Belly Dance Life
All insights into belly dance lifestyle, covering techniques, culture, and community aspects of belly dancing.
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Ep 397. How to Start Creating Choreography When You Don’t Know Where to Begin
This episode is a little different from the usual Belly Dance Life Podcast because instead of an interview, I’m sharing two full lectures from my recent Iana Dance Club intensive “How to Make Your Own Choreographies.” We talk about that difficult moment when you have a song, an idea, a costume, or a performance coming up and need to figure out how to turn it into an actual choreography. I cover fi
Ep 396. Ammar Sayed: Teaching Arabic Language to Belly Dancers in Brazil
Ammar Sayed is an Egyptian-born entrepreneur, and language teacher who has lived in Brazil for nearly a decade and is now a naturalized Brazilian based in João Pessoa. Certified in teaching English and Arabic as foreign languages, he has more than 10 years of experience in language education and has also worked in translation. Ammar teaches Classical and Egyptian Arabic as well as English, using p
Ep 395. Giselle Alfaro: How to Stop Fighting Stage Nerves and Start Using Them
Giselle Alfaro, originally from El Salvador, is a dance artist with more than 17 years of experience, specializing in Middle Eastern dance. She has performed at international festivals including Oriental Marathon Festival in France, Bellydance Convention in Mexico, and Sands of Time in Greece. From 2017 to 2019, Giselle toured as a featured dancer with BellyDance Evolution in its production Fantas
Ep 394. Haifa: What It Took to Be Able to Teach Belly Dance Openly in Kuwait
Haifa is a Kuwaiti dance artist, Certified BMD belly dance instructor, and founder of The Rhythm Academy for Performing Arts, with 27 years of experience in Oriental dance. Recognized as one of Kuwait’s pioneering dance educators, she was among the early women to openly present and teach Oriental dance as a legitimate art form and wellness practice despite experiencing significant social resistanc
Ep 393. Devin Alfather: When One Dance Form Is Not Enough for Everything You Want to Say
Devin Alfather is a multidisciplinary dancer and entertainer specializing in theatrical Fusion Bellydance, Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, MENAHT and world fusion dances, as well as burlesque, circus, fire performance, and other dance forms. A multi-award-winning performer and instructor, she is dedicated to both technical development and deeper understanding of the cultural sources behind the forms she stu
Ep 392. Silvia Brazzoli: Dancing Through Miscarriage and Rediscovering Your New Self
Silvia Brazzoli is an international belly dance artist, instructor, artistic director, yoga teacher, and visual artist based in Italy. She began studying oriental dance at the age of 18 and has since performed and taught across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Known for her elegant, feminine style and empowering approach to teaching, Silvia continues to explore oriental dance and other move
Ep 391. Moria Chappell: The Uncomfortable History of Sexuality and Dance
Moria Chappell is an internationally renowned performance artist, dance instructor, researcher, artistic director, and costume designer specializing in Fusion and Experimental Belly Dance, Temple Dance, and Indian Odissi Classical Dance. Over more than two decades, she has performed, taught, and researched ancient dance traditions in over 50 countries, exploring connections between movement, ritua
Ep 390. Nisaa (Heather D. Ward): How Egypt Celebrates Belly Dance While Stigmatizing Its Dancers
Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) is an instructor, performer, and researcher of Egyptian dance based in St. Louis, Missouri. Specializing in Egyptian raqs sharqi as well as baladi, awalim, ghawazi, and other Egyptian folk and traditional dances, her work focuses on understanding dance within its broader sociocultural and historical context. With academic degrees in anthropology and history, Nisaa has studi
Ep 389. Jrisi Jusakos: How to Dance With Musicians Instead of Just Dancing to Music
Jrisi Jusakos is an Australian dancer, choreographer, educator, and producer with more than 35 years of experience in dance. Born in Chile to a Greek family and raised in Australia, she first connected with Arabic music and dance through Sydney’s Lebanese community before beginning her formal belly dance training as a teenager. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a major in Contemporary Cho
Ep 388. Phaedra Darwish: What Belly Dancers Can Borrow From the Western System of Music Education
Phaedra Darwish is a Chicago-based dancer, musician, instructor, and cultural advocate with a background in instrumental and vocal music and musical theatre. Inspired by Arabic dance and music and their connection to her own heritage, she has spent more than 14 years performing and teaching throughout Chicago and across the United States, while also participating in cultural events, community fund
