Our Workshops

DANCE, DRUM &  CREATIVE WORKSHOPS

Contemporary, Innovative and Traditional Dance Workshops in Drumming, Oriental, FCBD Format and Fusion Belly Dance

Creative Workshops
Take your costuming to the next level with the creation of some body embellishments or pop in next door for a mini individual Creative Capture for your portfolio.

Learn from some of Australia's premier teachers and performers.  A wide appeal across all dance styles and levels;  choreography and technique, will make it hard to Choose. 

Take advantage of our Workshop Packages or save even more with a Festival Pass!!

Workshop Bookings

Workshops can be booked individually or take advantage of our Festival Pass or Workshop Packages.  Workshops must be booked per Individual Participant except in the Case of a Minor - Minimum Age Requirement 12+ Must be booked by a Parent or Guardian.

Check out the Early Bird Pricing available for Festival Passes. Workshop Packages and Event Entries until 14 November 2023.

Discounted Pricing available to 19 January 2024.

Full Pricing applies from 20 January 2024 for Online Bookings and Bookings made at Desk/Door.  Pre-purchase is Recommended.

See Booking Info Page for full Details and Costs.

Water is an essential for all workshops

Online Bookings Close 26 February 2024 or when Sold Out
Bookings available at Desk/Door - Subject to Availability Only

JEWELLED CREATIONS  with LINDA

Take your costuming game to the next level with your own stick on body adornments. Join Linda in this workshop to create your own unique body embellishments that you can use to compliment your costume and add some sparkle to the stage.


All materials will be supplied with instruction and inspiration to create your own stunning bejewelled ornamentations. You will have several base shapes to choose from with hundreds of dazzling colourful gemstones of various sizes to decorate and compliment your costume or preferred colour scheme. If time allows, there may be opportunity to make a few pieces.

Linda is the owner of Temptress, a collection of tribal treasures and fusion finery, adorning Australian and international dancers for over a decade with her own creations as well as traditional tribal jewellery and costuming.

Bring: Glasses if needed, as this is fine work. Strong glue is used and care should be taken when handling. Masks and gloves will be provided for those requiring them.

Friday 1 March 10:30am to 12:30pm

CREATIVE CAPTURES  with NAT
Individual Mini Photo Shoots

Need some stunning photos?  Book in for a individual mini photo shoot!

Nat is an Amateur photographer who works in the Newcastle/Hunter Valley/Central Coast areas. She has photographed the Colour Frenzy Run , Newcastle Bellydance Festival, Dance Weekends and private events.  Nat loves to shoot the around her local area and throughout her travels.

Bring: Attitude, Smiles, Pouts, Props. Some Veils and Canes available.

Friday 1 March 10:30am-12:30pm
15 minute Time Slots as allocated when booking.

SHAKE IT WITH SHARQUI  with WENDY

Kick off your Weekend of Workshops at the Festival with this high energy Workshop!! SharQui is a perfect blend of both authentic belly dance and aerobic fitness that is fun and suitable for all levels. Bellydance movements are broken down into blocks that are easy to follow and before you know it you are dancing as well as getting a great workout.  There is also the opportunity to perform the routine learnt in this Workshop at The Performers Bazaar on Sunday!

Wendy has been a Certified SharQui Bellydance Fitness Instructor for 2 years.  Dancing has always been Wendy’s passion, located in Tamworth, Wendy started her Bellydance journey in 2012 where her enthusiasm to embrace this beautiful body art, led her to experience different styles of Bellydance over the last 10 years.  As a teacher/choreographer of Soul Embrace Bellydance, fitness has also played a vital part of her journey, where she was introduced to SharQui-The Bellydance Workout. Fascinated by the combination of both authentic Bellydance and aerobic fitness, she herself became a certified dance fitness instructor, in the hope of inspiring and motivating women to dance and express themselves.

