Hello everyone.
This is me again, Nadia, a Japanese belly dancer based in Singapore.
TheONE is Japan's top belly dance festival, and there is probably no belly dancer active in Japan who doesn't know about it. It features a stage where you can watch the performers from all directions in 360 degrees, and the YouTube channel with beautiful images is really wonderful and must have many fans!
The next event will be held on January 10, 2026.
Announcing great news that Nadia will be invited as one of the judges for TheONE 2026 competition.
It's a little far away, but one of your goals for the next year is to challenge TheONE, a competition to be held in Tokyo in January 2026. Nadia will also be appearing in the gala show, so please clear your schedule now and look forward to it.
Now my question is,
Do you know Zipang-TheONE, a signature project of the festival?
About Zipang-TheONE ▶︎A project to create a belly dance fusion piece that is full of artistry and ideas as a completely new form of entertainment born in Japan with the theme of "Japanese style x Belly dance".
Refer to the movie on YouTube below :
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Zipang-TheONE
TheONE's CONCEPT
Main theme:
To send out to the world high-quality, entertaining works created by Japanese artists from the stage of TheONE.
Secondary theme:
By having young talented dancers' audition and take part in high-quality works, we hope to develop high-quality, highly motivated dancers. By meeting enthusiastic dancers beyond the confines of the studio, we hope to create horizontal connections and make future belly dancing activities even more passionate. Belly dance friends are irreplaceable treasures.
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■ Entry period: May 15th - June 30th
Contents: One or both of the Japanese fusion pieces "SAKURA SAKURA" and "STORM" choreographed by NADIA.
■ Audition and overall schedule:
① Nadia will send you a video explaining the choreography of the assigned song at the same time as the entry. The assigned song will have the same choreography as the actual performance, but you will only need to submit one minute. Nadia will cut out one minute of the most important choreography in the work and send you a video explaining the choreography.
② Please submit a one-minute video of the choreography that you learned from the video, taken face-to-face and from a horizontal angle that shows your entire body (from your feet to your fan veil). You can wear your usual lesson clothes and make-up normal. Not need to be stage make up.
③ The audition selection will be made by the Zipang-TheONE team. The selection results will be announced on July 10th.
④ Those who are selected for the audition will be sent a full version of the choreography video and will have to practice the choreography themselves between July 10th and August 10th. At the summer camp starting on August 10th, you will participate with the choreography already in place. The content of the camp is not choreography, but rather the acquisition of skills as a professional or semi-professional performer beyond the choreography. At the summer camp, the entire work will be shortened and completed to a level where it can be performed, and at the winter camp, we will practice in costume. In the autumn intensive course (online), we will practice to improve individual abilities.
⑤ The performance will be presented as "Zipang-TheONE 2026" work at the belly dance festival "TheONE" gala show to be held at Sunny Hall in Nippori, Tokyo on January 10th, 2026. The rehearsal the day before will be on January 9th, 2026 from 16:00 to 17:00, with costumes and makeup.
■ Audition fee:
¥6,000 per song / ¥10,000 for two songs
Application: Zipang-TheONE Office
Payment method: Bank transfer / Live Pocket
Audition choreography video: Send a video of Nadia dancing via Vimeo
Entry video: Upload to YouTube as a private video and include the link in an email
■ Entry period: May 15th - June 30th
10:30 - 13:00 (2.5h) - SAKURA SAKURA
13:00 - 14:00 (1h) - Lunch Break
14:00 - 16:30 (2.5h) - STORM
18:00 - 20:00 Social Party (Optional)
Dinner with camp participants, Nadia, and Haruka (TheONE organizer).
