Belly Dance Life

Silvia Brazzoli is a professional dancer, instructor, yoga teacher, painter, and pizza lover based in Italy. She found her biggest love for oriental dance at the age of 18. Since then she has been dancing and teaching professionally all around the world. The growth of a dancer is a never-ending journey and Silvia is constantly researching, traveling and training in oriental dance and other dance styles, influencing the development of her own style.In this episode you will learn about:- How dance and yoga can compliment each other- Silvia’s transition into a professional dance life- Sharing knowledge as a teacher- Teaching ongoing classes vs one-time workshops- How to be yourself through danceShow Notes to this episode:Find Silvia Brazzoli and her events on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and website.Join SharQui - The Bellydance Workout at sharqui.com/onlineYou can find details about Joana Saahirah online school and available courses at www.joanasaahirah.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Native Egyptian Nada El Masriya grew up belly dancing fully immersed within the rich cultural and historical environment of metropolitan Cairo. Her first formal dance training began early, with her high school’s folkloric troupe. At Cairo University, Nada earned a degree in Egyptian Law, minored in the History of Egyptian Culture and Dance Traditions. At early age Nada began her intensive training and performance with the prestigious Reda Troupe School. In 2002 she emigrated to Canada inspired by a passionate desire to accurately preserve and pass on her rich historic native Egyptian culture.In this episode you will learn about:- The benefits of cutting back and prioritizing your projects- How to approach your hesitation to raise prices- Mindset trick of stop being afraid of competitions- Why smaller niche can bring bigger income- Nada’s two big festivals in Egypt and CanadaShow Notes to this episode:Find Nada El Masriya and her events on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and website.Previous interview with Nada:Ep 28. Nada El Masriya: How Studying Folklore Can Make You a Better Belly DancerYou can find details about Joana Saahirah online school and available courses at www.joanasaahirah.comJoin SharQui - The Bellydance Workout at sharqui.com/onlineFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Oleksandra Kovalova is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer, and certified judge. She is a director of oriental dance school Amberly based in Zhytomyr (Ukraine), and an organizer of the big international festival Yalla Bina. Oleksandra is a winner of Nile Group competition, as well as a mentor for her award-winning students. After living and teaching classes in Germany during past year, she is currently back to Ukraine, and just managed to run a very success edition of her dance festival, gathering dancers from all over Ukraine.In this episode you will learn about:- How war in Ukraine influenced Oleksandra’s life and dance activities- Teaching belly dance classes in Germany- Why continuing dance activities in Ukraine is so important - The nuances of festival organization considering the current situation in Ukraine- How dancers’ approach to belly dance is changingShow Notes to this episode:Find Oleksandra Kovalova on Instagram and Facebook.You can find details about Joana Saahirah online school and available courses at www.joanasaahirah.comJoin SharQui - The Bellydance Workout at sharqui.com/onlineFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This episode includes Iana’s lecture that was recorded specifically for her recent Mahraganat intensive at the Iana Dance Club.Since Mahraganat has a very particular mood, this style may feel uncomfortable for many dancers. Diving into such topic can be a great opportunity to train your acting skills, loosen up emotional boundaries related to shyness, and get out of your comfort zone. In addition, we are gonna work on a very fun and dynamic choreo which will provide you a bit of cardio workout. :)Check out the full intensive on Mahraganat: https://www.ianadanceclub.com/intensives/mahraganat-(street-shaabi)Show Notes to this episode:Join SharQui - The Bellydance Workout at sharqui.com/onlineDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Yunseo is a young talented belly dancer from South Korea. She is the award recipient of the Midas Goldentouch Bellydance Competition, Reina Oriental Dance Festival, Elkaff Festival, Malaysia World Oriental Dance Art Festival, and many others. Her beautiful unique style blends elements of traditional belly dance mixed with contemporary and other non-belly dance genres.In this episode you will learn about:- Belly dance in Korea- The importance of competitions- Differences between competitions in Korea and Europe- Overcoming failure at contests- Mixing belly dance with other stylesShow Notes to this episode:Find Yunseo on Instagram and, Facebook.Join SharQui - The Bellydance Workout at sharqui.com/onlineDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Anusch Alawerdian is an Armenian oriental dance performer, instructor and choreographer. She has been interested in dance since she was little, taking up several dance courses like ballet, folk dance and jazz. At the age of seventeen Anusch fell in love with the oriental dance style and traveled the world in search of the best dance instructors to teach her the art of bellydance. She opened her own oriental dance school in the Netherlands in 2002. She is now based in the United Arab Emirates and performs all over the world. In 2011 she also established an International dance festival “Summer Bellydance Festival” in Netherlands. Currently, Anush focuses all her energy on teaching activities and developing her project “Bellydance Abu Dhabi”.In this episode you will learn about:- Having 250 students once she started teaching in the Netherlands- Organizing a festival while living in a different country- Teaching belly dance classes in Abu Dhabi- Receiving UAE golden visa for artists- Becoming a local influencerShow Notes to this episode:Find Anusch Alawerdian on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. Her classes in Abu Dhabi HERE.Join SharQui - The Bellydance Workout at sharqui.com/onlineDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Linda Hathor began her studies in belly dance in 1998, in Paraná (Brazil), and since then, she has dedicated herself professionally to this art