Ep 387. Olena Sinelnikova: The Teacher Who Knows How to Create Stars
Olena Sinelnikova is an internationally acclaimed belly dancer, choreographer, and instructor from Ukraine. She is the founder and director of the Isfahan Dance School and the organizer of the Isfahan Bellydance Festival. An international judge and mentor to numerous Ukrainian champions and stage stars, Olena is recognized for her dedication to developing the next generation of dancers. She is als
Ep 386. Kira Lebedeva: When Your Dance Career Outgrows Just Performing
Kira Lebedeva is a Tribal Fusion belly dancer, yoga instructor, and mentor from Lviv, Ukraine, with over 16 years of experience in dance and more than a decade of teaching. Known for her exceptional body control, fluid musicality, and expressive storytelling, she has become one of the leading artists in the international Tribal Fusion community. Her work is distinguished by a seamless fusion of te
Ep 385. Maris: What a Real Working Day Looks Like for a Professional Dancer in Cairo
Maris is an Estonian belly dancer, instructor, performer, and recording artist who has built an international career across Europe and the Middle East. After beginning her dance journey in 2005 and teaching from 2012, she launched her professional career in Egypt with daily performances in Sharm El Sheikh before moving on to Dubai and eventually settling in Cairo, where she has become a sought-aft
Ep 384. Nadia Sueoka: What Happens When Japanese Art Meets Middle Eastern Dance?
Nadia Sueoka is a Japanese belly dancer, choreographer, and instructor based in Singapore, with an international career spanning performances, teaching, and choreography around the world. Since beginning her professional career in 2005, she has trained extensively in Egypt and Turkey with world-renowned masters. Having traveled to more than 30 countries, she has developed a distinctive artistic st
Ep 383. Ruxandra: Shocking Stories About Belly Dance Realities in Romania
Ruxandra is a Romanian Oriental dance instructor, performer, choreographer, promoter, and storyteller. A graduate of the Floria Capsalli Choreography High School in Bucharest and the Performing Arts Department of Gheorghe Cristea University of Sciences and Arts, she has a strong foundation in ballet and has also studied contemporary, modern, folk, Latin, flamenco, African, and Oriental dance. Afte
Ep 382. Petite Jamilla: From Bellydance Superstars to Mother of Four
Petite Jamilla is an internationally acclaimed belly dancer, choreographer, instructor, and performer who began her professional career at just 15 years old. Trained from childhood by her mother, folkloric dancer Jamilla Rasa, and further inspired by Polynesian dance, she has dedicated her life to bridging traditional folkloric roots with contemporary belly dance. Petite Jamilla toured internation
Ep 381. Samantha Karim: Redefining Confidence Through Belly Dance & Why So Many Dancers Are Afraid to Take Up Space
Samantha Karim is an award-winning belly dancer, speaker, coach, and educator dedicated to helping women build confidence, overcome perfectionism, and embrace authentic self-expression. A 2013 USA Belly Dance Queen Champion with more than 20 years of teaching and coaching experience, Samantha combines her extensive background in belly dance with life coaching to help women cultivate body confidenc
Ep 380. Katalin Schäfer: ADHD, Neurodiversity, Motherhood, and the Unexpected Power of Dance
Katalin Schäfer is a Hungarian dancer, choreographer, teacher, costume designer, and psychology student whose work bridges Middle Eastern dance, modern fusion, somatic movement, and self-awareness practices. With more than 20 years of international teaching, performing, and judging experience, she is the creator of the NEUture Dance method, a neuroaffirmative approach that integrates movement, bod
Ep 379. Sahra Saeeda (Sahra C Kent): From Meeting Farida Fahmy as Her University Classmate to Creating the Iconic “Journey Through Egypt” Program
Sahra Saeeda (Sahra C Kent) is an internationally respected belly dancer, researcher, teacher, and choreographer whose career bridges performance, anthropology, and deep cultural study of Egyptian dance. Originally trained in Modern Dance, she later discovered Arabic music and belly dance, eventually building a successful career that included nearly six years performing six nights a week at the Me
Ep 378. Serkan Tutar: When Judgment Says More About the Viewer Than the Dancer
Serkan Tutar is an internationally award-winning Turkish belly dancer, teacher, choreographer, and festival organizer known for his dynamic stage presence and multicultural approach to Oriental dance. Originally from Turkey and now based in Belgium, Serkan discovered his passion for belly dance as a child during his time in Saudi Arabia and was deeply inspired by Middle Eastern music and culture.