Day 2 - Tuesday, December 30th (National Holiday)
10:30 - 13:00 (2.5h) - SAKURA SAKURA
13:00 - 14:00 (1h) - Lunch Break
14:00 - 16:30 (2.5h) - STORM
17:00 Disband
⑤ Rehearsal at venue - Friday, January 9th
16:00-17:00 Dress rehearsal (costumes and makeup included)
At Sunny Hall, Nippori https://www.sunny-move.jp/sunny/index.html
⑥ Performance - Saturday, January 10th
12:00 - 15:00 Festival Gala Show
At Sunny Hall, Nippori https://www.sunny-move.jp/sunny/index.html
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■ Camp/Intensive Course Fee
¥60,000 per song / ¥100,000 for two songs
(Choose either SAKURA SAKURA or STORM, or both)
Application: Zipang-TheONE Office
Inquiries: haruka-hasegawa@theone-japan.com
Payment Method: Live Pokcet
Audition selections will be notified by July 10th. After that, please transfer the camp fee, and we will send you the video of the assigned song, details of the camp venue, etc.
■ What is included in the participation fee:
- Choreography fee for assigned songs (learn from videos)
- Audio files of assigned songs
- Summer camp (10 hours in person)
- Autumn intensive course (10 hours online)
- Winter camp (10 hours in person)
Total tuition fee for 30 hours
- Studio fee for Tokyo camp
- Participation fee for performance in Zipang-TheONE 2026
- Certificate of completion for Zipang-TheONE 2026 project 30-hour intensive
■ What is not included in the participation fee:
- Costume fee to be worn in the performance (costumes will be decided with a budget of about 10,000 yen per costume)
- Props fee (2-color fan veil, Japanese umbrella)
- Food, drink, accommodation, transportation, etc. during the Tokyo camp
■ Other requests from the organizers
- Please cooperate with the quota of 2 tickets for the actual gala show
■ Choreography video:
The video distributed to participants will be a back-shot of Nadia carefully explaining the choreography to "SAKURA SAKURA" and "STORM" in both Japanese and English. We hope that you will use it as a permanent keepsake and that you will dance at many events even after this project. However, please refrain from showing or reselling the videos, audio files, and teaching materials distributed to you to third parties.
Nadia has participated in various festivals around the world in her activities, and I have always been impressed by how wonderful it is that at every festival, a performance that incorporates the unique cultural color of the country and dancer is performed at the opening of the gala show. For example, in Taiwan, Taiwanese aboriginal fusion dance is performed, and in Turkey, Roma, Anatolian folk dance, Iranian Persian dance, Greek Shifteteli, Moroccan Berber step, and other cultures born in the land are combined with the oriental dance that we love and performed with respect on stage. I have always set a challenge for myself as a Japanese dancer and worked on it. Since I have spent half my life overseas, I may have a particularly strong admiration and respect for my home country, Japan. I hoped that one day I would be able to officially present a work that fully incorporates my roots and cultural color at a Japanese festival.
And now, at a very good timing, I was asked to take on the big role of general director for "Zipang-TheONE 2026 - Japanese x Belly Dance". I was so excited that I got goosebumps for the first time in a long time. Thank you so much, Haruka, for asking me.
Yes, it's one of Nadia's dreams that I've wanted to do for many years.
It's about to come true.
It would be a shame to keep this wonderful dream to myself, so I wanted to share it with everyone.
As mentioned above, "Zipang-TheONE" is a grand project to send high-quality, entertaining works created by Japanese artists to the world from the stage of TheONE. I want to create the most entertaining and high-quality work ever, so I'm looking for people who will help me create it together.
This time, we are looking for:
- A dancer who will perform with Nadia and create a stage together
- A dancer who can make an effort to practice in order to create the best stage
- A dancer who can participate in the training camp (summer/winter) and intensive course (autumn) supervised by Nadia
As the hidden theme says, we want to develop highly conscious dancers from young talents, so we would like to lead all members to the next level with uncompromising instruction.
The performance will be a 10-15 minute long work created by a group dance. We plan to present two songs,「SAKURA SAKURA」, the most popular of Nadia's choreography works, and 「STORM」, the latest work for 2025, with a slightly new design. You can apply to one or two songs from above songs.
