2017 Hamilton International Bellydance Competition

Cost:
$35 CAD (per category) for soloists
$70 CAD (per category) for ensembles (groups)

Application fees may be paid at https://mahasti.ecwid.com/. Please note – all application fees are non-refundable. 

All applicants will receive tickets to the gala show & competition for themselves for free . Tickets are non-transferable.
How it works:
Five solo/ensemblefinalists will be chosen per category from video submissions. There are four categories – professional solo, professional ensemble, fusion solo, and fusion ensemble. Professional applicants should use traditional Middle Eastern bellydance music. Fusion applicants may use any style of music, however at least 50% of their dance should be bellydance.

Applicants may enter as many categories as they wish. Only those applicants whom appear in the video may dance in the finals (understudies are not permitted).

The application deadline is Monday, June 19, 2017 at 9 a.m. EDT.All videos must be submitted before the deadline.

After being selected, the top five finalists in each category will be contacted by email. Their names will also appear on the Top 5 Announcement on our website that will be posted on Saturday, July 1, 2017.  The final competition will take place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from September 8 – 11, 2017.

After uploading your HIBC video to YouTube, please email eshebellydancer@hotmail.com your artist or ensemble name, category entered, the name of choreographer, and a link for viewing the video. In the case of ensembles, please also include a list of the dancers who appear in the video.

Rules:
Videos for soloists should not exceed 3 minutes in length. Videos for groups should not exceed 4 minutes in length.

Choreographies and videos must include all original and new content created by the soloist entering the competition or ensemble director in the case of groups. Using choreographies that have already been performed or another dancer’s choreography are not permitted. Applicants may perform the choreography from their video submission in the final competition if they wish.

All dancers must be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission.

Videos:
Please shoot your videos from the front only and in landscape mode. Also ensure that you’re in a well-lit room and that the recording has good sound. Your entire body should be visible for the duration of the video. You don’t have to wear a professional costume or be in full make-up, but your movements and expression should be easy to see.

Videos will be judged on technique, musicality, personality, and originality. For ensembles, we’ll also be examining your synchronicity and formations. The final competition will have the same criteria. The judges will select the winners. In addition, the audience will select a People’s Choice winner for each category.

Finalists are responsible for their own travel, accommodation fares and all fees related to the competition.

If you have any questions, please email eshebellydancer@hotmail.com.