Ep 377. Ahmed Refaat: Finding Your Personal Style in Egyptian Folklore
Ahmed Refaat is an Egyptian folkloric dancer, choreographer, and master teacher with over 35 years of experience dedicated to preserving and sharing the richness of Egyptian dance culture. Beginning his dance journey at the age of nine at El Gezira Youth Center under renowned teacher Mokhtar Mustafa, Ahmed later became an instructor himself, training new generations of dancers from a young age. He
Ep 376. Sara Pappalardo: The Difference Between Constant Encouragement and Real Teaching
Sara Pappalardo is an Italian Oriental and Bollywood dancer, choreographer, teacher, and festival organizer based in Catania, Sicily. Founder of the dance school Tery al Kubra and artistic director of the internationally recognized Khamsin Festival, Sara is known for blending strong technical foundations with expressive freedom and deep musical understanding. Specializing in Muwashahat, she has al
Ep 375. Verona Kemet (Veronika Kremenskaya): Between Ukrainian Training and Egyptian Style
Verona Kemet (Veronika Kremenskaya) is a Ukrainian belly dancer, known for her strong musicality, expressive style, and deep connection to Egyptian dance aesthetics. She has taught workshops and master classes across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, including Spain, Italy, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Brazil, and Egypt. A highly accomplished competitor, Veronika is the wi
Ep 374. Süreya: The Fine Line Between Being Passionate & Pushing Too Hard in Belly Dance
Süreya is a London-based, internationally recognized Turkish belly dancer, choreographer, and instructor known for her dynamic stage presence, strong musicality, and versatility across multiple Middle Eastern dance styles. Deeply connected to her Turkish cultural roots, she has trained extensively in Turkish, Egyptian, Lebanese, Iraqi, and Khaleegy dance, as well as ballet and theatrical fusion. A
Ep 373. Sharon Mesguich: How Much Does It Cost to Organize a Festival & What It Takes to Create a True Artistry on Stage
Sharon Mesguich is a French, Tunisian, and Algerian belly dance artist, teacher, and festival organizer known for her dynamic stage presence and deep connection to Egyptian style. Introduced to oriental arts from a young age, she discovered belly dance in 1999 and has since built an international career, performing at major venues and events while teaching across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and
Ep 372. Maha Al Musa: Belly Dance as Preparation for Childbirth and Guiding Practice Through Menopause
Maha Al Musa is an award-winning international childbirth educator, speaker, and the founder of EmbodyBirth and BellydanceBirth®, a pioneering approach to pregnancy and birth preparation she has been teaching since 1997. A leading advocate for natural birth, breastfeeding, and women’s embodied wisdom, she is the author of the acclaimed book Dance of the Womb: The Essential Guide to Belly Dance for
Ep 371. April Rose: From Connection to Isolation in Belly Dance and Searching Our Way Back
April Rose is a belly dancer, teacher, and creator of the Dance Cohesion method, known for her precise technique, integration of finger cymbals and frame drum, and emphasis on group improvisation and musical connection. Based in Austin, Texas, she has taught and performed in over 25 countries, sharing a fusion approach rooted in Middle Eastern, North African, Turkish, Hellenic, and Central and Sou
Ep 370. Dr George Sawa: How Centuries-Old Knowledge Can Still Guide Modern Dancers and Musicians
Dr. George Sawa is an internationally recognized musicologist, performer, and educator specializing in Arabic music history, theory, and performance. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, he brings over 50 years of experience, with training from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music and a PhD in historical Arabic musicology from the University of Toronto. He has taught at the University of Toronto and York Un
Ep 369. Bindu Bolar: An Artist Is Always a Student
Bindu Bolar is an award-winning Indian dance artist and a pioneer of Tribal Fusion Belly Dance in her country, known for creating her signature style, “Belly Animation,” which blends belly dance with popping and animation. She is the founder and artistic director of Lights Camera Dance in Bangalore and has built an international career as a performer and teacher, leading workshops across the USA,
Ep 368. Kamilia: How the Modern Economy Is Reshaping the Belly Dance Industry
Kamilia is a Brazilian-born belly dancer who built an international career performing across Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, where she became known for her powerful stage presence and deep connection to Oriental music. Beginning her dance journey at the age of six, she went on to become one of the youngest dancers featured on LBC TV and trained under renowned figures including Caraca
Ep 367. Ellie: What Contradictions Research Reveals About Belly Dance and Mental Health
Ellie is a belly dancer, teacher, and researcher who approaches Raqs Sharqi with a deep respect for its cultural roots and a focus on connection through movement. Dancing since childhood, she discovered belly dance in 2014 and has since spent over years teaching and performing, cultivating a practice centered on confidence, femininity, and ongoing learning. Alongside her dance career, Ellie holds
Ep 366. Julieta Maffia: What Dance Teaches About Femininity and Freedom
Julieta Maffia is a dance artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, specializing in what was formerly known as Tribal Fusion Bellydance. She is the founder of Saturnus Studio, where she teaches regular classes and develops a wide range of artistic projects. Her work has been recognized internationally, allowing her to present the Argentinian approach to this dance form across different cities worldwide
Ep 365. Tamalyn Dallal: Celebrating 50 Years in Belly Dance!