Auditions will be video screening. Those selected for the audition will have two training camps in Tokyo, in summer and winter. In the fall, there will be three online intensive courses. We would like you to take your time and improve your skills over the course of six months. If you attend all sessions, you will receive a certificate of completion from Zipang-TheONE 2026 x NADIA after completing your performance.
If you share the same goal with Nadia, this is "dancing Japanese pieces as an oriental dancer that will be broadcast to the world on the TheONE stage in January 2026", if you wish to go with me, then please apply.
We look forward to your participation.
Nadia
Zipang-TheONE 2026
C A S T I N G A U D I T I O N
■ Entry period: May 15th - June 30th
Contents: One or both of the Japanese fusion pieces "SAKURA SAKURA" and "STORM" choreographed by NADIA.
■ Audition and overall schedule:
① Nadia will send you a video explaining the choreography of the assigned song at the same time as the entry. The assigned song will have the same choreography as the actual performance, but you will only need to submit one minute. Nadia will cut out one minute of the most important choreography in the work and send you a video explaining the choreography.
② Please submit a one-minute video of the choreography that you learned from the video, taken face-to-face and from a horizontal angle that shows your entire body (from your feet to your fan veil). You can wear your usual lesson clothes and make-up normal. Not need to be stage make up.
③ The audition selection will be made by the Zipang-TheONE team. The selection results will be announced on July 10th.
④ Those who are selected for the audition will be sent a full version of the choreography video and will have to practice the choreography themselves between July 10th and August 10th. At the summer camp starting on August 10th, you will participate with the choreography already in place. The content of the camp is not choreography, but rather the acquisition of skills as a professional or semi-professional performer beyond the choreography. At the summer camp, the entire work will be shortened and completed to a level where it can be performed, and at the winter camp, we will practice in costume. In the autumn intensive course (online), we will practice to improve individual abilities.
⑤ The performance will be presented as "Zipang-TheONE 2026" work at the belly dance festival "TheONE" gala show to be held at Sunny Hall in Nippori, Tokyo on January 10th, 2026. The rehearsal the day before will be on January 9th, 2026 from 16:00 to 17:00, with costumes and makeup.
■ Audition fee:
¥6,000 per song / ¥10,000 for two songs
Application: Zipang-TheONE Office
Payment method: Bank transfer / Live Pocket
Audition choreography video: Send a video of Nadia dancing via Vimeo
Entry video: Upload to YouTube as a private video and include the link in an email
■ Entry period: May 15th - June 30th
Deadline: June 30th
Zipang - the ONE 2026
T R A I N I N G C A M P
■ Training period:
July 2025 - January 2026 (6 months)
- Summer camp: August 10-11 in Tokyo (studio)
- Winter camp: December 29-30 in Tokyo (studio)
- Autumn intensive course: September 23 (Tue) / October 13 (Mon) / November 23 (Sun) (online)
■ Training content:
Those who are selected through the audition selection will be given the right to participate in a training camp supervised by Nadia. Over the course of six months in summer, autumn and winter, all participants will hone their dance skills. The goal is to "polish individual skills and create a next-level piece together."
The camp will be held in a studio in Tokyo in summer and winter. Nadia will return to Japan from Singapore for this purpose. The autumn camp will be held online.
■ Training Schedule:
① Start of choreography - July 10th to August 10th, 2025 (1 month)
You will be sent a full video of the assigned song. Each person will practice the choreography using the video.
② Summer camp - August 10th to 11th, 2025 (2 days)
A 2-day training camp will be held at a studio in Tokyo. You will participate with the choreography in place. The content of the camp will not be choreography, but rather the acquisition of skills as a professional or semi-professional performer beyond choreography. During the summer camp, the entire work will be completed to a level that can be used as a show. The formation for the actual performance will be created and the standing positions will also be decided. It will be completed in 2 days.
