Nadira, Belly Dancer USA 2007, will be at this year’s competition, this weekend at The Mill Casino-Hotel.-Contributed Photo

Belly dancers from across the United States will arrive in Coos County for the Belly Dancer USA competition, taking place at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15.

Originally called the Coos Bay Belly Dance Classic, Belly Dancer USA went national in 1993 and is in its 26th year. After being held for more than 10 years at the Seven Feathers Casino, it has now returned to the Bay Area and will be held at The Mill Casino-Hotel, 3201 Tremont Ave., North Bend.

Local belly dancers will compete for titles along with dancers from around the country. Professionals will compete for the coveted title of Belly Dancer USA 2008. Several other categories are included to give dancers of all levels a chance to compete for trophies and prizes. Audience members also have a chance to vote for the people’s choice awards. The audience also can compete for the best shimmy, best veil and best snake arm awards.

There will also be an International Bazaar featuring vendors from around the country selling their beautiful wares from Egypt, Bali, India, Turkey and other  countries.

A special show at 8 Saturday will feature live music with the Eugene band Americanistan as well as Nadira, Belly Dancer USA 2007; Rachel George, Belly Dancer USA 2006; Mystical Oasis Dance Company and judges of the competition. Nadira will teach a dance workshop on Saturday morning on belly dance technique.

The Saturday contest categories include apprentice, hobbyist, professional alternative music and seven veils. On Sunday, the categories will be duet, non-professional alternative music, Goddess, troupe and professional.

Tickets cost $10 for the Saturday competition, $12 for the Sunday competition and $10 for the Saturday evening show.

The competition is produced by Sutherlin dancer Mezdulene. Her vision was to create a competition for belly dancers with a positive environment to promote sisterhood in the dance and to educate the public about the art of belly dance, a press release said.

Belly dancing is Mezdulene’s passion, and she has danced in Canada, danced for the King of Zaire in Luxor, Egypt, as well as throughout the United States. She has been teaching dance for 27 years holding weekly classes and teaching workshops internationally. She has owned the Mystical Oasis Belly Dance Studio for eight years in Sutherlin, and her students have won numerous awards over the years, according to a press release.

Mezdulene also is the director of the award-winning Mystical Oasis Dance Company, which helps sponsor the event. It is a professional troupe that tours the Northwest.

For more information on the competition, those interested can call Mezdulene at (541) 459-3115 or email jareeda@jareeda.com.