Tamalyn Dallal is an internationally renowned belly dancer, teacher, and author celebrating over 50 years in dance. She began her career in 1976 and toured South America in the 1980s performing for Arab communities before founding the Mid Eastern Dance Exchange in Miami Beach, a nonprofit school and performing company that operated from 1990 to 2007 and trained many professional dancers. She later
Ep 364. Sandra Kahloun: The Difference Between Imitation & Interpretation
Sandra Kahloun, born in Tunisia and raised in the world of Oriental music, grew up surrounded by some of the greatest names of Egyptian art. Her father produced the renowned Egyptian orchestra Abdel Aziz Mahmour in 1970s Paris, and her mother was an interpreter of Oum Kalsoum’s repertoire, giving Sandra a deep musical foundation from childhood. She trained extensively in Cairo with masters such as
Ep 363. Natalie Nayun: When Governments Try to Shape the Perceptions of the Central Asian Dances
Natalie Nayun is an international teacher and performer specializing in contemporary and folkloric dance traditions from Central Asia and the Middle East. With over 20 years of dance experience and 15 years of teaching, she has studied extensively in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Oman, conducting research and training through grants including the HAAS Scholar Award, CLS, and FLAS for Persian
Ep 362. Summer Deng: The Rise of Belly Dance in China
Summer Deng is one of the most sought-after Chinese professionals in the world of Oriental dance, celebrated for his exceptional technical precision, artistic expression, and groundbreaking contributions as a male dancer. He has performed, taught, and judged across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, conducting hundreds of workshops and intensives in over 80 cities in China alone. Kno
Ep 361. Belyssa: 30 Years of Documenting Bedouin Traditions and the Dilemma of How to Share Her Research Properly
Belyssa is a pioneering figure in Australian belly dance who founded the Belyssa Academy of Danse Orientale and the Flames of Araby troupe, establishing a legacy of dramatic, classical artistry. Over the past 30 years, Belyssa has dedicated herself to documenting the raw, earthbound rhythms and movements of isolated Bedouin tribes in the Sinai and Western Desert, far removed from the theatrical po
Ep 360. Fernanda: The Mental Health Side of Professional Belly Dancing
Fernanda Reschke is a Brazilian-born Oriental dance artist, educator, and trauma-informed psychotherapist whose work bridges movement, culture, and healing. She began her career as a dancer and choreographer at a young age and later trained in counseling and naturopathy, holding a bachelor’s degree in holistic health and wellbeing. Fernanda spent many years living and performing professionally in
Ep 359. Sadie Marquardt: Belly Dance as a Living Map of Feminine Life Stages, From Maiden to Mother to Crone
Sadie is an internationally recognized Oriental dance artist, educator, and innovator dedicated to empowering people through the art of belly dance. She has produced dozens of bestselling instructional videos, amassed millions of views through viral online content, and represented Oriental dance before a global audience on America’s Got Talent. Sadie is the founder and director of Raqs Online and
Ep 358. Mohamed Reda: How to Dance with Egyptian Live Band Confidently
Mohamed Reda Saad is a prominent Egyptian musician and the leader of the Cairo Band, one of Cairo’s most sought-after ensembles for major dance festivals and cultural events. Continuing the artistic legacy of his father, the renowned musician Reda Saad, Mohamed has both preserved and expanded this heritage, specializing in traditional and contemporary Egyptian music created specifically for profes
Ep 357. Yaël Zarca: How to Teach Students to Listen, Feel and Dance, Not Just Copy
Yaël Zarca is an internationally recognized Oriental dance artist and one of the leading figures of Egyptian dance in France. She discovered Oriental dance in 1999 and has since built a remarkable career spanning Parisian studios, major international stages, television appearances, instructional DVDs, and creative projects within the dance world. Known for her expressive, elegant style, Yaël blend
Ep 356. Martina Tellini: When Competition Helps a Dancer and When It Doesn’t
Martina Tellini is an Italian professional belly dancer, teacher, and choreographer known for her dynamic, powerful, and natural style. Born in Florence, she began her artistic path with music, singing, and acting before dedicating herself to dance. Martina trained extensively with leading figures of Oriental Dance, including Randa Kamel, Tito Seif, Yousry Sharif, and Wael Mansour, and went on to
