Belly Dance Life

Hend Elbalouty is choreographer, performer and author. She holds a MA in Performing Arts from Kunsthochschule für Medien, BA in production design from institute of cinema studies in Egypt and 3 years degree in contemporary dance from Cairo Contemporary Dance Center. She works across mediums combining and mixing them in accordance to the project at hand. In the last few years, she collaborated and presented many multidisciplinary art pieces such as “FrauenGold'' Video Exhibition in Hamburg, “The Kitchen” Dance performance, Köln, “Absence” a group exhibition at CoCulture Art space, Berlin. In 2021, she created a performance inspired by the local street dance and music in Egypt (Maharagant) for which she was awarded the “kunstpreis der FREUNDE der KHM”. Hend strives to produce and participate in socially aware dance pieces, constantly exploring the role of Art as a tool to empower the individual and bring out those neglected modes of expression.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Hend’s personal dance journey, and what led to researching Mahraganat

- Professional Mahraganat dancers, and what it means

- The concept of a street as private community space

- Why would dance possibly turn into a fight

- The process of writing and producing the book

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Hend Elbalouty on Instagram and her website. Information about her book “Mahraganat in Egypt: Between Acceptance & Rejection” is available HERE. You can order it online via khanaljanub.com, or khm.de

Take the Belly Dance Habits Quiz HERE.

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.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

In today's episode, we're diving into a fascinating topic – using dance videos not just for social media posts, but as a powerful training tool. We'll explore why simply repeating choreography isn't enough and how to pinpoint and fix specific mistakes or weak spots in your dance. Plus, we'll chat about the importance of practicing without a mirror and how video recordings can be your secret weapon for self-analysis. So, get ready to learn some tricks for refining your dance moves, enhancing your technique, and getting performance-ready!

Show Notes to this episode:

Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube .

Check out the Dance Habits intensive at the Iana Dance Club.

Take the Belly Dance Habits Quiz HERE.

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.com

Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Sonya of Cairo is a professional dancer and choreographer. She has been immersed in oriental dance since childhood. Her mother, Marianne DS, founded The Sun Dance School 17 years ago in Paris, the largest association in the city. Sonya began her training with Marianne DS and has studied with some of the best Egyptian professionals. She stands out for her pure Egyptian style. Sonya currently lives in Cairo where she regularly performs. She also teaches at the largest festival in Egypt, "Raqs of Course”, organized by Randa Kamel. Sonya is considered today the rising star of the Cairo dance scene.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Being the daughter of a professional belly dancer

- Sonya’s first professional performances, and dealing with stage anxiety

- Funny stories of performing at weddings in Cairo

- Bitter taste of dance life in Egypt

- Dealing with managers vs being your own manager

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Sonya of Cairo on Instagram and Facebook.

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.com

Take the Belly Dance Habits Quiz HERE.

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

Arielle is a passionately dedicated dancer from the USA who currently performs daily in Cairo, Egypt. She teaches and performs bellydance, samba, folklore, fusion, burlesque, hip hop and many other styles of dance full-time. Although Arielle is American, she grew up in Egypt and has been performing Middle Eastern Dance since the age of 10. Arielle is the winner of several competitions and was a finalist on Egypt’s first bellydance competition TV show, “Al Rakessa” in 2014. Arielle returned to Cairo in December of 2019 and has been gracing the stage all around Egypt ever since! She currently teaches online group classes every Sunday and offers pre-recorded classes as well.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Arielle’s childhood and school years in Egypt

- Knee issues and belly dancing

- The effect of fibromyalgia on Arielle’s lifestyle as a dancer

- Decision to move back to Egypt to pursue a dance career

- Changes in the modern dance scene in Cairo

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Arielle on Instagram and Facebook.

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.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

A well-known choreographer and dancer, Alla Kushnir has won many prizes and awards. She was a finalist at the TV show “Ukraine has talent“, silver medalist of the Lebanese TV show “Hizzi Ya Nawaem”, winner of Egyptian TV show ” Al Rakesa”, among many other awards and achievements. For Alla Kushnir Oriental dancing has opened a lot of previously unknown sensations. As a dancer and choreographer, she believes that this style of dance changes a woman’s whole attitude towards herself and her surroundings. Alla is a frequent guest in various talent search competition TV shows. In 2008, she appeared in the first film “Tales of Sand” about belly dancing. She also hosted the program “Oriental Dances” on MAXXI TV channel.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Alla’s multiple decisions to quit her performance career, and how destiny always brought her back to the stage

- The importance of nutrition in a dancer’s life

- How Alla practices and comes up with new movements

- Lifestyle in Doha vs Cairo

- Main elements of Alla’s daily routine

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Alla Kushnir on Instagram and website.

