcoming December 9th, 2006 bellydance show, Hate The Game, Not The Player.
Friends & Tribes

Costumes & Supplies

Music / Editing

Recommended Local Restaurants
Competitions
Compete on amateur and expert levels at these long-running pageants.


Photos by Michael Baxter are now featured at the Gilded Serpent
Show Performers
Shabnam
2005 Bellydancer of the Universe, 2005 Bellydancer of the Year. Leader and choreographer of Troupe Ooh La La.
http://www.shabnampena.com
Bastet
A tribal fusion dance troupe based in Oakland, California. They incorporate balancing, such as fire, dry ice, and swords with innovative floorwork to create an exciting tribal fusion format.
http://fusionbellydance.tribe.net
Nanna
A master of classical-style bellydance. She is well known for her graceful style, and has performed at San Francisco's Ethnic Dance festival on multiple occasions.
http://www.bellydancebynanna.com
Ooh La La
Winners of the 2005 Bellydancer of the Year troupe category, and 2006 Excellence in Dance Award from the People's Choice Contest, Ooh La La is fast becoming one of the top bellydance performance groups in the country.
http://tribes.tribe.net/shabnam
Judges
Claudia S'hiri - Multi-award winning dancer and 2004 Belly Dancer USA winner. Claudia brings over a decades worth of expert-level performance experience.
Jim Cullin - A long-time patron of bellydance, Jim has many years of experience of observing bellydance, and performing arts techniques from his travels to events around the country. Jim has also studied with long-time bellydance favorite Jim Boz
Meliza - The founding member of Bastet, an exhilarating tribal fusion troupe. She is well known for her dynamic dance style.
Maurice (Moluv) Wright - Mo is a long-time bellydance aficionado and has helped in coaching Shabnam to her many victorious performances at competitions around the country. Maurice also heads Moluv, the sponsor of this year's event.
Nanna - Also a performer at this year's event, Nanna offers an eye of experience achieved through her years of mastery as a bellydance artist.
Rules & Guidelines
*Contestants will be judged on:

Appearance - costume should be clean, well made and aesthetically pleasing to performer. Costume should fit the style of dance being performed as well as work with the music.

Stage presence - The ability to connect with audience and possess the ability to appeal to the audience through ones individuality and personality.

Technique - Competitor should have good carriage of head and body (posture), confident and in control of performance. The competitor should have the ability to isolate separate parts of the body with minimal incidental movement of the rest of the body. Quality of movement and line will be factored into scoring.

Music Interpretation - Transitions should be smooth and flowing. Competitor should be moving with the music and not fighting or chasing it. If zills are played they should contain a variety of rhythms and be on beat with the music. Complicated/syncopated zill patterns will be factored into scoring.

Routine Requirements - Fast/Slow/Fast Routine, Entrance, slow portion and finale.

The 3 highest scored contestants will move on to the finals where they will perform to a spontaneous drum solo.

FAQs - Things To Know
  • Students, and troupe members of Shabnam and Ooh La La, will not be allowed to compete.
  • All performers must check-in a minimum of 1 hour prior of Competition, or points will be deducted
  • Entries will be taken on a first come first served basis until the category is full.
  • Refunds only if category is filled or category is canceled.
  • Contest is for professional Belly Dance Soloists.
  • Performers are to use Middle Eastern Style music only. Turkish, Egyptian, Middle Eastern pop, and modern ok, but music must contain Middle Eastern rhythms.
  • Time limit for performance is 6 minutes. Routines exceeding 6 minutes will be disqualified.
  • 'Queen of the Bay' winner will be awarded a $100.00 cash prize, tiara and title.
Good luck everyone! Happy Shimmies!
Workshops with Shabnam
Learn techniques directly from the 2005 Bellydancer of the Year, Bellydancer of the Universe, 2006 People's Choice Winner, and choreographer of the 2005 Troupe of the Year.

NEXT SESSION:
Monday, March 26th, 2007

COURSES:
Basics, Locks & Layers, Choreography & Improv

For more info, visit
shabnampena.com/bellydance
Directions

From San Francisco

  1. Bear left into the I-80 E entry ramp to Oakland - go 6.3 mi
  2. Take the I-880 S exit to Alameda/Airport/San Jose - go 0.5 mi
  3. Bear right onto the West Grand Avenue ramp to Maritime St - go 0.5 mi
  4. Continue on W Grand Ave - go 1.0 mi
  5. Turn left at Magnolia St - go 0.2 mi

From Sacramento

  1. Take I-80 W - go 73 mi
  2. Continue on I-580 E toward Alameda/San Jose/Downtown Oakland - go 0.8 mi
  3. Take the MacArthur Blvd exit to San Pablo Ave - go 0.2 mi
  4. Continue on W MacArthur Blvd - go 0.1 mi
  5. Bear right at Adeline St - go 0.7 mi
  6. Turn right at 26th St - go 0.1 mi
  7. Turn left at Magnolia St - go 0.1 mi

From Walnut Creek

  1. Take CA-24 W entry ramp to Oakland - go 14 mi
  2. Take the I-580 exit to San Francisco/Hayward - go 0.9 mi
  3. Continue on 36th St - go 0.3 mi
  4. Turn left at Magnolia St - go 0.7 mi

From San Jose

  1. Take I-880 to Oakland - go 38 mi
  2. Continue on I-980 E toward Walnut Creek (CA-24) - go 0.4 mi
  3. Take the 17th St exit to San Pablo Ave - go 0.4 mi
  4. Bear left at Castro St - go 0.2 mi
  5. Turn left at San Pablo Ave - go 0.1 mi
  6. Turn left at W Grand Ave - go 0.6 mi
  7. Turn right at Magnolia St - go 0.2 mi