Day 1 - August 10th (Sun)
10:30 - 13:00 (2.5h) - SAKURA SAKURA
13:00 - 14:00 (1h) - Lunch break
14:00 - 16:30 (2.5h) - STORM
18:00 - 20:00 Social gathering (Optional)
Dinner with camp participants, Nadia, and Haruka (the ONE organizer).
Day 2 - August 11th (Mon) (Holiday)
10:30 - 13:00 (2.5h) - SAKURA SAKURA
13:00 - 14:00 (1h) - Lunch break
14:00 - 16:30 (2.5h) - STORM
17:00 Disband
③ Autumn Intensive Course (3 sessions) - September 23rd October 13th November 23rd
This course will be held online. We will connect with Nadia in Singapore via ZOOM and teach her detailed movements. For example, we will teach each dancer how to use the wrist snap of a Japanese umbrella, the angle of the fan veil, and the stylish posing check with speed and speed that is unique to Japanese fusion. We will also give a lot of assignments and homework. We aim to improve each individual's skills over the course of 3 sessions. Also, during this period, we will ask all of your technical questions about the assigned piece and all of your doubts and questions about the Japanese fusion piece, and we will clear everything up.
Tuesday, September 23rd (National Holiday)
10:00-12:00 SAKURA SAKURA (2h)
13:00-15:00 STORM (2h)
Monday, October 13th (National Holiday)
10:00-12:00 SAKURA SAKURA (2h)
13:00-15:00 STORM (2h)
Sunday, November 23rd (National Holiday)
15:00-16:00 SAKURA SAKURA (1h)
16:00-17:00 STORM (1h)
④ Winter Camp - December 29th-30th (2 days)
A two-day training camp will be held at a studio in Tokyo. This is a camp to put the finishing touches on all the dancers' individual skills, formations, etc., which are all already complete. Participants will be required to wear costumes. This is a joint performance and group dance piece with Nadia, but we will have a final rehearsal to check whether each person has achieved their goal and to aim for a complete piece as a team with a sense of unity.
Day 1 - Monday, December 29th (National Holiday)
① Start of choreography - July 10th to August 10th, 2025 (1 month)
You will be sent a full video of the assigned song. Each person will practice the choreography using the video.
② Summer camp - August 10th to 11th, 2025 (2 days)
A 2-day training camp will be held at a studio in Tokyo. You will participate with the choreography in place. The content of the camp will not be choreography, but rather the acquisition of skills as a professional or semi-professional performer beyond choreography. During the summer camp, the entire work will be completed to a level that can be used as a show. The formation for the actual performance will be created and the standing positions will also be decided. It will be completed in 2 days.
Day 1 - August 10th (Sun)
10:30 - 13:00 (2.5h) - SAKURA SAKURA
13:00 - 14:00 (1h) - Lunch break
14:00 - 16:30 (2.5h) - STORM
18:00 - 20:00 Social gathering (Optional)
Dinner with camp participants, Nadia, and Haruka (the ONE organizer).
Day 2 - August 11th (Mon) (Holiday)
10:30 - 13:00 (2.5h) - SAKURA SAKURA
13:00 - 14:00 (1h) - Lunch break
14:00 - 16:30 (2.5h) - STORM
17:00 Disband
③ Autumn Intensive Course (3 sessions) - September 23rd October 13th November 23rd
This course will be held online. We will connect with Nadia in Singapore via ZOOM and teach her detailed movements. For example, we will teach each dancer how to use the wrist snap of a Japanese umbrella, the angle of the fan veil, and the stylish posing check with speed and speed that is unique to Japanese fusion. We will also give a lot of assignments and homework. We aim to improve each individual's skills over the course of 3 sessions. Also, during this period, we will ask all of your technical questions about the assigned piece and all of your doubts and questions about the Japanese fusion piece, and we will clear everything up.
