Belly Dance Off 2015 Round 1

Described as the “American Idol” of belly dance, Belly Dance Off is a touring multidimensional belly dance talent show exploring the secrets of entertaining and polished belly dance performance entirely improvised to live music. The 2015 season launches with Round 1 in Seattle on Sunday, February 22nd. Guests enjoy full dining at Seattle Club Sur as dancers arrive in their best costumes, draw songs from a hat, and perform with world class live music by MB Orchestra. Three expert judges present live feedback on the mic. Audience and judges vote to decide the winner. At halftime guests are invited to dance, with a special prize for the best shimmies! Tickets online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1121489 Or call the 24/7 ticket hotline at 800-838-3006 The sizzling Club Sur in Seattle’s Sodo district is a best kept secret offering delicious Latin cuisine and spectacular lighting, design, and sound. Round 1 judges are multi-award winning belly dance experts Elisa Gamal and Nadira, plus Seattle International Dance Festival’s Cyrus Khambatta! Round 1 will also have extra video crew for the making of a new video trailer. Touring the NW, Belly Dance Off is a Suzanna & Friends production. After years of performing, teaching, and international training, belly dance artist Suzanna launched Belly Dance Off in 2010 to elevate the art form in America. Each year Belly Dance Off takes place in three preliminary rounds, yielding three Rising Star finalists and three Pro finalists that compete in the Grand Championship for titles, trophies, tiaras, cash, and other prizes. Each judge panel consists of two experts in belly dance with live music, plus one with expertise in another performing arts field to provide a fuller perspective. In addition to high quality entertainment, the multiple dimensions of Belly Dance Off serve to educate and enlighten audiences and dancers. "...this is truly one of Seattle's best events. After seeing the dancers in such a professional environment with live musicians and hearing the judge feedback, my non-belly dancer friends and family in the audience now appreciate what I do as a fine art. And because the audience is scoring, they didn't feel intimidated watching and were compelled to pay attention to the detail." -- Participating dancer