Ep 355. Roxxanne Shelaby: Film Discussion: The Fez Documentary
Roxxanne Shelaby is a Southern California–based performer, teacher, and producer whose work is rooted in her Lebanese/Brazilian heritage and a lifelong immersion in Egyptian Style Oriental Dance. Raised in her family’s legendary nightclubs, Fez and Cascades, she grew up surrounded by live Middle Eastern music and dance, learning directly from iconic artists such as Feiruz Aram, Marie Silva, Sahra
Ep 354. Nivetha Shree: Find Your Patterns and Then Break Them
Fascinated by the arts since childhood, Nivetha Shree discovered Belly Dance at the age of 21 and has since trained with renowned teachers around the world. She holds certifications in DanceCraft – Key of Diamonds by Zoe Jakes and Krysalis – Invocation by Kami Liddle, and is an FCBD® Teacher, proudly leading the first officially recognized FCBD® Sister Studio in India. A Level 2 Yoga practitioner
Ep 353. Snigdha Sachdev: What Makes an Effective Belly Dance Class
Snigdha Sachdev is a Delhi-based fusion belly dance artist and dedicated yoga enthusiast. A Biotechnology graduate with a master’s degree in Stem Cell Technology, she discovered her pull toward belly dance at a very young age. Her dance journey began with extensive training in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, and Kathak—foundations she later blended to deepen her belly dance technique and develop her o
Ep 352. Gracie Mandujano: The Energetics Behind Every Hip Circle That No One Talks About
Gracie Mandujano was born in Honduras, a land rooted in ancient Mayan traditions, and from an early age felt called to reconnect with life’s true purpose and the depth of her courageous spirit. Guided by yoga and dance, she returned to her physical body and divine power, dedicating herself to ancestral arts and becoming a healer and light worker. Her lineage eventually led her back to the ways of
Ep 351. Esmeralda Colabone: Is This Really The Last Tour?..
Esmeralda Colabone has dedicated herself to Arab dance and culture since 1999. From 2002 to 2014 she worked with Belly Dance Brazil and Lebanon’s famed La Maison de L’Artiste, becoming the agency’s youngest dancer at 19 and spending 12 years performing across the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Syria, and Lebanon. She was the first Brazilian to tour the Maghreb and held one of Tunisia
Ep 350. Leli Neeraja: A Journey From Anxiety to Self-Connection Through Belly Dance, Tribal Fusion and Odissi
Leli Neeraja is a dancer and teacher who has dedicated over a decade to guiding others toward inner balance through movement. Her work is a continuous exploration of fusion between East and West, blending the grace of Indian classical dance with the expressive freedom of contemporary forms. She spends several months each year in India, deepening her study of traditional disciplines that help her e
Ep 349. Suhaila Salimpour: Carrying Arab-American Heritage into the Academic World
Suhaila Salimpour, of Sicilian-Greek and Kurdish-American heritage, is a second-generation belly dancer and a pioneering figure in the global dance community. A former house dancer at the legendary Byblos nightclub in Beverly Hills, she toured internationally for over a decade, performing across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America. As the visionary creator of the first codified pedago
Ep 348. Badriyah: When Life Falls Apart, the Dance Remains
Badriyah is a professional oriental dancer based in Belgium, dedicated to Egyptian classical and folkloric styles, modern fusion, and the Golden Age of belly dance. With over a decade of teaching experience, she offers regular classes at Shoonya Dance Centre in Ghent and travels across Europe to teach and lecture. A former lead and troupe member of Jillina’s world-touring company Bellydance Evolut
Ep 347. Melissa Gamal: What Happens When You Stop Holding Yourself Back
Melissa Gamal is an award-winning dancer, instructor, and event producer based in Toronto, Canada. As the director of the Ya Amar School of Dance, Melissa is dedicated to providing comprehensive training in Egyptian dance, blending refined technique with a strong awareness of history and cultural context. Her work has taken her across North America and to Egypt, where she continues her studies to
Ep 346. Virginia Danielson: Book Discussion: The Voice of Egypt. Umm Kulthum, Arabic Song, and Egyptian Society in the 20th Century