as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of the Hathor Group of Oriental Dances. In 2003, she received her professional registration by the Union of Artists of Paraná . For several consecutive years she remained among the first places in the National Mercado Persa Competition, the most important oriental dance competition in Brazil. She also became the professional Brazilian champion of Belly Dance in the 2011 contest. Gathering her knowledge in the area of Performing Arts with oriental dance, she developed her own methodology to work with expression and emotion through dance. Linda was invited by Dunia and Hossam Ramzy to join their tour in Brazil in 2003.In this episode you will learn about:- Choosing Performing Arts over a Dance degree- Linda’s special methodology for teaching emotional expression in dance- Traps of artistic ego- The popularity of belly dance in Brazil prior to O’Clone TV series- How Linda started her festival before she even established her dance schoolShow Notes to this episode:Find Linda Hathor on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. International Festival Hathor: website.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a continuation of our special series ‘Student Voices’ where I share my conversations with the members of the Iana Dance Club about life, dance and training. Some of participants are belly dance beginners, some are professionals, but all of us have one thing in common: we all remain being students of dance. :)Today you will hear three interviews at once! Enjoy these inspiring conversations with Fiona, Soukaina and Emily where they share their belly dance transformations with us.Show Notes to this episode:More interviews from our special series “Student Voices” are available HERE.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Meher Malik is a famous belly dancer from Delhi, India, although she grew up in the Middle East, where she lived for 17 years. She moved to India in 2006 after finishing her schooling and went on to study fashion design at NIFT, Delhi. A few months into the course, Meher realized it was dance that was her true calling. She received huge recognition after her performances on India's Got Talent. In July 2011, Meher Malik and her students were selected on Hrithik Roshan's Just Dance Reality Show aired on Star Plus. Meher is also a director of Banjara School of Dance in New Delhi, an India’s Premier belly dance school.In this episode you will learn about:- Drastic shift in Meher’s artistic focus over the last 5 years- Spirituality and sexuality of belly dance- Motherhood- Using dance to process deep traumas- Meher’s teaching approach and current programsShow Notes to this episode:Find Meher Malik on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. Banjara School of Dance: website.Previous episode with Meher Malik: Ep 27. Meher Malik: Fusion, Confusion and Female ObjectificationCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) is a Middle Eastern dance instructor, performer, and researcher based in St. Louis, Missouri. Nisaa’s mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the complexity, diversity, and beauty of Middle Eastern dance forms. As a researcher, Nisaa focuses on the history of Egyptian dance and its professional practitioners. Her investigations into the transition from awalim and ghawazi dance styles to classical raqs sharqi at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries led to the publication of her first book, Egyptian Belly Dance in Transition: The Raqs Sharqi Revolution, 1890-1930, in 2018.In this episode you will learn about:- Sensuality, sexuality and eroticism in belly dance- How Nisaa got involved into researching belly dance- What is the difference between awalim and ghawazee- Did Badia Masabni invent raqs sharki?- The term ‘raqs sharqi’Show Notes to this episode:Find Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Hayam Sokar is a midlife transformational coach, born and based in Egypt. She is a certified Neuro Linguistic Practitioner accreted from the American Board, and certified practitioner of Accessing Personal Genius from ISNS, as well as PEAT Processor. She helps women to find clarity in life, go through midlife crisis, re-evaluate who they are and who they want to become, and discover truths about themselves with the goal of becoming happier and build a more positive life. She actively incorporates dance classes into her coaching process.In this episode you will learn about:- Love-hate relationships with belly dance in Egypt- What is a midlife crisis- Signs of a middle age crisis- How exactly belly dance benefit women who experience midlife crisis- Hayam’s coaching processShow Notes to this episode:Find Hayam Sokar on Instagram, FB, and website.Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a new solo episode with Iana! Last months I had my ever first Vipassana course, and I’d like to share some lessons that I had to remind myself during that 10-day meditation course. They perfectly apply to the process of dance training too, so I hope you will enjoy and use them in your own practice.Show Notes to this episode:Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club. Artist Date show is available to watch/listen to HERE.Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFind information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Nataliya Goncharova has a university degree in Education, and is experienced in working with kids. Her students are champions of Ukraine, winners of the Belly Dance World Cup and many other prestigious awards. Nataliya co-organized the Dance with Stars Ukraine project, providing free online classes for Ukrainian belly dance students (many of whom are children), while also gathers donations from non-Ukrainian participants for families who escaped temporarily occupied territories during the war in Ukraine.In this episode you will learn about:- Current realities of dance life in Ukraine- Dance With Stars Ukraine project- Nuances of teaching children- Main mistakes in flexibility training- Benefits of doing a belly vacuum practiceShow Notes to this episode:Find Nataliya Goncharova on Instagram, FB, and YouTube.Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Morocco (Carolina Varga Dinicu) is a member of the Congress on Research in Dance (C.O.R.D.), the Society of Dance History Scholars (S.D.H.S.), the International Council on Dance – UNESCO (C.I.D.) and the International Council on Health, Physical Education Sport & Dance – UNESCO (ICHPER-SD). Morocco was awarded two grants by the State Council on the Arts for her choreography in 1972 and 1981, 3 NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Community Service Grants, 3 Summer Program Grants, a Materials for the Arts Grant and an Arts Exposure Grant.Since 1964, Morocco has written for several publications in her field and been reprinted in dance, medical and feminist publications internationally. A true pioneer in the field, she taught a 3-credit course in Middle Eastern Dance and Culture at the State University of New York (Purchase, NY) in the mid 1970s.In this episode you will learn about:- How Morocco came to a dance audition not knowing it was a belly dance show- The story of her stage name- How ancients the belly dance is- Researching deeper and reviewing mistakes in your own work- Teaching Oriental Dance at universityShow Notes to this episode:Find Morocco (Aunt Rocky) on FB, and her website.Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Pedro Bonatto is an internationally acclaimed photographer and drummer. Born in Brazil, Pedro works in fine art and fashion photography, with works published in Elle Arabia, Fashion Canada and a number of magazines and books. Pedro is also a drummer focusing on Middle Eastern music and the leader of the world music and dance band Blue Dot.Iana Komarnytska is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer, and passionate content creator helping dancers navigate their dance lives. She is a graduate from the professional dance program at York University (Canada), host of the Belly Dance Life podcast, creator of the educational online platform the Iana Dance Club, author of numerous articles, and winner of Star Bellydancer Canada 2014 among other international competitions. In this episode you will learn about:- Building business systems for your teaching activities- The importance of confidence for a dance teacher- How to check if you are ready to teach- Tips for promoting your classes- Nurturing your newsletter listShow Notes to this episode:Find Pedro Bonatto on FB, Instagram, and YouTube, his website.Previous interview with Pedro Bonatto:Ep 171 - Pedro Bonatto: How to Approach a Drum Solo Improvisation & Stop Being Afraid of ItEp 112. Pedro Bonatto: Drummer, Photographer & Husband of a Belly DancerDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFind information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a new solo episode with Iana! Sharing 10 practical tips that I use to memorize choreographies faster. These tips will be especially useful during workshop settings, when you need to learn a dance piece within very limited amount of time.Show Notes to this episode:Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Check out Stackable Drills for your daily practice at www.stackabledrills.com.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFind information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Oreet has over 25 years of experience in fitness and dance. She grew up with Yemeni folk and Oriental dance and has a degree in Contemporary Dance from SUNY College at Brockport. SharQuí has been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN, among other outlets. Some of Oreet’s bellydance awards are: Bellydancer of the Year, and Middle Eastern Dance Champion of North America. She’s led packed classes worldwide and has worked with thousands of men and women to realize their fitness potential. In this episode you will learn about:- Building business systems for your teaching activities- The importance of confidence for a dance teacher- How to check if you are ready to teach- Tips for promoting your classes- Nurturing your newsletter listShow Notes to this episode:Find Oreet on website, Instagram, YouTube, and FB. Check her new FB group HERE.Previous interview with Oreet:Ep 67. Oreet: Belly Dance as a Fitness WorkoutCheck out Stackable Drills for your daily practice at www.stackabledrills.com.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFind information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Diana Garnik is the director of DiDance Studio in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. She was winner of the AlHayat Festival, recipient of the 3rd place at Raqs of Course Festival by Randa Kamel, and many other competitions. Diana is famous for her dynamic modern Iraqi performances, just as much as her love for Khalidji, shaabi, tabla solo, mejance, classical and lyrical songs. You may really enjoy having your next show choreographed by Diana.In this episode you will learn about:- How stress influences creativity- Overcoming creative blocks- Creating choreos for yourself vs for others - Preparing workshop choreographies- Starting teaching activities at 12 years-oldShow Notes to this episode:Follow Diana Garnik on FB, YouTube, and Instagram.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out Stackable Drills for your daily practice at www.stackabledrills.com.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Born in Cartagena, Colombia, Horacio Cifuentes started dancing at the age of five. He first studied Flamenco at the Academy of Maestro Realito in Seville, Spain. Later he also danced with the Ballet Folclorico Nacional de Colombia. He followed with classical ballet in Poland, and later gained a scholarship to the prestigious American Ballet Theatre School in New York. He eventually joined the San Francisco Ballet where he was featured as a soloist. He discovered oriental dance at Magana Baptiste’s Royal Bellydancing Academy in San Francisco where he also studied yoga with the great master Walt Baptiste. Together with his wife, Beata, Horacio travels the world performing and teaching.In this episode you will learn about:- Horacio’s professional ballet journey- Using yoga to conquer stage nervousness- Struggles of combining active ballet and belly dance performance careers- His book “Confessions of a Male Belly Dancer”- Aging as a dancerShow Notes to this episode:Follow Horacio Cifuentes on FB, YouTube, and websiteDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out Stackable Drills for your daily practice at www.stackabledrills.com.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

