Our Mission

For 27 years The ABDC’s mission has been to celebrate and promote the rich artistry and diversity of Middle Eastern dance. Our aim is to create an inclusive and enriching festival experience that fosters cross-cultural understanding, challenges stereotypes, supports artistic growth and builds community and appreciation. The ABDC provides a supportive and empowering platform for performers, instructors, artists and audiences.

The ABDC supports a vibrant and inclusive community in Austin that values and elevates the cultural heritage of the Middle East. The Austin Belly dance community comprises people of Middle Eastern and non-Middle Eastern origins; various religious groups, e.g. Muslim, Jew, Christian, Pagan and atheist; various ages; the LGBTQIA and disability communities. The ABDC acknowledges that we participate in a long history of Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees from a range of countries, all with unique and dynamic histories and cultures. Collectively it is a minority community that is constantly targeted and discriminated against for religious and racial reasons.

Our Artist Statement

The ABDC is committed to cultural respect and celebrates diverse voices and artistic expressions. We pay homage to the origins of Middle Eastern dance while acknowledging the influence of cross-cultural exchanges and contemporary forms formed in the USA. The ABDC actively works to create an environment where performers and participants from all walks of life feel welcome and supported. We embrace diversity in terms of race, gender, sexuality, age and ability. We emphasize the importance of responsible cultural appreciation, strive to create performances that honor the integrity, complexity and individuality of each dance form. We foster connections, spark dialogue and contribute to the ongoing growth of Middle Eastern dance as an inclusive and culturally respectful art form. Our programming aims to inspire and present audiences with a deeper understanding and appreciation for Middle Eastern dance.

History

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1996

The Austin Belly Dance Convention (the ABDC) began in 1996 when Bahaia founded Heart of Texas Seminars. The inaugural event was "Athens Meets Austin" featuring Rhea of Athens, Greece. From then on, Bahaia held annual events, which included dance workshops with top industry names, lectures, professional and amateur shows, competitions, live music, and vendors. As the seminars expanded, a new name became necessary. In 2007, the Austin Belly Dance Convention became the official name and has become the premier event for the central Texas Middle Eastern dance community.

2009

Bahaia passed the ABDC to Stacey Lizette, who subsequently expanded the convention into greater Austin’s awareness. She implemented a marketing plan that incorporated creating a website, printing an event program with sponsor ads, advertising in local businesses with posters and postcards, and sending out press releases. Additionally, in order to accommodate the increasing number of instructors, participants, and vendors, Stacey moved the convention from Round Rock into its current Austin location at the Holiday Inn - Midtown.

End of 2014 - Present

Amara and Tatianna became the new co-producers of the ABDC. Adding their own mark on the convention, Amara and Tatianna widened its scope to include participants from any field that intersects with Middle Eastern dance, including dancers, musicians, costumers, vendors, artists, scholars, educators, photographers, and videographers from amateur to professionals. They focused on supporting local artists by creating opportunities to be in seen in local and national markets. Amara and Tatianna worked to create more recognition in Austin, as well as nationally by advertising in national belly dance magazines, expanding their social media footprint, and redesigning the website and marketing materials. They restructured the convention through enhanced administrative functions, such as improved contracts for vendors and artists, and more efficient production schedule.

During Covid, The ABDC responded by going online in 2020. This allowed local artists to collaborate with others from Egypt, Turkey, Israel and Australia. In 2021 and 2022, the event supported the Austin Bellydance Studio and was both online and in person. Now the community is building back to a pre-Covid in-person collaboration and so will the ABDC.