Competition Rules
The performances will be recorded with 4 cameras. Registration for the first nomination includes the video. The videos of additional performances can be purchased separately at a special price if confirmed before the event.
Prizes
The absolute winner of the professional category will be a teacher at "Orientalísimo Weekend 2026," with travel and accommodation expenses paid by the organization.
Registration
Please complete this form before March 2025.
Prices
Soloists
- Professional and Semi-Professional: 35€ for the first nomination and 20€ for each additional nomination
- Others: 30€ for the first nomination and 15€ for each additional nomination
Duos/Groups
- 15€ per person or 10€ per person for groups of 5 or more
Notes:
- The first nomination always includes the video.
- 35€ for Drum Solo Improvisation with Yassir Jamal. Participation in another nomination of the same level or higher is required.
Payment
To secure your registration, full payment is necessary before March 2025. For your convenience, we offer the option to split the payment into two installments.
Payments can be made via bank transfer, credit card, or PayPal.
(*) Commission fees may be added for card and PayPal payments.
Categories
Participants can register in the following categories:
- Professional. Dancers who are professionally engaged in dance or perform on stage at a professional level
- Semi-Professional. Advanced-level, non-professional dancers
- Amateur. Reserved for adult participants dancing at an amateur level
- Teen. Reserved for dancers aged 13 to 17 whose level is not professional
- Junior. Children's category, reserved for girls up to 12 years old
Depending on the number of participants per category and nomination, the organization may decide to merge categories.
Nominations
Participants can register for the following nominations within their category. The organization may require a video to confirm the level; if so, the video should be sent to weekend@orientalisimo.com
Yassir Jamal
Only Yassir Jamal's music tracks are allowed, excluding drum solos. The three finalists will compete for the title with a percussion improvisation with Yassir Jamal.
Professional Category
Raks Sharki
Mejance, Classical Song/Tarab
Categories: Open to all categories
Pop Song
Categories: Open to all categories
Drum Solo CD
Categories: Open to all categories
Drum Solo Improvisation
VERY LIMITED SPOTS! Yassir Jamal will play the darbuka only for dancers also registered in another nomination of the same level or higher.
Categories:
- Professional
- Semi-Professional
- Teen
- Junior
Folklore
(Egyptian and non-Egyptian: Baladi, Shaabi; Saidi, Eskanderani, Ghawazee, Haggalla, Siwa, Nubia, Simsimia, Bambouti, Muwashahat; Khaleegi, Iraqi, Dabke, Moroccan...)
Categories: Open to all categories
Fusion
Any style fused with oriental dance is allowed.
Categories in this nomination:
- Professional
- Semi-Professional
- Amateur
Duos
Raks Sharki, Folklore, and Fusion are allowed.
Categories in this nomination:
- Professional
- Semi-Professional
- Amateur
Duos may be merged with Groups if any of the nominations do not have enough participants.
Groups
Raks Sharki, Folklore, and Fusion are allowed.
Categories in this nomination:
- Professional
- Semi-Professional
- Amateur
Duos may be merged with Groups if any of the nominations do not have enough participants.
Jury
The jury for the groups and for the Semi-Professional and Professional categories will be:
- Kareem Gad
- Ryan Guo Chao
- Julia Yakovyuk
- Yassir Jamal (for the "Yassir Jamal" nomination)
The jury for the Junior, Teen, and Amateur categories will be:
- Alina Babayan
- Dariya Babak
- Muneerah
Stage
The stage will measure 6x5 meters and will be accessible from both sides as well as from the center.
Music
Music must be sent to weekend@orientalisimo.com before March 1st in MP3 via Wetransfer or similar, specifying whether the music will start with you on stage or you will enter once the music has started. We advise you to bring a copy of your music on a USB stick in case the file sent cannot be read properly from the device used by the sound technician.
Please, check the guidelines below carefully.
Soloists
Duration:
- Semi-Professional, Professional: up to 3 minutes
- Junior, Teen, Amateur: up to 2 minutes 30 seconds
The organization may cut the track after about 10 seconds if the maximum time is not respected.
Styles: the style of the music must be chosen according to the nomination in which it will be danced. In Raks Sharki, the drum solo cannot exceed 50% of the time.
Duos and Groups
Duration: up to 3 minutes 30 seconds (the organization may cut the track about 10 seconds later if the maximum time is not respected).
Styles: any style valid in Raks Sharki and Folklore is accepted. The drum solo cannot exceed 50% of the time.
Drum Solo Improvisation
Participants will have up to 2 minutes to showcase their skills in improvisation. If the dancer does not signal the end of the performance in time, the percussionist will do so instead.
Evaluation Criteria
The jury will assign a score from 1 to 10 for each of the following factors. The final score will be the average of the jury's scores:
- Technique
- Interpretation
- Choreography
- Image
Each member of the jury may provide their observations in addition to the score.
In case of a tie, the organization reserves the right to decide the winner.