Previous interview with Alla: Ep 40. Alla Kushnir: Not Only Luck Makes You Number 1

Check Belly Dance Habits Quiz, free tool for belly dancers to enhance their training: www.ianadanceclub.com/quiz

Join our 3-week intensive Dance Habits at the Iana Dance Club: www.ianadanceclub.com/intensives

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.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

This is a best of episode! You will hear a collection of tips and practices from the belly dance stars. Find out how they approach their own training, and see what you can implement it in your life too.

You will hear from Jasirah, Cassandra Fox, Victoria Teel, Aziza, Nabila, Hayal, Jillina Carlano and Amar Lammar.

Discover what is blocking your dance progress right now, and which exact dance habits you should improve first of all.

Take the free Belly Dance Habits Quiz HERE.

Check these full interviews with the podcast guests:

Ep 19. Jasirah: How to Practice on Your Own. Tips & Tricks

Ep 211. Jasirah: How to Find New Business Ideas as a Dancer

Ep 15. Cassandra Fox: Healthy Does Not Have a Face

Ep 198. Victoria Teel: The Story of Fan-Veil Addiction

Ep 130. Aziza: How to Be The Best Version of Your Dance Self

Ep 105. Nabila: It's Never Too Late to Start and Succeed

Ep 271. Hayal: Functional Training For Belly Dancers

Ep 31. Jillina Carlano: How Food Can Influence Your Dance

Ep 190. Amar Lammar: Adapting to a New Country & Lifestyle

Show Notes to this episode:

Take the Belly Dance Habits Quiz HERE.

Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.com

Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Improve those couple things in your dance habits, and unlock an amazing growth in your dance skills throughout 2024!

January is time of planning and building hopes for the New Year. But often we make grand plans , and 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 sue that your list of New Year resolutions isn’t gonna be transferred to the next year, and you continue pursuing your dance goals beyond January…

Take the Belly Dance Habits Quiz HERE.

Show Notes to this episode:

Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.com

Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Chudney is a professional oriental dance artist who has competed and danced around the world. She opened her own oriental dance school in 2017, to give students easier access to her weekly in person classes, and share her unique personal style and technique on demand. Chudney was selected in 2016 as part of the international cast of Virginia’s “Reflections”. She was hand picked by Munique Neith to dance as part of the cast Ballet Internacional Munique Neith in Barcelona, Spain to perform at Egipto en Barcelona in 2018 and 2019.  Chudney was also featured as Dorothy, in Jillina's Belly Dance Experience production of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She has competed in top competitions and won many accolades as a troupe member of Hippy Chicks Raks and as a professional soloist. She is most proud of being crowned East Coast Classic 2015 Cabaret Professional Champion and People's Choice winner in her hometown.​

In this episode you will learn about:

- Why do we have anxiety of trying new things alone

- The concept of coaching vs teaching regular classes

- Common mistakes that dancer do during competition preparations

- Performance anxiety

- How to practice your eye gaze for stage

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Chudney on Instagram, YouTube, FB, and website.

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.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

Originally from Brazil, Hayal is a professional dancer who has been passionate about oriental dance since she was 17. She taught and danced all over the world, as a soloist and in collaboration with other dancers. She worked as a dancer and choreographer with the Portuguese company Mahtab and participated in several shows of the American troupe Bellydance Evolution with Jillina. Hayal has already worked in Brazil, Portugal, New Zealand, Egypt, Italy, Germany, Spain and of course in France, where she lives today (Lyon).

In this episode you will learn about:

- Comparison between Brazilian dances and belly dance

- What is functional training for belly dancers

- How to improve your balance, arms mobility, and knees-hips connection

- Frequency of functional training and how it works

- How Hayal managed to teach a group choreographies for her show via online classes

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Hayal on Instagram, YouTube, FB, and website.

Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.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

Delya is a French belly dancer currently residing inn Switzerland. She has been involved in oriental dance for 20 years, and currently works as a full—time performer. She is the resident dancer at a 5 stars hotel in Zurich in collaboration with musicians. She does projects together with a Syrian musician Zaher Assaf who studied music at the conservatory of Damas, Syria. They regularly organize charity shows for Syria. Delya is a mother of a 4-year old daughter, who inspired her to write 2 children books: :Nour in Lebanon” (by Del Perrier), and  “Danse mon amour (dance my love)”.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How Delya got inspired to belly dance by Natasha Atlas

- Persuading venues that belly dance can by classy and elegant entertainment for their audience

- Pregnancy and motherhood as a belly dancer

- Writing belly dance books for small children

- The idea of creating a dance podcast.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Delya on Instagram, and FB. Also, check her books Nour in Lebanon, and Danse mon amour (dance my love), as well as her podcast.

To book your stay in Cairo at Yasmina’s Bellydancers B’B, email [email protected], or contact via Instagram.

Details about the Bellydance Bundle are available on Instagram, 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