Tuesday, September 23rd (National Holiday)
10:00-12:00 SAKURA SAKURA (2h)
13:00-15:00 STORM (2h)
Monday, October 13th (National Holiday)
10:00-12:00 SAKURA SAKURA (2h)
13:00-15:00 STORM (2h)
Sunday, November 23rd (National Holiday)
15:00-16:00 SAKURA SAKURA (1h)
16:00-17:00 STORM (1h)
④ Winter Camp - December 29th-30th (2 days)
A two-day training camp will be held at a studio in Tokyo. This is a camp to put the finishing touches on all the dancers' individual skills, formations, etc., which are all already complete. Participants will be required to wear costumes. This is a joint performance and group dance piece with Nadia, but we will have a final rehearsal to check whether each person has achieved their goal and to aim for a complete piece as a team with a sense of unity.
Day 1 - Monday, December 29th (National Holiday)
10:30 - 13:00 (2.5h) - SAKURA SAKURA
13:00 - 14:00 (1h) - Lunch Break
14:00 - 16:30 (2.5h) - STORM
18:00 - 20:00 Social Party (Optional)
Dinner with camp participants, Nadia, and Haruka (TheONE organizer).
Day 2 - Tuesday, December 30th (National Holiday)
10:30 - 13:00 (2.5h) - SAKURA SAKURA
13:00 - 14:00 (1h) - Lunch Break
14:00 - 16:30 (2.5h) - STORM
17:00 Disband
⑤ Rehearsal at venue - Friday, January 9th
16:00-17:00 Dress rehearsal (costumes and makeup included)
At Sunny Hall, Nippori https://www.sunny-move.jp/sunny/index.html
⑥ Performance - Saturday, January 10th
12:00 - 15:00 Festival Gala Show
At Sunny Hall, Nippori https://www.sunny-move.jp/sunny/index.html
------
■ Camp/Intensive Course Fee
¥60,000 per song / ¥100,000 for two songs
(Choose either SAKURA SAKURA or STORM, or both)
Application: Zipang-TheONE Office
Inquiries: haruka-hasegawa@theone-japan.com
Payment Method: Live Pokcet
Audition selections will be notified by July 10th. After that, please transfer the camp fee, and we will send you the video of the assigned song, details of the camp venue, etc.
■ What is included in the participation fee:
- Choreography fee for assigned songs (learn from videos)
- Audio files of assigned songs
- Summer camp (10 hours in person)
- Autumn intensive course (10 hours online)
- Winter camp (10 hours in person)
Total tuition fee for 30 hours
- Studio fee for Tokyo camp
- Participation fee for performance in Zipang-TheONE 2026
- Certificate of completion for Zipang-TheONE 2026 project 30-hour intensive
■ What is not included in the participation fee:
- Costume fee to be worn in the performance (costumes will be decided with a budget of about 10,000 yen per costume)
- Props fee (2-color fan veil, Japanese umbrella)
- Food, drink, accommodation, transportation, etc. during the Tokyo camp
■ Other requests from the organizers
- Please cooperate with the quota of 2 tickets for the actual gala show
■ Choreography video:
The video distributed to participants will be a back-shot of Nadia carefully explaining the choreography to "SAKURA SAKURA" and "STORM" in both Japanese and English. We hope that you will use it as a permanent keepsake and that you will dance at many events even after this project. However, please refrain from showing or reselling the videos, audio files, and teaching materials distributed to you to third parties.
■ A message from Nadia to everyone:
Even if you have already learned this piece in previous workshops or online lessons, we encourage you to take on the challenge of this project to upgrade your expression to the next level. Let's learn more about this piece with Nadia, deepen our understanding, and share it with the world from Japan.
For those of you who are new to Japanese fusion, we would love to share in the excitement of the moment when the new possibilities of belly dance and the expanding worldview that comes from it blossom with the refined, high-quality sensibility unique to the Japanese.
Please join us and look forward to it.
For applications and inquiries, please contact the Zipang-TheONE Secretariat.