Friday 1 March 11:00am-12:30pm

Level: Open

 DANCING THROUGH THE CHAKRAS with XAEDA

Dance through the chakras like a goddess. Come and release your inner goddess by opening up the 7 chakras using belly dance movements and  the connection to your sacred feminine.  In this workshop Xaeda combines her love of Bellydance with her studies of the Chakras, Reiki and the Feminine Spirit.

Xaeda is a versatile and passionate teacher, who loves to share her knowledge and love of belly dance.  With her patient guidance and nurturing approach, she inspires her students to connect with their bodies, discover their inner strength, and unfold their own dance journey.

Level: Open

Friday 1 March 1:30-3:00pm

STREET SHAABI with ELLIE MAYE

Street Shaabi is a social, modern Egyptian dance style - playful, flirtatious and cheeky, with a strong grounded, folkloric influence. More funky than elegant, we break the rules and we do it with attitude. Immerse yourself in lots of grounded hip movement in this fast-paced choreography to a fun, modern track.

Ellie has been dancing since childhood and fell in love with belly dancing in 2014. A teacher for over 5 years, she has studied and taught traditional, modern and contemporary fusion styles of belly dance. Ellie is a certified Bellyqueen teacher, a certified  A-Z Original, Advanced, Teacher and Performer Bellydance methodology . Ellie is also proud to be a Shimmy Mob team leader since 2019, dancing each year with women across the globe and in the local community to raise awareness of domestic violence. In 2022, Ellie was selected as the choreography winner for Shimmy Mob. Dancers from across the globe learnt and danced her choreography. 

Level: Open

Friday 1 March 1:30 - 3:00pm

FANCY HAND FAN DIALECT with MANDYLYNNE

Fancy a hand fan choreography to go with your dance weekend? In this workshop we will be working with the Siren society fan dialect to learn a beautiful fan choreography. Although we will be utilising Tribal style movements with a hand fan, you can always stylise the movements and use the ideas to make our own creations. In this workshop we will look at how to use the fan, technique and combinations and the choreography.

With 22 years under her belt including Performing and teaching in the community for 19 years. Mandylynne has completed A-Z original Personal Techniques and FatChanceBellyDance® General Skills Certification and Teacher Training Certification.  Mandylynne  specialises in FCBD style and enjoys fusion, theatrical styles and playing with props.

Level: Open

Bring: Hand Fan

Friday 1 March 1:30-3:00pm

HERTZ with WOLF (Ifritah) & KIKI
Cultural Sharing Through Dance

Join Kiki and Wolf Ifritah as they share a group palm candle choreography (LED).  They have choreographed a piece that combines Kiki's Indonesian dance moves with Wolf's belly dance and fusion movements.  Many people come to fire dance through palm candles and this workshop gives opportunity to learn and be comfortable with moves appropriate for their use.  This piece works well for troupes involving formations like shiva lines, chevrons and turns.

With over 10 years of training experience teaching folks dance and object manipulation and fire, (Wolf ) Ifritah works in a place where visual arts, electronics, circus & dance practices collide. Causing an explosion of rainbows and fierce feminine energy.  Dancing with fire is a way for her to be present and face her fears she would like to invite you all to share the experience of lighting up as a form of empowerment.

Level: Open

Friday 1 March 3:15 - 4:45pm

CLASSICAL ROMANCE with AMERA **SOLD OUT**

In this workshop, we will be dancing to a well known song that captured the Arab world . Come on a romantic journey with this heart felt song by Elissa and Saad Lamjarred.  Amera will be teaching a soft and sensual choreography which will have you floating on an Arabian cloud.

Amera has a European Egyptian background and has been involved in the Belly Dance world since 1985 as an international performer working as a professional dancer in the Middle East since 1987 in her youth and taught across Australia and Europe. Amera opened the first Belly Dance boutique in the southern hemisphere, Ameras Palace in 1987 which is now owned and run by Ali Higson. Amera now teaches workshops in Australia, offers local classes and runs Belly Dance tours to Egypt and Lebanon. .