As the closing episode of 2022 I’d like to share a compilation of some of my favorite moments from the interviews of this year. You will hear from Gitza, Semsemah, Mahaila El Helwa, and Tatiana Tarasova.Show Notes to this episode:Full interviews with our guests:Ep 183. Gitza: Dance Movement TherapyEp 188. Semsemah: Don’t Be a Superficial DancerEp 203. Mahaila El Helwa: Finding Your Truth in DanceEp 209. Tatiana Tarasova: Know Your UniquenessDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Oscar Flores began in Oriental dance in 1995 and since 2000 has been dedicated to teaching this art around the world. He has created a personal style joining techniques developed while studying other arts such as theater, musical theater, flamenco, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tribal fusion, Indian dances, theatrical jazz, psychodrama, and others. In 2005, he opened his first studio in Buenos Aires and in 2007 his first school called Alkimiah, Fusion of Talents. In 2010, he founded his dance company with which worked until 2016, when he moved to China to become part of the Bellydance China project. Today he lives in Spain, but continues to work around the world in important artistic events.In this episode you will learn about:- Oscar’s online campus for belly dancers- His dream of creating a belly dance university- The benefits of having an international certification- Fitness activities for belly dancers- Diversification of activities and various projects Oscar is currently working on Show Notes to this episode:Follow Oscar Flores on Instagram, FB, and YouTube.Previous interview with Oscar:Ep 25. Oscar Flores: I Needed an Opportunity to Live My DreamEp 116. Oscar Flores: It's Time to Be RebornDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a new solo episode with Iana! We often make grand plans but fail on showing up and performing them. Or sometimes we do show up but don't put 100% of our energy into the task. How to make sure that your future New Year resolution list won’t transform by the end of January into a simple wish list of dance habits you’d like to have.Show Notes to this episode:Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Book recommendation: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James ClearDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFind information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Valerick Molinary has started her bellydance training when she was 13 yrs old in San Juan, Puerto Rico. By the time she was 18, Valerick started performing in a Palestinian-owned restaurant. She has a BA in Hispanic Studies and Comparative Literature, the influence of which can be seen in her creative and poetic approach to choreography, dance teaching and production. In 2015 Valerick began producing the Lebanese Love Affair, an annual event in Miami dedicated to providing a platform for dancers to study directly from renowned and dedicated Arab dance artists, all in a big celebration of love for Raks Sharky and the countries that gave birth to it.In this episode you will learn about:- Unity of personal and artistic lives- Channeling intimate emotions into dance- Valerick work on the video dance piece Trapped- How mentorship for other dancers work- Amazing new projects hosted by ValerickShow Notes to this episode:Follow Valerick Molinary via Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.Previous interview with Valerick: Ep 11. Valerick Molinary: Different Ways to Develop Your Belly Dance CareerDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Anna Chepets is a young international star from Ukraine. She traveled all around the world with shows and workshops, won multiple international competitions, and has been judging at numerous events. She is the winner of Ahlan Wa Sahlan festival in Cairo in 2017 in the Master Professional category, and previously 2014, 2015, 2016 in other categories. At the age of 12, she was invitated to teach at the Ahlan Wa Sahlan festival. Today Anna is a co-organizer of the ‘Bagira The Way To The Stars’ Festival, head of her own dance school, and she is an inspiring teacher for many dancers around the world.In this episode you will learn about:- Starting belly dance classes at 8 years-old- How her love for belly dance transformed into a profession- Teaching young children- Dealing with students’ parents- Bright and dark sides of belly dance competitionsShow Notes to this episode:Follow Anna Chepets via Instagram, FB and YouTube.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Sahira began belly dancing full-time in 2001. At one point she was dancing 5 nights a week, sometimes up to 7 shows in one evening! In 2005, Sahira released her first instructional DVD and shortly after she got invited to teach and perform all around the world. In 2006 she even had the honor of being the first tribal instructor ever invited to teach at the largest belly dance festival in the world: Ahlan We Sahlan, in Cairo, Egypt. She is also the proud co-owner of Bella Donna Dance, voted Houston’s Best Belly Dancers by the Houston Press. She is also the founder and director of Houston’s premiere Tribal Style troupe, Urban Hipsy.In this episode you will learn about:- Being fired from a job, and diving into a belly dance career- The importance of networking and connections- Learning process for finger cymbals- Teaching zills online- Where to purchase good finger cymbals, and where to perform with themShow Notes to this episode:Follow Sahira via Instagram, FB, YouTube and website. FREE mini-course from Sahira: www.sahirabellydances.com/zillstar Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

For all our guests and listeners dance is a very integral part of daily life. But sometimes we start taking it for granted, and forget that for many people opportunity to dance and perform is a luxury. Let’s listen to some stories from our previous guests.NEW episode with a selection of the best parts dedicated to the barriers and hardships of the decision to pursue a dance path. You’ll hear from Lebanese Simon, Sara Al-Hadithi, Mohanned Hawaz and Sabriye Tekbilek.Show Notes to this episode:Full interviews with our guests:Ep 29. Lebanese Simon: Rising Above ObstaclesEp 108. Sara Al-Hadithi: About Popularization of Iraqi DanceEp 115. Mohanned Hawaz: Things You Didn’t Know about Iraqi DanceEp 150. Sabriye Tekbilek: Be The Type Of Artist You Want To BeCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Performer, Master Instructor, Choreographer, Director and Producer, Jillina Carlano has devoted her life to dance. From 2003-09 she served as Artistic Director and Main Choreographer for the Bellydance Superstars and performed with them for over 700 shows in over a dozen countries. In 2009 Jillina created Bellydance Evolution to take Middle Eastern dance to a higher level worldwide.  Bellydance Evolution has already appeared in over 20 countries and was a featured performer at the Mawazine festival in Morocco, performing for the Queen of Morocco. Jillina has won numerous awards from International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance and the Giza Academy, including Best Modern Egyptian Dancer, Best Instructional Video, Best Dance Company and Dancer of the Year. In this episode you will learn about:- Delegating responsibilities and projects to others- Tips for hiring people- Post-pandemic performances by Belly Dance Evolution- The importance of generosity- Dealing with self-criticism and personal insecuritiesShow Notes to this episode:Follow Jillina Carlano via Instagram, FB, and website.Previous interviews with Jillina:Ep 31. Jillina Carlano: How Food Can Influence Your DanceEp 22. Jillina Carlano: Building Community Around the GlobeCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

