Festival Desk A festival information desk will be located in each of our festival venues. Signage on each day will direct you. The festival desk attendant will mark your name on entry to each workshop.
What's on offer? The festival will present over 32 hours of dance and music workshops covering a range of traditional Middle East and belly dance styles along with contemporary fusion. Read the workshop descriptions by click here. Each evening the festival delivers events and shows to delight you. Don't miss the Showcase and Market Bazaar!
Cost We have devised a fantastic Golden Ticket package for you, this package includes all 4 Esmeralda workshops, choose from all 8 guest artist workshops, the Glittering cocktail hour, Moroccan Indulgence and more. Workshop costs are in Australian dollars. Please note that the cost of the workshop is for attendance, whether you choose to physically participate or not. Alternatively, you are welcome to choose individual workshops and events for purchase.
Is the Gala show 'Emeralds of the East' included in the Golden Ticket? No tickets for the show must be purchased from IPAC (IIlawarra Performing Arts Centre). We are very pleased to announce that our Gala show will be presented at Wollongong's premier Arts Entertainment Centre, all bookings for the show must be made through the IPAC separately from the festival's Golden Ticket. Purchase show tickets here.
Children Entry to workshops is restricted to paying participants only, this includes children. Please note that non-paying spectators of any age will not be admitted to workshops under any circumstances.
To Book Booking for Wollongong Belly Dance Festival is online only. Register your workshops and events preferences using the booking tab and submit your online form. Payment must be made through this website for all workshop tickets and events, except Emeralds of the East which must be paid for through IPAC. If you need any help with your online enrollment just email us and we'll help you.
After booking After your booking has been processed you will receive an email confirming your workshop place/s. If you do not receive a confirmation within 14 days please contact us. Please make sure you include your phone number on your registration form in case we need to contact you. On the day, your name will be on the list at the workshop door - please sign-in at the registration desk at least 10 minutes before your the start of your workshop.
How will I receive my tickets? In our commitment to environmental conservation we have a paperless ticketing system where possible. The festival desk will have a list of all attendees and entry will require you to give your name on arrival. Golden Ticket holders will be issued a ticket with your lanyard. After you have paid you will receive an email confirmation, this will be your ticket and you'll need to bring it with you.
I'd like to book & pay for my friend using my PayPal or Credit card account, how should I do that? Please go to the Bookings Page and follow the prompts to register your friend, then go to the payments page to finalise your booking. Please make sure that you tell us in the comments section who your friend is and that you've made payment using your PayPal/Credit account. You must do this for each individual attendee. Important: if you are booking workshops & events for more than one person, you MUST submit a separate payment and registration for each individual workshop participant.
Can I buy tickets on the day? A limited number of workshop and events tickets will be available for purchase at the festival desk during the weekend. Please check the festival website and facebook page for sold-out status of workshops and events.
Changed your mind? Sorry, we cannot provide refunds on workshop or events tickets. However, you may sell or swap your spot with someone else. In this case when you sign in at the door you will need to let the workshop assistant know your name and the name of the person you are replacing. Feel free to use the festival facebook group for discussions about this kind of exchange.
Performing at the Showcase Performers are invited to register to perform solo or troupe pieces of 5mins and 6 minutes respectively in the Festival Market Bazaar & Showcase on Saturday 26th August. Registration is via the Performers page. The Potluck Improvisation is part of the Showcase. This allow performers to show improvisation skills in 2-3min performances using music chosen by festival organisers.
What to bring/What to wear What to Bring:
Please check the workshop description page for details provided by each instructor about the requirements of their workshop such as props or specific attire.
To each workshop bring: a bottle of water, a pen and paper for note-taking.
What to Wear:
Wear comfortable clothes you can move easily in. Some instructors like to see your feet and others don't mind if you wear longs skirts so please bring dance pants just in case.
Some workshop venue rooms are carpeted, others are timber parquetry. Please be prepared with socks or jazz shoes for your comfort.
Bring a hip scarf with no coins: at times it can be difficult for instructors to project voices over the sound of many coin belts so please bring a belt that does not make any sound.
Anything else I need to know?
As a courtesy: to your instructor and your fellow dancers please be on time for your workshop. It is distracting when students enter the room late.
Cancellations: Please note festival organisers reserve the right to cancel workshops without notice should the workshop not meet minimum attendance requirements. In the case that a workshop is cancelled participants may choose between a refund for the cancelled workshop or choose an alternative workshop. In the case that your chosen workshop instructor is not able to teach the class an alternative teacher will be provided.
Filming/videotaping: Please note that the use of film equipment or photography during workshops is at the discretion of the instructor. Please do not take photos or video the class without prior permission.