Belly Dance Life

Episodios disponibles

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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, artistry, and wellbeing. Her vision of belly dance as both a healing path and a communal art has shaped her global teaching, performances with international artists, and her role in preserving Farida Fahmy’s legacy through publications and archives. Today, she continues to teach, write, and inspire dancers worldwide through her studio, online academy, and cultural projects.In this episode you will learn about:- Connections between Chinese medicine and Zar rituals.- The concept of “movement connectivity” and how body halves, upper-lower, and spinal movements influence creativity and decision-making.- The contrast between authentic Egyptian embodiment and Westernized, fast-paced choreographies.- Keti’s unique experience training with Mahmoud Reda and Farida Fahmy, and their complementary teaching styles.- Farida Fahmy’s writing legacy, the preservation of Reda troupe history, and the emotional journey of documenting her life.Show Notes to this episode:Find Keti Sharif on Instagram, FB and website. Her A-Z Bellydance course is available HERE, and Farida Fahmy’s website.Details 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
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1:19:46
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1:19:46
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 been passionate about dance since the age of seven, exploring a wide range of styles before finding her true calling in belly dance. An Electrical Engineering graduate and lifelong dance enthusiast, she eventually chose to leave her corporate path to pursue dance as a career, sharing her love for belly dance with students across India and beyond.In this episode you will learn about:- Overcoming shyness and stage fright, and later guiding her own students through performance anxiety.- The role geography played in Payal’s early success as one of the leading local teachers in her area.- The difficulty of leaving behind her 15-year dance “empire” in Bangalore and starting over in Mumbai.- Lessons that motherhood taught Payal, and the concept of nurturing students instead of just teaching them.- Comparing dance life and opportunities in Mumbai and Bangalore.Show Notes to this episode:Find Payal Gupta on Instagram, YouTube and website.Details 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
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1:12:51
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1:12:51
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 artistry. Based in Portland, Oregon, she founded Studio Datura, created the 8 Elements of Belly Dance training, and continues to share her work worldwide through Datura Online and international tours.In this episode you will learn about:- Rachel’s first spark for belly dance and the role of goth culture and live music in eventually shaping her unique dance style.- The downside of early success: why it can make you afraid to risk and try new ideas.- Behind-the-scenes lessons from her Bellydance Superstars experience on leadership, rehearsal discipline, and handling pressure on tour.- Why she believes “do what you love and you’ll never work a day” is a myth — and what actually happens instead.- Rachel’s plan to partially retire in 2029 so she can return to more play, creativity, and collaboration.Show Notes to this episode:Find Rachel Brice on Instagram, and website; Datura Online: website, Instagram and YouTube.Visit StackableDrills.com to sign up or try one of their free drill practices.Details 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
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1:59:13
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1:59:13
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 dance shows and weddings to international concerts and festivals. His career bridges Arabic and Turkish musical traditions, blending classical rhythms, Sufi influences, and contemporary collaborations, while carrying forward the vibrant legacy of his family’s music into a new generation.In this episode you will learn about:- Early inspiration from Murat’s father and uncle, who played in the legendary band The Sultans.- How being a Middle Eastern musician in the U.S. meant playing for diverse cultural communities.- Why eye contact and nonverbal communication are the secret to magical dancer–musician connection.- Differences between Arabic and Turkish music cultures in how percussion is treated.- Learning complex odd-meter rhythms in Turkish classical music and how they reshaped Murat’s playing.Show Notes to this episode:Find Murat Tekbilek on Instagram, FB, and Youtube.Visit StackableDrills.com to sign up or try one of their free drill practices.Details 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
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1:00:24
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1:00:24
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 creation of her fashion brand, Alex Delora Design, which has since expanded into handmade and ready-to-wear collections. Today, Alex focuses on teaching at international festivals, offering private coaching, and developing new online courses, while continuing to inspire over a million followers through her vibrant social media presence.In this episode you will learn about:- Performing more with live orchestras and how to establish connection with musicians.- High-heels training: a different movement system, lyrics-led listening, and amplified emotions.- Learning to remove mental blocks around sensuality in dance.- Seeing dance styles as different roles or characters to embody.- The effect of gym training on the belly dance technique.Show Notes to this episode:Find Alex DeLora on Instagram, FB, Youtube and websites: HipNotica Course, and Alex DeLora Design.Previous interview with Alex: Ep 146. Alex DeLora: You Just Need to StartEp 21. Alex DeLora: Every Drum Solo Has Its Own MoodCheck Earn What You Deserve Training for belly dance teachers at www.sharqui.com/social.Visit StackableDrills.com to sign up or try one of their free drill practices.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
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1:08:39
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1:08:39