International master teacher and dancer artist, Kaouther Ben Amor is known for the theatrical dimension she gives to her expressive interpretations and original choreographies. After various shows in France where her name totally settled down as teacher and performer, she naturally moved on to performing abroad in prestigious theatres : Tokyo, New York, Dallas, Geneva, Brussels, Cairo, Torino, Amsterdam, Tunis, Venice, Rimini, Berlin, Amsterdam... Rachid Bouchared trusted her to create the choreography of the oriental ballet in his latest film “Outside the Law”  (Cannes Film Festival 2010) and also for the Tunisian Director Elyes Baccar in the movie Tunis By Night.In this episode you will learn about:- Feeling both French and Tunisian- Taking three years to become a professional full-time dancer- How belly dance embraces all types of body shapes- The artistic fire that burns inside- Kauther’s experience in the cinema industryShow Notes to this episode:Follow Kaouther Ben Amor via Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Alisa Gurova is a professional fusion dancer with a Master degree in contemporary dance from the College of Arts in Kyiv. Her performances combine fusion, belly dance, and contemporary dance with ballet. This has led her to winning “The Challenge” in the Ukrainian International Competition for Contemporary Jazz in 2015 and 2016, and winning Miss Belly Dance Ukraine in 2010. Her expertise is well known as she has been asked to judge the Let’s Dance Festival in Prague 2016, the Bellydance Festival in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine in 2016, and the Bellydance Festival in Kiev in 2015.In this episode you will learn about:- Fleeing the war in Ukraine, and being robed on the first day in Spain- Processing the hardship of the current situation through dance- Alisa’s competition experience in the contemporary jazz style- The necessity of professional higher education for belly dancers- The evolution of terminology in the dance worldShow Notes to this episode:Follow Kira Lebedeva via Instagram, FB, and YouTube. Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning January 2nd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a new solo episode with Iana! Let’s talk about the frustrations of the learning process, and specifically the moment when you don’t see much improvements in your dance.Show Notes to this episode:Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Check out the amazing collection at My Inner Dancer online store at www.myinnerdancer.com Use a promo code PODCAST for a 10% discount during the checkout.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Originally from the Netherlands, Loretta is a modern international belly dance star and in-demand teacher of workshops worldwide. She is a winner of multiple international competitions, and known for her smooth graceful movements with intricate technique skills. Now Loretta lives and teaches belly dance classes in Kuwait, as well as continues to travel worldwide.In this episode you will learn about:- Mastering belly dance on your own from 0 to professional level- The importance of flexibility for dancer’s body- Teaching belly dance classes in Kuwait- Adjusting to a different lifestyle in a new country- Managing 7-8 classes on a daily basis Show Notes to this episode:Follow Loretta via Instagram, FB, and YouTube. Check out the amazing collection at My Inner Dancer online store at www.myinnerdancer.com Use a promo code PODCAST for a 10% discount during the checkout.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Shahrzad is an internationally known teacher and performer of Egyptian dance styles. She moved to Egypt in 2015 and enjoyed a 5 year performance career appearing in top night clubs, films, and music videos. Post-covid she opened her business ‘Shahrzad Studios’ which focuses on providing high quality education on Egyptian dance, music, and language both online and in person featuring her own instruction as well as promoting artists of origin.In this episode you will learn about:- Not-so-obvious reasons of why Cairo dance & music scene has changed so much after the lockdowns- Shifts in Shahrzad’s personal dance focus- Experience of teaching live classes in Cairo for local women- Expanding activities to teaching online and organizing tours in Egypt- The importance of conditioning and body awareness for belly dancersShow Notes to this episode:Follow Shahrzad via Instagram, FB, and YouTube. Also, check out info about here online classes, music CDs, and tours in Egypt.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the amazing collection at My Inner Dancer online store at www.myinnerdancer.com Use a promo code PODCAST for a 10% discount during the checkout.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Kira Lebedeva has been a professional Tribal Fusion dancer and teacher for almost 12 years, also teaching yoga for around 10 years. In March 2022 Kira has transformed her studio in Lviv into a shelter to host people from all over Ukraine who had to leave their own cities in search of a safer place.In this episode you will learn about:- The impact of the war on Kira’s dance life, and the experience of hosting a shelter at her dance studio- Expressing politics through dance- The beginning of Kira’s dance journey- How easy it is to transition from belly dance to tribal fusion- The struggle of speaking in EnglishShow Notes to this episode:Follow Kira Lebedeva via Instagram, FB, and YouTube. Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning October 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