Virginia Danielson (PhD, Ethnomusicology, University of Illinois, 1991) is an associate of the Harvard Music Department and a visiting scholar at New York University Abu Dhabi. She is the author of The Voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthum, Arabic Song and Egyptian Society in the 20th Century (University of Chicago Press, 1997), the first English-language biography of the Arab world’s most celebrated singer
Ep 345. Elen Chikhladze: What Separates Advanced Dancers from Truly Professional
Elen Oriental (Elen Chikhladze) is a Georgian choreographer and dance instructor from Tbilisi, specializing in oriental dance since 2002. Beginning her artistic journey at the School for Athletic Fine Arts and later the Department of World National Dances, she graduated with honors from the College of Choreography and the N. Pridonishvili School of Popular Dance in 2001. As President of the Intern
Ep 344. Laman Hendricks: Belly Dance Career Born from Ballet Discipline and Azerbaijani Heritage
Laman Hendricks is an acrobatic gymnast, Azerbaijani and Caucasus folk dancer, teacher, and choreographer, as well as the Artistic Director and Founder of Dances of Caucasus. Born and raised in Azerbaijan and Turkey, she trained in classical ballet and folk dance at the Baku Choreography Academy while also competing as a member of Azerbaijan’s national gymnastics team and founding the country’s fi
Ep 343. Keti Sharif: Dancing Internally vs Externally & The Example of Mahmoud Reda’s and Farida Fahmy’s Complimentary Teaching Styles
Keti Sharif is an Australian dance teacher, performer, and choreographer who lived in Egypt for two decades, directing the Sphinx Festivals and collaborating with legends Mahmoud Reda and Farida Fahmy. Creator of the A-Z Bellydance methodology—taught to over 6,000 students in 40 countries—Keti combines live Egyptian music, cultural dance traditions, and somatic movement to deepen musicality, artis
Ep 342. Payal Gupta: Teaching as an Act of Nurturing, Not Just Training
Payal Gupta is one of India’s most sought-after master teachers of belly dance, celebrated for her structured classes, private lessons, workshops, performances, and intensives. Since 2008, she has trained over 10,000 students from all walks of life, earning recognition as a leading figure in the field. Coming from a culturally rich background where the performing arts hold deep value, Payal has be
Ep 341. Rachel Brice: When Success Becomes a Trap and Growth Demands Risk
Rachel Brice is an internationally renowned dancer, teacher, and choreographer recognized as one of the key figures in the evolution of tribal fusion belly dance. A former member of the Bellydance Superstars and artistic director of The Indigo Belly Dance Company, she blends decades of experience in American cabaret, FatChanceBellyDance Style, and world dance traditions with her own distinctive ar
Ep 340. Murat Tekbilek: The Art of Drumming for Belly Dancers and Exploring the Intricacies of Turkish Music
Murat Tekbilek is a Turkish percussionist celebrated for his dynamic artistry and deep roots in Middle Eastern music. Growing up in a family of renowned musicians, he has performed since childhood and spent over a decade as the lead percussionist in his father Omar Faruk Tekbilek’s ensembles. Specializing in darbuka, def, and bendir, Murat has appeared on stages worldwide, from intimate belly danc
Ep 339. Alex DeLora: Exploring New Paths to Grow as an Artist
Alex DeLora is an internationally acclaimed belly dance performer, teacher, and choreographer who has been sharing her art worldwide since 2012. Invited to more than 50 countries to teach, perform, and judge competitions, she is especially recognized for her unique technique and charisma in drum solo style. In 2020 she launched her first online program, Drum-Matic BellyDance, followed by the creat
Ep 338. Sonia Ochoa: How Opportunities Shaped Her Journey from Polynesian Stages to Bellydance Superstars & Beyond
Sonia Ochoa is a versatile dancer, choreographer, and teacher with over 25 years of experience on international stages. Rising to prominence as a principal dancer with the Bellydance Superstars (2002–2010), she toured the world performing in renowned theaters and television shows under the direction of Miles Copeland. A lifelong student of movement, Sonia has traveled extensively through India, Eg
Ep 337. Amera Eid: The Journey of Growing a Belly Dance Scene in Australia
Amera Eid is one of the leading figures who brought belly dance to Sydney and helped it grow across Australia. For more than 40 years, she has performed and taught around the world, sharing her love for the dance with students and audiences everywhere. She is also a talented fashion designer who created the first belly dance boutique in the Southern Hemisphere in 1987, creating stunning costumes f
Ep 336. Shahdana: Tango Oriental and the Power of Personal Style
Shahdana is an international belly dancer from Argentina whose artistic journey began not with dance, but with music—studying piano and musical composition for nearly two decades, including performing in a tango orchestra. Her deep connection to music later found a new expression in belly dance, where Arabic rhythms became her primary focus. But it was a moment of emotional clarity—dancing to Piaz
Ep 335. Jill Collins: From Company Member to Artistic Director of Sahlala Dancers
Jill Collins is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, and educator whose versatile career spans contemporary, theatrical, and Middle Eastern dance. She began performing professionally as a teenager and later earned her BFA in Dance Education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2007, she joined Jillina’s Sahlala Dancers, eventually becoming Artistic Direct
Ep 334. Shree: How Fusion Belly Dance is Evolving in India
Shreeprada (Shree) is a captivating Indian Tribal Fusion dance teacher known for her layered style, artistic depth, and commitment to creativity. With a background in Bharatanatyam and a Master’s degree in Textile Design from the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, she brings a unique fusion of movement and visual artistry to her work. Trained in printing, embroidery, weaving, dyeing, and knott
Ep 333. Melli Sarina: The Flow and Philosophy of Liquid Fusion Belly Dance
Melli Sarina is a pioneer in the Tribal Fusion and Fusion Belly Dance scene with over 26 years of dance experience. Based in Augsburg, Germany, she discovered her passion for Tribal Fusion at sixteen after a transformative workshop with Sharon Kihara. Her signature style—known as “Liquid Fusion”—blends Zoe Jakes' DanceCraft-inspired technique with the fluid artistry of urban waving, creating a pow
Ep 332. Lidiane: From Unknown to Unforgettable by Reinventing Herself as a Brand, Not Just a Belly Dancer
Lidiane is a Brazilian belly dancer currently based in Egypt, known for her expressive style, stage presence, and deep dedication to the art of Oriental dance. She began her journey as a teenager in Brazil and eventually left behind a stable career to pursue her dream of dancing professionally in Egypt. Since arriving originally in Sharm el-Sheikh, and eventually moving to Cairo, Lidiane has perfo
Ep 331. Estelle Zaghloul: Belly Dance as Sacred Dance and the Truth Behind Your Blocked Shimmies
Estelle Zaghloul Ramia is a Lebanese-born, Costa Rica-based belly dancer, choreographer, and cultural ambassador who rose to fame after winning the first season of Hezzi Ya Nawaeem on Lebanese TV and later became the first belly dancer to perform on the national stages of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In recognition of her artistic and community impact, she was honored in 2017 as one of Costa Rica’s W
Ep 330. Pinky Selim: Reviving Egyptian Folklore for a Generation That Almost Forgot It
Pinky Selim is a banker by profession, a dancer by passion, and the founder of the AUC Alumni Folklore Group, a troupe dedicated to reviving Egyptian folkloric dance. While studying at the American University in Cairo, she was deeply involved in the university’s folklore club, and after graduation, she couldn’t imagine letting go of this art form. In 2013, with the support of AUC’s Alumni Office,
Ep 329. Rae Chrysalis: Finding Her Own Flow With Fan Veils
Rae Chrysalis is a classically trained dancer, embodiment coach, and leading voice in the silk fan community with over 30 years of experience in movement and performance. She is the founder of Chrysalis Silk Studies, an online school that has trained students in more than 60 countries in the art of silk fan dance. Rae’s work is at the forefront of Silk Fan Fusion, helping shape the future of this
Ep 328. Dawn Devine (Davina): The Story Behind Writing 20+ Belly Dance Books About Costumes And More
Dawn Devine, also known as Davina, is a costume designer, author, and lifelong dancer with a passion for belly dance and all things that sparkle. Best known for her popular books on how to design and construct belly dance costumes, she has built a unique career at the intersection of dance, fashion, and education. With a background in tap, jazz, modern, and ballet, Davina discovered belly dance as
Ep 327. Portia Lange: Starting Before You Are Ready & Carving Your Own Path to Success
