Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the WAMED Festival in 2023?
All our venues will be in Fremantle and surrounds:
- The University of Notre Dame (Henry St, Fremantle WA) for the major workshop venue.
- The Albion Hotel, 535 Stirling Highway Cottesloe for the Friday and Saturday night shows.
- Bar Orient, 39 High St, Fremantle for the WAMED Welcome Dinner on Thursday night.
- The Navy Club Fremantle, 64 High St Fremantle, for the Raqs Cafe on Sunday night
- The Fremantle Town Hall, 8 William St Fremantle, for the Grande Bazaar on Monday.
What are the events over the weekend?
Welcome Event
This is a really relaxed and low-key dinner event, to gather all the festival participants from across the country and overseas so you can meet some friendly faces before the workshops and performances begin. It's a great chance to catch up and meet dancers, swap workshop choices and promises to share videos with old and new friends. Rock up anytime from 6-8pm and grab dinner from the extensive pub menu and come and join the merry throng.
Leilat Ghazal Parts 1 and 2 - Friday & Saturday Night
These stage shows feature performances from our guest master artist, Kaouther Ben Amor from Paris, many of our workshop participants and teachers, bellydance troupes and soloists from WA and interstate. It is an eclectic mix of performers across many of the sub-genres of bellydance, such as graceful floating orientale, earthy and grounded tribal style, fiery drum solos, darker serpentine forms of fusion and energetic bollywood. The WAMED stage is one of the most prestigious available in WA, so all our performers bring their best to display at this high-calibre festival. It's also a great opportunity for those who haven't been to a bellydance show before to see the wide variety of styles included in this dance genre and there is truly something to delight everyone!
Raqs Cafe - Sunday night
This is a lovely and relaxed evening as our participants wind down from a massive three days of workshops and stage shows. Held in the more intimate surrounds of the Navy Club, you can order dinner and drinks from the bar and enjoy some dancer interviews, a few feature performances and hit the dance floor for a shake-it-out freedance boogie. A perfect way to spend the last evening of the festival.
Grande Bazaar - Monday
Bellydance Christmas! Join us at the Freo Town Hall, bedecked in stalls featuring all the products you love, from costuming, craft supplies (for making costumes), props, jewellery and accessories, personal and pampering items and more! What's more, we feature three brackets of performances on the stage, so come to shop, stay to watch!
How can I buy tickets?
Go to the WAMED Shop and knock your socks off! Online bookings close Wednesday 31 May and then door sales will be available at the venue for workshops and events. Cash and card accepted.
What's a festival pass?
A Festival Pass is a one-stop, all-access pass to all the workshops and events over WAMED. You can swan in and out of any workshop you like with free tickets to all the events. Can't decide? Book the whole lot! Value for participants is $785 - all for $650! Bargain!
Will workshops or events be available online?
No - unless WA is in lockdown or the health restrictions preclude gatherings. We are planning an in-person festival for this year.
What if I'm travelling from interstate?
Please keep a close eye on the health advice from both your home state and WA. Please contact the Committee if you require any support.
How can I find accomodation?
Festival accomodation can be found in abundance in Fremantle, which is chock-full of hotels, hostels, AirBnBs and more. You can also post in the WAMED Facebook group to find a local dancer to billet with (a great way to meet new people!) or to find others to share accomodation with. Start with: Trivago.com.au, Wotif.com, AirBnB.com, Quickbeds.com, Stayz.com and more! Find more information on our Orientation Page!
What merchandise are you offering?
It's lovely to have a memento of the festival to bring back fond memories of the awesome time you're about to enjoy! We are upload this year's themed logo to Red Bubble, so you can order an "anything" with this year's logo on it! Shirts, hoodies, bags and more! We also stock an eco-coffee cup with a lid available from the festival reception. This year's logo is designed by the amazing and talented Alma Sarhan. Check out the Merchandise page for more info.