Level: Open 

Friday 1 March 3:15-4:45pm

SHIMMY GROOVE with BRONNIE COFFEY

In this workshop, Bronnie will take you through a smorgasbord of shimmies. Whether you’re new to shimmies or want to deepen your technique, there’s something here for everyone to have some fun with. 

Bronnie is a dancer and teacher who has trained extensively in Datura and FCBD Styles of dance. Having travelled to the USA to train with Rachel Brice, she became a Datura Style teacher in 2020. Bronnie is the Director/Teacher of the Empyrean Dance troupe based in Brisbane, you can catch her facilitating workshops both locally and interstate.

Level: Open

Bring: Your favourite shimmy belt or two!

Friday 1 March 3:15-4:45pm

FCBD ® DRUM SOLO with DEVI **SOLD OUT**

Sounds like a contradiction in terms but it’s effective and fun if you know how. This workshop will be all about interpreting the music and having the freedom to change from one movement to the next without having to cue your steps or thinking of the group as a whole. We will also look at engaging with the audience and using your space differently as a soloist . We will then put this together in a short drill choreography to demonstrate each topic covered.

Devi Mamak is the founder & artistic director of the award winning Caravan Dance bio ( formerly Ghawazi Caravan), based in the Blue Mountains, N,S,W, since 2000. Devi is one of Australia’s premier FCBD style dancers, teachers & choreographers, having taught many of the top dancers in the genre within Australia and world wide.. She is also well known for creatively fusing other dance styles such as Flamenco, Indian, Egyptian and Samba and has produced her own DVD " Devi's Inspired Combinations" Vol 1,2 and 3 which are sold world wide. She is renowned throughout Australia, NZ, U.S.A, South America, Asia & Europe for her creative, thorough & approachable teaching style & her beautiful & commanding stage presence. Devi has co taught Carolena Nericcios General Skills certificate on several occasions with several of her own steps being accepted into the ATS syllabus and featured on Vol 9 Anatomy of a step. She has performed and collaborated with many well known dancers from around the world including Deb Rubin, Carolena Nericcio, Megha Gavin, Kristine Adams, Elizabeth Fish and was invited as a guest performer for Jillian Carlandos internationally acclaimed Bellydance evolution theatre show. Devi is also a classically trained pianist, teacher and composer. In 2020 she formed her first world fusion classical/ jazz 6 piece band which fuses her love of world music, classical and jazz. The band often perform with the Caravan dancers with original choreographies by Devi and the troupe.

Level: Open

Saturday 2 March 9:15 - 10:45am


BEAT YOUR OWN DRUM with KYLIE ASTARTE

Learn Arabic rhythms, get creative, and play!

This Workshop is inspired by Eshta by Hossam Ramzy, and explores basic Arabic Rhythms including the Zaffah, Malfouf, Baladi, Bambi and Ayoub.  Learn how to play the underbeats, basic rhythms, and how to add some flourish and flair!  This workshop is structured to cater for all skill levels and includes warm up and technique drills, rhythm drills, variations, accents and embellishments, and finishes with a fun group drumming and percussion jam.

The class is primarily taught on a tabla/darbuka, but you are also welcome to bring frame drums or zills for the jam section.

Kylie 'Astarte" Morrison is the Director of Astarte Studio Belly Dance & Fusion in Shellharbour, NSW.  With 25 years experience in bellydance, including Oriental, FCBD style, world fusion and Contemporary Fusion, Kylie has gained a reputation for pushing the creative and theatrical boundaries of bellydance and fusion.  Kylie is also a certified A-Z Belly Dance teacher.

Level: Open

Bring: Drum

Saturday 2 March 9:15-10:45am

TRANSITIONS with RACHEL

The moves between the moves! You know a bunch of steps, but how do you get from one to another? When should you finish one before starting the next, and when is it better to blend them together? Let’s get clear on our weight distribution, our energetic centre, our angles, lines and postures… then find seamless pathways to connect them. Whether you prefer to dance choreographies or improvise, smooth transitions bring ease, elegance and confidence to your dance. 

