03/03/2025
Dear Austin Belly Dance Community,
It is with great disappointment that we must announce the cancellation of The Austin Belly Dance Convention for 2025. Our cultural grant funding from the City of Austin was denied, and despite our appeals, we have been unable to secure the necessary support to move forward. Without this critical funding, we are unable to afford a suitable venue, as operating costs in Austin are exceptionally high.
While this is not the news we hoped to share, we remain committed to bringing The ABDC back in the future. We will be applying for grant funding again for 2026, and we truly appreciate your continued support as we work toward making that happen. Our mission remains to celebrate and uplift our incredible dance community, and we are eager to return stronger than ever.
In the meantime, we are excited to share that one of our planned 2025 guest instructors, Ragaey Hussein, will still be visiting Austin and offering workshops this year! He will be hosted at Austin Bellydance Studio by Bahaia & Debbie Smith, so we encourage you to take this special opportunity to study with him and experience his artistry firsthand. More details on dates and registration will be available soon.
We are deeply grateful to our community of dancers, teachers, vendors, and supporters who make The ABDC such a cherished event. Though 2025 is not possible, we look forward to dancing with you all again in 2026.
Thank you for your understanding and continued enthusiasm for this art form. We will keep you updated on future plans, and in the meantime, we hope to see you at Ragaey’s workshops and other local events!
With appreciation,
The Austin Belly Dance Convention Team
