2012 Rules, Regulations, and Guidelines

Sunday, May 27
11:30am - Doors Open
1:00pm to 5:00pm - Tribal Soloist and Tribal Ensemble
7:00pm - Dinner Show at El Morocco

Age & Gender
There are no gender restrictions. At the time of performance, competitors in the Grand Dancer category must be 45 years of age. At the time of performance, competitors in the Belly Dancer of the Year, Troupe, Duo/Trio, Tribal Soloist, and Tribal Ensemble categories must be 16 years of age. There is no age maximum.

Competition Entry Fees
The entry fee for each category is $100. Entry fees may be paid through PayPal or by check. Please make checks payable to "Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant" and mail to 1235 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596. Competitors may withdraw within forty-eight (48) hours after receiving notification that their application was accepted. If the withdrawal is timely, then competitors are entitled to a full refund of entry fees. After forty-eight (48) hours, there will be no refunds of entry fees.

Judges & Scorekeeping
BDOY Judging Guidelines (pdf)
A panel of distinguished judges (10 minimum) is selected by BDOY Officials and includes solo dancers, troupe dancers, and musicians. Judges are selected to reflect the style of dance that they are judging. All BDOY judges remain anonymous. This is critical to maintaining the fairness and integrity of the competition. If you approach a judge, score keeper, or BDOY volunteer and request information regarding the identity of the judges, you will be disqualified and/or stripped of your title. Decisions made by the judging panel are final and may not be appealed. The 2012 judging panel will be announced on or before April 1. For a list of the 2011 judges, please visit the Judges page.

Music
In keeping with the theme of the Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant, competitors must use Middle Eastern or North African music, or music that is clearly inspired by the region. All music must be on CD with a second back-up CD. Any fading of music must be done on the CD. Please note that the theater sound system does not support MP3 format. Burn tracks in .cda format only. Remember to "normalize" all tracks and "finalize" your CDs.

Performance Standard
All performances must be family and child appropriate. If your performance is deemed inappropriate, the lights and your music will be faded out. You will be disqualified and we will introduce the next competitor.

Photos & DVD of Your Performance
The authorized BDOY photographer will take multiple photos of each performance and you may obtain a copy of your photos on disk. Each performance will also be recorded on DVD. We will send you details about ordering closer to the event.

Props
No fire or incense is allowed in the theater or building. Solo categories may not include a second person. Musical instruments may be used, however, the musician(s) must also dance. Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant, Belly Dance!, Leea Aziz, El Cerrito High School Performing Arts Center, The West Contra Costa county Unified School District, and the City of El Cerrito are not responsible for personal items that may be lost or stolen.

Stage Dimensions & Layout
Dimensions and details about the theater stage: ECHS Stage Layout (pdf)

Tickets
Competitors in the Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant are not required to purchase a ticket for the segment of the show in which they are performing but will need to purchase tickets for any other segments.

Troupe of the Year
Time Limit: 9 minutes maximum
This category is open to troupes whose work is rooted in dances from the countries and regions belly dance is from. This includes, but is not limited to, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as American cabaret styles developed in the United States. Folkloric forms from these regions also fall into this category. At least four dancers must be on stage at all times during the performance. No solos, duets, or trios are permitted in this category. Not all the dancers on the stage must be dancing at any given time. Normal breaks between dance numbers are permitted. Musical instruments may be played, but musicians must also perform as dancers.

Duo/Trio of the Year
Time Limit: 8 minutes maximum
This category is open to duets and trios whose work is rooted in dances from the countries and regions belly dance is from. This includes, but is not limited to, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as American cabaret styles developed in the United States. Folkloric forms from these regions also fall into this category. For duets, two dancers must be dancing at all times. For trios, three dancers must be dancing at all times. Normal breaks between dance numbers are permitted. Solos are not permitted in this category.

Grand Dancer of the Year
Time Limit: 6 minutes maximum
This is a solo category open to dancers whose work is rooted in dances from the countries and regions belly dance is from. This includes, but is not limited to, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as American cabaret styles developed in the United States. Folkloric forms from these regions also fall into this category. This category is also open to dancers who perform American Tribal Style, Improvisational Tribal Style, and Tribal Fusion belly dance. Grand Dancers must be at least 45 years of age at the time of performance.

Tribal Soloist of the Year
Time Limit: 7 minutes maximum
This is a new solo category open to dancers who perform American Tribal Style, Improvisational Tribal Style, and Tribal Fusion belly dance. The winner is required to dance in the BDOY Dinner Show at El Morocco Restaurant on Sunday evening. The length of performance is the winner's choice. The winner is also invited to return the following year to judge the competition.

Questions

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding the above Rules, Regulations, and Guidelines.