With her wealth of knowledge and a teaching journey spanning thousands of classes over 2 decades, Rachel is known throughout Australia's bellydance community for her expertise and skill. She is a sought-after instructor at festivals across the country. Rachel's teaching approach embraces inclusivity, fostering a supportive environment where dancers flourish. Her passion for the art form and dedication to honouring its cultural origins shines through in every class.

Level: Beyond Beginners, Basic Knowledge required

Saturday 2 March 9:15 - 10:45am

FCBD SWORD with PIP

FCBD Sword Sword skills and sword-wielding variations to FCBD moves for synchronised troupe weaponry.

Pip has been dancing FCBD-style (ATS) troupe improvised belly dance and fusion belly dance since 2009, performing with the Kurves, Oreades Belly Dance and Undulata. She has trained with Devi Mamak, Cristie Lee Fuller, Deb Rubin, Olivia Kissel and Jill Parker, among other teachers. In 2018, Pip began teaching FCBD-style and Fusion belly dance inSydney, sharing a love of improvised dance and diverse choreographic inspirations.

Bring: Sword - Limited number available for loan

Level: Open

Saturday 2 March 11:00am - 12:30pm

DARK ONES with JESSYKA **SOLD OUT**

Come and be a gothic fairy! This is a fun dark fusion choreography to 'Dark Ones' by Karliene. We will learn some elegant dark fusion combinations with a focus on evocative arms and hands, and put them together in a simple choreography.

Jessyka is a Bellydancer with 10 years experience, who has been teaching both bellydance and yoga for 4 years. Jessyka is certified in Deb Rubin's Dance Therapeutics 1,2 and 3, Valenteena Ianni's Karma Echoes and Killer Path, Shemiran Ibrahim's Dance From the Heart Bellydance Teacher Training, 200HR Yoga Teacher Training.  Jessyka also recently Directed Gothla AU in Sydney.

Level: Open

Saturday 2 March 11:00am-12:30pm

CONFETTI LAYER CAKE with AMANDA PB *SOLD OUT*

Comparing layering movement to building the perfect layer cake feels just right. It's like adding distinct flavours to an already amazing experience, and the real magic happens when everything comes together. In this workshop, we'll blend different techniques and ideas, starting with the basics and gradually moving toward more intricate steps. By the end, you'll walk away with fresh inspiration, learning how to sprinkle your dance with even more confetti-like joy.

Amanda is a self-professed dance nerd from Melbourne who runs APB Dance. She is involved in supporting dancers at all levels with her community and fundraising events including being the ShimmyMob Melbourne team leader for the past 5 years. She is Australia's only Salimpour Belly Dance Fundamental Licensed Instructor and is always working to extend her knowledge - practical and theoretical on dance. Amanda is also an avid learner, taking classes on several other dance formats and in Arabic language and history.

Level: Open

Saturday 2 March 11:00am-12:30pm

ZILLS ZILLS ZILLS with XAEDA **SOLD OUT**

This Interactive Zill Workshop is an immersive and engaging experience focused on the energetic and lively Middle Eastern musical instrument, the Zill, also known as finger cymbals or Sagat. This workshop is designed to bring participants into the vibrant world of technique, movement, rhythm and a collaborative zilling experience.

Xaeda's versatility shines through her performances. Her dance is a fusion of tradition and innovation, as she seamlessly blends elements from various dance forms, incorporating modern influences while staying grounded in the authentic foundations of belly dance. Beyond her captivating stage presence, Xaeda is also a passionate teacher, sharing her knowledge and love for belly dance with students of all levels. With her patient guidance and nurturing approach, she inspires her students to connect with their bodies, discover their inner strength, and unfold their own dance journey.