What do you feel when you are watching your own performance videos? Let’s hear the experience of our star guests.NEW episode with a selection of the best parts dedicated to the self criticism and your videos. You’ll hear from Julia Farid, Aida Bogomolova, Yael Zarca and Diana Gnatchenko.Show Notes to this episode:Full interviews with our guests:Ep 52. Julia Farid: About Artistic Fulfillment, Individual Style and Teacher-Student RelationshipsEp 144. Aida Bogomolova: Paying Attention to Each DetailEp 162. Yaël Zarca: Spreading Light and PositivityEp 200. Diana Gnatchenko: Life Before & AfterDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning October 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Jasirah is an international professional dancer, teacher and judge, and organizer of the Raks Glam Festival in Poland. For over 12 years she has been teaching regular classes of oriental dance in Poland and master classes around the world. You could meet her teaching and performing in over 20 countries on 4 different continents. In 2016 she played the main role of Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland" during a 3-month tour with BDE in China, and in 2017 she played the main role of Mermaid and Florist in “Sheherezade 1001 Night” show, during United States East Coast Tour. She is a multi-award winner of competitions, including Etna Bellydance Festival 2014 in Sicily, Polish Championships 2010 and semifinalist of Poland Got Talent Show in 2011.In this episode you will learn about:- How writing down things can improve your dance- Where to find motivation for your practice sessions- The production process of physical goods- Teaching classes online- The benefits of doing local gigs.Show Notes to this episode:Follow Jasirah via Instagram, FB, and YouTube. Information about her training wear is available HERE, belly dance journal HERE, and her Patreon account with online classes HERE.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning October 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

From a family of artists, Nesma started to perform in TV shows and theatre when she was a teenager. She lived in Cairo from 1993–1998, where she obtained her extensive knowledge of Oriental dance, Egyptian folklore, Arabic music, culture and traditions. Nesma performed as a soloist with her own orchestra in over 3,500 shows on the most prestigious stages of Cairo. She broadened her artistic career in the National Egyptian Folkloric Ballet, The Reda Troupe. Since 1998 she has danced and taught around the world. In Spain she founded her own school and a prestigious dance company, Al-Andalus Danza. Creator of the neoandalusí style, she is a pioneer in investigating and choreographing dance performances inspired by the legacy of al-Andalus.In this episode you will learn about:- Dance life in Cairo in the 90s- Transitioning from a solo dance career to being a part of a folklore group- What’s the difference between real folklore and Reda style - How Reda technique is deeply embedded in modern Oriental dance - Main confusions around Andalusian dance and music culture.Show Notes to this episode:Follow Nesma via Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website. Information about her academy is available HERE.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning October 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Tatiana Tarasova is a professional dancer and choreographer, with a 7-year experience of teaching oriental dance in her own school in Melitopol (Ukraine). She is a festival organizer, and the winner of many dance competitions. Her most recent festival was planned for March 5th of 2022 but it was cancelled due to the war in Ukraine. Currently Tatiana resides in the Czech Republic, and is open for classes and event collaborations.In this episode you will learn about:- How the war in Ukraine made Tatiana move to a different place for the second time in her life- The spirit of competitiveness in the belly dance classroom - Finding your perfect balance in dance- What does it take for a plus-size dancer to be acknowledged as a professional- Creating choreographies for competitions vs gala shows.Show Notes to this episode:Follow Tatiana Tarasova via Instagram, FB, and YouTube.Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning October 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Dancing to Tarab songs is extremely responsible task. Such songs have a deep cultural meaning, and should be addressed thoughtfully and with respect.⁣⁣ Let’s discuss this subject more in-depth.Show Notes to this episode:Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube , or contact via email [email protected] . Intensives at the Iana Dance Club mentioned in the episode: Belly Rolls and Flutters & Tab Wana Maly (Tarab).Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning October 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFind information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Tetiana Tesliuk is a professional bellydancer from Kyiv, winner of competitions in Ukraine and Europe, “Orientalisimo World Cup Champion” 2021. She also won over a dozen of ONLINE competitions in JUST 2021. Tetiana absolutely adores drum solo style, and creates unique drum solo choreographies! Because of the war she currently stays in Germany, but she is open for online classes, individual choreographies, and festival collaborations.In this episode you will learn about:- How the war in Ukraine impacted Tetiana’s life - Her decision to perform on stage despite the current situation- The necessity of keep learning with different teachers - Main nuances of online format of competitions - Tetiana’s love to drum solo styleShow Notes to this episode:Follow Tetiana Tesliuk via Instagram, FB, and YouTube.Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning October 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Munique Neith is a Brazilian dancer of Arabic descent and one of the most prestigious master teachers in the world. Currently, she lives in Barcelona, Spain, and she is the first master owner of two Oriental Dance Schools in the country with more than 800 students and the biggest school in Europe exclusively for bellydancing. She participated as a dancer in the Netflix series The Crown in one of its 5th season episodes, taught Oriental Dance classes for Cirque du Soleil artists during their tour in Barcelona with the Saltimbanco Show, performed at the Palau de la Música Catalana, hired by TVE for the opening of the cinema awards. Munique Neith is also the organizer of the prestigious International Oriental Dance Festival “Egypt in Barcelona”, that join together every year the best teachers and dancers from five continents.In this episode you will learn about:- Marketing mindset for belly dancers  - Nuances of festival organization - Experience of shooting for a TV series - Collaboration with Cirque du Soleil - Navigating work-life balanceShow Notes to this episode:Follow Munique Neith via Instagram, FB, website, and YouTube.Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning October 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teachFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Angella Kim is an internationally renowned and award-winning belly dancer from South Korea. She graduated from Dongguk University of Arts with a degree in theatre and first began her journey in Oriental dance in 2005. In 2008 Angella established her AFOD company in Beijing, China and began developing her teaching system, which is now used in over 24 provinces in China and more than 180 cities. From 2009-2012 Angella toured in Jillina's Bellydance Evolution company. She has also taught at the "Ahlan wa Sahlan" festival in Cairo, Egypt as well as Japan, Singapore, Argentina and many other countries.In this episode you will learn about:- What influenced the popularization of belly dance in Korea- Why Angella moved to China- Her teaching system - Difference in students mentality in China, Korea and Japan- Navigating dance work in China through the pandemic timesShow Notes to this episode:Follow Angella Kim via Instagram, FB, and YouTube.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

NEW episode with a selection of the best parts dedicated to the healing power of belly dance. You’ll hear from Anna Schkade-Siytangco, Aszmara, Amel Tafsout and Cassandra Shore.Show Notes to this episode:Full interviews with our guests:Ep 135. Anna Schkade-Siytangco: Gaining Confidence & Overcoming FearsEp 159. Aszmara: Dance Gives Us Inner StrengthEp 103. Amel Tafsout: The Healing Power of North African CultureEp 168. Cassandra Shore: Progressing Through Years of DancingFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Mahaila El Helwa is a renowned Brazilian instructor, performer and choreographer of Oriental dance.  She is known for her unique style and precise technique. In addition to her work in Brazil, Mahaila has taught workshops and performed in many countries throughout the world. She improves her dance with great masters of oriental dance and travels constantly to Egypt to improve her dance.  In 2017, she opened the "Mahaila El Helwa Studio - Arab Oriental Dance" in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  Today, she is a beloved master teacher of many students who are intrigued and inspired by her personality and dance individuality.In this episode you will learn about:- Belly dancing through different ages of your life- The importance of conditioning your body aside from the dance activities- Difficult career choices, and how Mahaila almost became a lawyer instead of belly dancer - Mahaila’s teaching approach- Running online classesShow Notes to this episode:Follow Mahaila El Helwa via Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Dr. Audrey Cottet is an academic researcher in the Physics department of the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris. She has over twenty years of expertise in theoretical physics, with a focus on condensed matter physics and quantum physics. Outside the lab, Audrey is a Middle Eastern dance and percussion student.She has learned how to player finger cymbals with Hassan Abdel Khalek and Nicolas Derolin in Paris. This practice motivated her secondary research activity on the history of cymbal playing. She has recently written one article on finger cymbal played in the Roman Empire, in the journal “Early Music” published by the Oxford University Press. She also has a second article published in the Review CLARA (Classical Art and Archaeology) hosted by the University of Oslo.In this episode you will learn about:- Proper terminology: zills, sagats or cymbals- The very first mentions of cymbals and finger cymbals in ancient history- The process of writing a peer reviewed article- The tradition of finger cymbals playing in the Roman Empire- First known mentions of finger cymbals in Egyptian cultureShow Notes to this episode:Follow Dr. Audrey Cottet via Instagram. Two of her articles available here: Playing finger cymbals in the Roman Empire: an iconographic study, and Cymbals playing in a Roman mosaic from Mariamin in SyriaAlso, check her performance at the upcoming show "Hommages" choregraphed by Ciya with her amateur dance troupe the “Ballet Egypt'Ciya”, with invited professional dancers (Yael Zarca, Gennaro Festa, Myrto Kaukias) and with a small finger cymbal solo by Audrey (July 3rd, in Montrouge near Paris).Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a special weekend series ‘Student Voices’ where I share my conversations with the members of the Iana Dance Club about life, dance and training. Some of participants are belly dance beginners, some are professionals, but all of us have one thing in common: we all remain being students of dance. :)Enjoy this inspiring conversation with Prianca where she shares her belly dance transformations with us:Belly Dance TransformationsBefore: I’m so used to being in the studio, and having a teacher whom I can see, so starting to dance at home as my studio was very challenging. It was hard to stay focus. I had very limited space at home. Also, not having a full-length mirror kinda discouraged me since I didn’t have an immediate feedback. Now: It took me 4-5 months of online learning to get the groove, but it got so much easier. I had to constantly remind myself that video recording was not about perfection, but just a tool instead of a mirror to see where I can improve. Benefits of video recording is that camera evokes a performance mood in you.Before: The hardest part of training by yourself is coming up with a curriculum.Now: That’s why I’m heavily relying on the Iana Dance Club for that. I’m using it to challenge myself, and to make sure that I’m getting a well-rounded training on a weekly basis.'I feel that I will dance when I’m 100 years old, and I still will be able to learn something new, and still be excited about it.'"Belly dance “took me” as I was, and gave me the tools to be more confident and brave, and to learn that I can move my body and dance without having to have started when I was one or two years old. You can start whenever you want because it feel like a form of self-expression." _PriancaShow Notes to this episode:Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Check Prianca’s community page at the Iana Dance Club website. Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Diana Gnatchenko is a professional oriental dancer from Ukraine recognized around the world. She is the winner of multiple international competitions, guest teacher and judge at the most prestigious events worldwide. Her dance tours took place in countries such as Ukraine, United States, Italy, China, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Korea, Chile, France, Malaysia, Sweden, Poland, Serbia, Brazil, Colombia and many other countries in the world.In this episode you will learn about:- How the war in Ukraine affected Diana’s life and dance activities- Why choosing students who fit you as a teacher is as much important as for students to choose a teacher who fits them- Diana’s process of creating choreographies- Her teaching approach and what she aims for in her work with students- What are the benefits of learning other dance styles for professional dance teachersShow Notes to this episode:Follow Diana Gnatchenko via FB, YouTube and Instagram. Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a special weekend series ‘Student Voices’ where I share my conversations with the members of the Iana Dance Club about life, dance and training. Some of participants are belly dance beginners, some are professionals, but all of us have one thing in common: we all remain being students of dance. :)Enjoy this inspiring conversation with Shani Brown where she shares her belly dance transformations with us:Belly Dance Transformations:"A lot of the time it’s difficult to prioritize for ourselves, and to prioritize our dance because there are so many things that we have to do… But if we have assignments and goals to reach for the week/month, that really helps to prioritize our training.""I think it’s so nice to record yourself right from the beginning of your dance journey, so that 1 month/ 2 months or even a year later you can look back and realize: “Omg, I have improved!”. Video recording is a wonderful tool.""I think I’m mature enough to know that progress isn’t instant, but I know it will come. There is always room for growth, so we just keep going.""Belly dance brings me that need to continue to challenge myself, to learn, to grow. Something I can’t find anywhere else."_ShaniShow Notes to this episode:Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Check Shani’s community page at the Iana Dance Club website. Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Victoria Teel is an award winning belly dance performer and instructor. In 2010, she was chosen along with 24 other dancers to participate in the world’s first ever belly dance reality show, Project Belly Dance. She placed among the top six contestants, earning her spot in the Final 6 instructional DVD released in March 2011. Soon after Project Belly Dance, Victoria joined Miles Copeland's Bellydance Superstars in Japan for the tour of Bombay Bellywood. Victoria is also the creator of the Teel Fan Method, a dance technique using fans and fan veils incorporating influences from Asian dances. Today, Victoria is based in the USA and offers online classes. She currently tours the world teaching workshops and performing.In this episode you will learn about:- Participation at the reality TV show Project Belly Dance- Experience of joining Belly Dance Superstars- The story of falling in love with fan-veils- Victoria’s approach to her own training- The importance of learning with different teachersShow Notes to this episode:Follow Victoria Teel via website, FB, YouTube and Instagram.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

This is a special weekend series ‘Student Voices’ where I share my conversations with the members of the Iana Dance Club about life, dance and training. Some of participants are belly dance beginners, some are professionals, but all of us have one thing in common: we all remain being students of dance. :)Enjoy this inspiring conversation with Sandra Van Baaren where she shares her belly dance transformations with us:Belly Dance Transformations:"What helped a lot in my training was video taping myself. Often I’d look in a mirror and think that I’ve gotten a move, but after seeing a video I would realize that I needed to do a lot more of work.""Sometimes you will stop trying again just because learning process lost the fun quality of it. You need to overcome a frustration of not getting a movement right away.""My current focus is getting more creative with my own dance.""Also, I’ve added ballet classes along with belly dance training, and I like the difference it made in my body.""Dance helps me to balance the type of work I do on a daily basis.""Belly dance is so beautiful! It brings a lot of joy, creativity and magic into my world." _SandraShow Notes to this episode:Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Check Sandra’s community page at the Iana Dance Club website. Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Born in Berlin, Germany, Beata Cifuentes started dancing at the age of six. Already as a child she attended her weekly ballet lessons with great persistence. Her decision to interrupt medical studies, as well as an intensive three-year course at Berlin’s Academy for Performing Arts, led her to discover oriental dance. She was fascinated by Arabic music when she heard the legendary singer Um Kalthoum – this was the start of a life-long passion for oriental dancing. After serious research, studies and travels to the Middle East, Beata founded the first-of-its-kind school for oriental dance in Berlin. She currently co-directs the Dance Academy Cifuentes in Beelitz, performs and teaches internationally, and is an inspiration to dancers world-wide.In this episode you will learn about:- Teaching mistakes Beata did in the beginning of her career- Transition from ballet to the belly dance world- Incorporating ballet class structure into oriental dance- The love story of Beata and Horacio- Crazy situations of collaborating with various composers on music CDsShow Notes to this episode:Follow Beata Cifuentes via website, FB, YouTube and Instagram. Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast