BELLY DANCE

Belly Dance / Oriental
Show Belly Dance / Oriental Show
Folk Belly Dance / Oriental Folk

SOLO FEMALE, SOLO MALE, DUOS, SMALL GROUP, FORMATION

NEW RULES (AGM 2008) :
1. Age of Competitors:
Age Divisions according to IDO Rules

2. Categories
2.1 Competitions may include the following categories:
Solo - individual; Duo - 2 dancers; Small Group - 3 - 7 dancers; Formation - 8 - 24 dancers;

3. Dance disciplines for BELLY DANCE
3.1.1 BELLY DANCE: based on the classical style Raqs Sharqi and includes or may consist of elements of folk dances and styles (Folk Belly Dance), but they should not dominate. It is forbidden to use acrobatic moves or lifts, use props or accessories except for canes, finger cymbals, and "conventional veils". Veils that have been made into "wings" by the use of rods are permitted if they are not the focus of the choreography and are used for dramatic effect at the beginning or end of the piece.
3.1.2 Musical accompaniment for BELLY DANCE: pop versions of music may be used if the dance and image created conform to the aforementioned principles.
3.2.1 Show BELLY DANCE: choreography may incorporate any form of dance, however BELLY DANCE technique should predominate. It is permitted to use props (knives, swords, etc.) and any type of costume. Lifts and acrobatics are allowed (only in the Adult age divisions). Stage props and scenery may be used if the competitors themselves put the objects in place during a single visit to the stage and remove them without the help of non-performers.
3.2.2 Musical accompaniment for SHOW BELLY DANCE: any type of music.
3.3.1 Musical accompaniment for FOLK BELLY DANCE:
Arabic folk dance reflects the national features, traditions, habits, music, costume and history of a peoples' society living in a particular place, region or country. It is the cultural property of all people of a given territory.
Dance styles FOLK BELLY DANCE:
• Saidi
• Alexandrian
• Khaleegy
• Nubian
• Dabke
• Ghawazee
• Haggallah
• Shamadan
• Falaahii
• Bedouin
• Moroccan
• Tunisian
• Algerian
• Iranian
• And other dances of the Middle East.
Folkloric dances must be performed using music of the particular nationality being represented, in a corresponding costume and contain characteristic movements, manners, and themes of that specific folk genre.
3.4 Competition between disciplines Show BELLY DANCE and Folk BELLY DANCE are carried out together as one discipline. In future, it may be possible to separate the disciplines if such a decision is taken by the IDO Presidium.
4. Time Limits
In any round it is imperative that the performer's music be the ONLY PIECE of music on the recording. The duration of the piece should be in accordance with the rules of the competition. It is the responsibility of the performer or a representative of the performer to provide the sound engineer well in advance but at an appropriate time with the recording indicating the number and name of the performer. (Semi-final: one of either CD or MD with one track. Final: a different CD or MD with one track). In the event that these requirements are not met by the performer the right to participate in the competition may be revoked.
4.1 Time Limit in Preliminaries

4.2 Semi-final - all pieces with competitor's own music

4.3 Final - all pieces with competitor's own music

5 Number of competitors in preliminary sub-heats (compulsory music):
5.1 In all Adult categories for 1/8, 1/16 etc. heats no more than 6.

6 Number of competitors in regular preliminary heats (compulsory music):
6.1 In all categories no more than 24.

7. Compulsory music in preliminaries:
7.1 Children, Juniors, Adult 2 and Seniors: piece of music with a prominent, unchanging base rhythm.
Live music and vocals are not permitted.
7.2 Adult 1: instrumental music Raqs Sharqi with changing rhythms or difficult rhythms, "tabla" drum solo.
Live music and vocals are not permitted.
For each heat and sub-heat music must be changed.

8. Rules for costumes
8.1 Children, Juniors, Adult 2, Seniors: costume may be changed for each round but it is not mandatory.
8.2 Children: traditional or stylized top, pantaloons or skirt.
8.3 Adults - different costumes must be worn for the semi-final and final and a different piece of choreography must be danced.

9. In the Children's Age Division it is forbidden to:
• perform in the styles of Eskandaria (Alexandrian, Melaya Leff), Shamadan
• use a parter.
• use sharp cutting devices (knives, swords, etc.)
• extensively execute a shimmy movement (no more than 20% of the length of the entire piece).

10. The dancer's choreography and image must coincide with the age division in which they are competing.

11. Dancer's Number
11.1 For dancers in the show and folk categories it is not necessary to affix their assigned number to their costume.
11.2 For all semi-final and final competition in all categories it is not necessary to affix the competitor's assigned number to their costume.
11.3 Master of Ceremonies is required to: in semi-final and final competition announce the competitor's number and full name. For Duos, Small Groups, Formations and Production the name of the ensemble or pseudonym (stage name) is sufficient.

12. Competitors during their performance
12.1 In Duo, Small Group and Formation categories all competitors must be on the stage from the beginning of the composition until the end.

13. Length of Solo parts in categories:
13.1 Duos\Pairs, Small Groups - no more than 30 seconds out of the length of the entire piece.
13.2 Formations - no more than 1.00 minute out of the length of the entire piece. All solo parts will be totaled together.

14. Safety
14.1 The use of open flame, liquids or other substances that may leave the floor wet, damage the stage surface or make it unsafe is forbidden.
14.2. It is forbidden to use live animals.

15. Notes for organizers.
When organizing a BELLY DANCE event it is necessary to:
15.1 Ensure that the dance surface is kept clean.

15.2 It is the Organizer's responsibility to ensure that during the preliminaries for the Adult categories the compulsory music is changed for each heat so that all competitors have equal opportunity for improvising.
15.3 After the semi-final results have been announced for the category Adult 1 a break of at least 15 minutes should be provided so the finalists may change their costumes and music be prepared for the final.
15.4 Provide videotaping of the semi-final and final rounds for the Adult 1 category in order to check that the rules have been followed with regard to the mandatory change of costume and choreography.