Bring: Set of 4 zills - some spares available

Level: Open

Saturday 2 March 1:30 - 3:00pm

FUNKY BASS FUSION with ZOE 

Learn a funky Fusion belly Dance choreography with locks, pops and drops in this workshop. We will play with different music to find that funky bass.

Zoë lives in the Hunter area of NSW and is a Highly Skilled and Experienced Fusion Belly Dance Performer and Teacher. Dance has been her outlet for over 16 years. She has had the honour of learning from some amazing creatrixes, in Australia and abroad. Some of her favourite dance memories were made in Hawaii, learning from Zoë Jakes and Kami Liddle. Zoë is known for fusing modern beats and strong technique with contemporary flair.

Level: Intermediate

Saturday 2 March 1:30-3:00pm

STYLES OF PERSIA with ZAHRAA

In this workshop we will introduce the basic moves of Pesian classical dance, then look at 2 other Persian styles- the Baba Karam and the coastal Bandari style. 3 Persian dances and 3 different energies and levels of fun!

Zahraa has been dancing ang teaching for more than 25 years, with many trips to Egypt and around the world for learning and dancing from the best. Zahraa has major interests in techniques Egyptian styling and folkloric dance from all over the Middle East.

Level: Open

Saturday 2 March 1:30-3:00pm

FUSION VEIL PLAY with EM LEA

In this workshop, we will play with various veil techniques and musicality in the fusion genre and put these together and dance to some short combination/choreography.

Em Lea has 8 years experience dancing both raqs sharqi and fusion technique and has completed Initiation Phase 1, 8 Elements of Belly Dance with Rachel Brice at Datura. She has been teaching for 5 years in the Townsville area in fusion/Datura style technique and Raqs Sharqi, including silk veil, fan veil and folkoric styles such as baladi. Her areas of specialty include silk veil, fan veil, choreography and bringing character to performance with the use of facial expressions and gestures.

Level: Open

Bring: Veil

Saturday 2 March 3:15-4:45pm


DIVIINE SKIRT CHAOS with VALERIE  CURTIS

In this workshop you will learn a choreography that teaches the Divine Chaos skirt moves, with extra options for solo, duets, and groups (formations, fades, turning the wheel etc).  Divine Chaos is an improvisation skirt dialect, based on the FCBD and GC style of leaders and followers. It uses both belly dance and skirt moves which can be integrated into any FCBD and associated genres.

Valerie began teaching the Divine Chaos format last year, after completing her teacher training.  Valerie currently teaches classes in the Western Sydney area and has taught and performed at Wamed.  She regularly performs at the local festival and is currently training in the Siren Fan Dialect.

Level: Open

Bring:  A 25 or 32 Yard Skirt

Saturday  2 March 3:15 - 4:45pm

NEO DRUM SOLO MASTERY with MARTA

Come on a rhythmic journey to master the range of your pops, locks and shimmies. If you desire the ability to layer your isolations with grace, join Marta to break down torso isolations into manageable drilling pathways and master the foundation elements of isolations. Then you will be guided through challenging layering techniques and drills to build your movement range and vocabulary to establish strong combinations. Finally, we will break down common Arabic rhythms and apply our newly learned combinations to translate the drum rhythms heard in an elegant and sophisticated style. We will explore the importance of hearing the music to dance on the beat, on the rhythm and the rhythm accents. The ultimate goal is to engrave this knowledge into your nervous system and muscle memory in order to successfully improvise to a drum. 

Marta is an award-winning, professional fusion and oriental bellydancer and brand strategist specialising in the health and wellness industry. She secures lucrative back-to-back weekend gigs with massive corporate clients, restaurants, and private occasions in river-view penthouses. Marta continuously produces sold-out classes and workshops Australia-wide and is known for her swords, hypnotizing layering and cheeky personality. Previously based in Perth, WA, Marta is now based in Brisbane, QLD and celebrating her 20th year in belly dance.

Level: Intermediate and Beyond

Saturday 2 March 3:15 - 4:45pm