Every year Shimmy Shake organized a nation-wide Talent Search to discover new Fusion Bellydance talent, to help dancers improve their level and to see where the local dancers and teachers stand with their skills. Participants could receive feedback from our panel of experts. The Talent Search was also a day to simply join in and dance, even for dancers who didn't want coaching or feedback.
After the five Talent Search days, 12 dance acts were chosen for individual coaching and to perform their improved work at the Talent Carnival in June.
In 2020 the Talent Search went digital, because of Corona. Dancers could record their performance and get a 20 minute session with the expert panel for feedback and to ask questions.
Next Level Talents performing during the Shimmy Shake Festival, left to right: Carmen, Emilia, Mieke & Irea, Nina de Waal. Photos by Ben van Duin.
There were five categories dancers could choose from, fitting with their experience level and belly dance skills:
Dancers of all levels are invited to dance at these cozy dance gatherings for a small public of family and friends. Everyone is welcome to dance! To join Talent Search there must be a minimum of 30% Bellydance in your Fusion choreography. Whether you are a beginner or a professional dancer, our expert panel will give you, if you want, encouraging feedback about your dance.
This is your chance to learn Tribal! We invite dancers of all styles who want to learn how to mix this style into their own dance vocabulary to participate in the Talent Search. Interested dancers can try out for a coaching place by dancing their own style. After seeing your dance act (any style) the expert panel will choose 2 dance acts for coaching to develop their dance act into a Fusion Bellydance act.
In 2019 Shimmy Shake will book our dancers for different kinds of performances. We joined an international co-production that will go on tour and be part of the Shimmy Shake festival in Rotterdam. The Talent Search in each city in the Netherlands will function as the audition for dancers who have the ambition to perform more often in a professional setting and in other countries. Dancers need a high level to apply.
This edition of the Shimmy Shake Talent Search, we encourage dance schools to sign up! Make a fantastic group performance with your students, or ask you dance teacher to make an energetic choregraphy for you (and your fellow students). Just as individual dancers, groups will receive encouraging feedback and are eligable for coaching. So gather your students and participate!
Never been on a stage? Do you want to show your skills, but do you think you are not ready to perform on a stage yet? This year it is also posible to join the Talent Search for fun. Just show us what you learned and perform on your own pace. You will not receive feedback (unless you do want it, just tell the panel) but you do receive an applause! The Talent Search is an safe envoirement to experiement.
Talents receive 2 individual coaching sessions of 90 minutes in the Studio of the appointed coach. Your film clip and comments are the base for these lessons. There will be enough time between sessions to practice with the instructions. Last session must be at least 1 week before the Talent Carnival. During this day, you will perform your coached choreography (TWICE!).
Our team is made up of carefully selected professional dancers and coaches, covering many techniques and skills, such as Tjarda van Straten, Maya Acid, Nadiya Natali, Piet Rogie, Nargis Coors, Aisa Lafour and Esther Nederpelt.
You must be at least 16 years of age.
Your act, solo or in a group, must be original thought up by yourself (no playback).
Your act should be between 3 to 5 minutes long.
There must be a minimum of 30% of belly dance in your choreography mixed with another style.
Category 2, Choosing Fusion: please state clearly which style you dance.