Portia Lange is a renowned belly dance educator, performer, and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Belly Motions, a Miami-based studio turned global platform blending Middle Eastern dance with fitness and empowerment. With over 20 years of experience, she has developed a unique, inclusive teaching method that welcomes all ages and abilities. A champion of Cairo’s Nile Group Competition, a
Ep 326. Núria Rovira Salat: Searching For Your Own Identity Through Different Dance Styles
Núria Rovira Salat, trained in anthropology and born in Spain, transformed her passion for Oriental and Romani cultures into dance, songs, and choreographies. She studied with masters like Lamia Saffiedine and Pétia Iourtchenko, teaching Arab-Berber and Maghrebi dances and performing widely in France. Núria teaches and performs widely across France and at major festivals, continually evolving her
Ep 325. Sara Al-Hadithi: Why Iraqi Dance Isn’t Like Belly Dance — And Why That Matters
Sara Al-Hadithi is a Baghdad-born, London-raised dance artist, cultural consultant, and autism advocate currently based in the USA. Deeply connected to her Iraqi heritage, Sara brings a unique perspective to Middle Eastern dance, particularly Iraqi styles, informed by both her personal background and the legacy of her father—a renowned Iraqi vocalist and folkloric authority. She has become a respe
Ep 324. Ayla Joncheere: Rethinking Fantasies About Kalbeliya Dance and Music of Rajasthan/India
Ayla Joncheere is a scholar and cultural entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience in India and a deep expertise in the performing arts of Rajasthan. Following a long academic career in higher education, she founded Kalbeliya World, an initiative supporting digital literacy among Kalbeliya dancers in India through virtual dance classes. She also serves as the creative director of Maghenta, a p
Ep 323. Mahdy Emara: Bringing His Passion for Egyptian Folklore Across Borders & Projects
World-renowned dance teacher and choreographer Mahdy Emara is one of the most sought-after artists in the international oriental dance scene. Born in Cairo, Egypt, he trained at one of the country’s top dance institutes. He began teaching at a young age and soon moved on to choreograph major stage productions. Now based in Amsterdam, Mahdy founded his dance school and group “Baladi,” performing ac
Ep 322. Rachel Kay Brookmire: How Performing on Stage Contributes to Your Personal Growth
Rachel Kay Brookmire is the founder and creative director of Sahara Dance, one of the largest and most well-established belly dance schools in the United States. Based in Washington, DC, Sahara Dance has been a thriving center for Middle Eastern dance for over two decades, offering 30+ weekly classes, nine performance groups, and a hybrid model for both in-person and virtual students. Rachel is al
Ep 321. Maya Youssef: Decoding the Mystery of Maqam, Taqsim & Tarab
Maya Youssef is a multi-award-winning composer and qanun virtuoso, acclaimed by the BBC as the "Queen of the Qanun." Recognized as the world’s leading mentor in Maqam and Taqsim, she has spent over a decade guiding hundreds of Arabic music enthusiasts and dancers in deeply understanding and embodying Arabic music — without relying on dry theory or vague clichés. Maya offers practical, dancer-frien
Ep 320. Ojasvi Verma: How Slow-Pace Practice Led to Rapid Success
Ojasvi Verma is an accomplished Indian dancer, content creator, and entrepreneur whose journey began on YouTube in 2016, growing to an audience of over 800K subscribers and nearly 1 million Instagram followers. Trained in a variety of dance forms including Bharatnatyam, Waacking, Jazz, Salsa, and Belly Dance, Ojasvi has developed a unique fusion style blending Oriental Belly Dancewith other genres
Ep 319. Raïssa Leï: Repairing the Colonial Impact on the Amazigh Culture
Raïssa Leï is a multifaceted individual celebrated for her creative and cultural contributions. She is an advocate for the warrior spirit of Amazigh women, reflecting her dedication to preserving and promoting Amazigh heritage and values. Her work often highlights themes of freedom, resilience, and cultural pride. Raïssa is featured in interviews and podcasts that explore her journey and the impac
Ep 318. Mar: Creating Healthier Environment For Students to Thrive
Mar is an Egyptian American woman and source dancer based in Los Angeles who founded Move And Radiate Inc. (M.A.R.). She created M.A.R. to provide a safe and non-judgmental space that steers away from competition & perfectionism. Mar’s classes are a home away from home to many MENA women & a new home to women who are excited to embrace the Egyptian culture. Her work includes empowering &am
