Belly Dance Life

Mohamed Shahin is an inspirational instructor, world-renowned performer, and challenging choreographer of Egyptian Oriental Dance. A native of Cairo, Egypt, Mr. Shahin discovered his passion for Egyptian Dance at the young age of fifteen. Throughout Shahin’s childhood, he was fascinated by all forms of dance, and after receiving his degree as Mechanical Engineer, he was at cross road to choose between becoming a full-time engineer or pursue his life as a professional dancer / dance teacher. Shahin decided that he would dedicate himself to the Egyptian Dance. After many years of the intense study of various Middle Eastern styles of dance, Modern dance, and Ballet- Shahin developed a complex methodology of instruction that has made him a Master teacher beloved to his students worldwide, today. Shahin currently lives in New York City but has been touring the world full-time since 2004.

In this episode you will learn about:

- The story of Cleopatra festival, and its first successful edition in Egypt

- Differences between dance festival and intensive

- What is typical Egyptian show, and communication between dancer and musicians

- Challenges in organizing festivals in USA and Egypt

- Mohamed’s new music album, and the process of creating songs for dancers

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Mohamed Shahin on FB, Instagram, YouTube, and website. Events: Cleopatra festival, Dance Like An Egyptian intensive, and NYCairo.

Previous interviews with Mohamed Shahin:

Ep 94. Mohamed Shahin: When Egyptian Dance Becomes Something Else...

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

Marta Korzun is an internationally recognized bellydance teacher from Ukraine. She is acknowledged for her unique teaching method and clear and concise explanations, and regularly holds training workshops worldwide. She started her career in 2006 by taking part in many competitions in Ukraine and abroad, including Cairo. She has been titled the Bellydance Champion of the World (2011), European Bellydancer (2011), and 2nd winner at “Nile Group Cairo" (2010), just to name a few. Today Marta is a respected judge at many prestigious belly dance competitions, and coach of the World Champions in oriental dance.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How lockdowns forced Marta to review her self-identity as a dancer, and as a person

- Dealing with inner critique, and overcoming the struggle of constant comparison

- Why she decided to travel less than before in her dance career

- The decision to move to Canada

- Comparing belly dance scenes in Ukraine and Canada

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Marta Korzun on Instagram, FB, Youtube.

Previous interviews with Marta:

Ep 01. Marta Korzun: About Competitions and Individual Style

Ep 77. Marta Korzun: How to Become a Dance Teacher

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

As much as dance brings happiness to your life, sometimes there are moments when you need to take actions and do some changes. Let’s listen to the stories of Luna of Cairo, Joana Saahirah, Anjelica Scannura and Aradia of Las Vegas on how they pivoted their lives and artistic adventures.

Show Notes to this episode:

Full interviews with our guests:

Ep 17. Luna of Cairo: Is Belly Dance Life in Cairo Always a "Fairy Tale"?

Ep 165. Luna of Cairo: Life Beyond Dance

Ep 76. Joana Saahirah: Egyptian Dance As The Tool For Self-Knowledge And Empowerment

Ep 172. Joana Saahirah: Running Dance Courses Online

Ep 79. Anjelica Scannura: From Flamenco to Belly Dance to Stand-Up Comedy

Ep 101. Aradia of Las Vegas: How to Succeed as a Full-Time Performer

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

Kareem Gad is an Egyptian master teacher, co-founder and co-director of Bell’Masry Dance Company based in Paris, France. Since childhood, his curiosity about art led him to discover and study the art of singing, music, poetry, percussion, acting and dance. He was a solo dancer, coach and choreographer at the official troupe of the Egyptian Ministry of Youth, solo dancer at the Egyptian National Theater, member of the teachers team in Tawasol Foundation of Arts, choreographer for the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts's Graduation Projects in the Egyptian Academy of Arts. Kareem has a Bachelor of Arts and History of the Civilizations of Ancient and Modern Near East. He did a lot of research in Egyptian folkloric heritage and oriental dance. Kareem also wrote and composed many successful songs for the oriental community.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How Kareem got involved in dance activities

- His years at the troupe of the Egyptian Ministry of youth

- Being in Egyptian folklore and contemporary dance fields

- Transition from Egypt to France

- The concept of new classical songs

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Kareem Gad on Instagram, Facebook, and website. Information about Bell’Masry Dance Company and dance tours is available 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

Morjana is a professional dancer, choreographer, researcher, teacher, as well as a percussionist (darbuka). She is currently based in Egypt, although she also travels extensively all around the world. She is a winner and award-recipient for many dance competitions, as well as a participant of several music projects in Cairo, including Estabena, a music project playing folk music from the Mediterranean area, Ehna Talata and Said El Artist music group. Morjana also organizes a specialized tours to Egypt for dancers interested in exploring local culture, music and dance.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How Morjana learnt Arabic language

- First visit to Egypt: expectations vs reality

- Various local traditions and how they stay alive in Egypt

- Studying Tahtib practices

- Morjana’s guided tours for dancers

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Morjana on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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 episode includes Iana’s lecture that was recorded specifically for the new intensive at the Iana Dance Club “Archetypes of Egyptian Goddesses in Dance”.

Feel like a goddess on stage with the help of Egyptian mythology! It's about your stage presence, and how the power of stories and myths can help you feel more confident, open and connected during your dance.

Check the full intensive on Archetypes of Egyptian Goddesses in Dance at www.ianadanceclub.com/intensives

Show Notes to this episode:

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.

Check the full intensive on Archetypes of Egyptian Goddesses in Dance at www.ianadanceclub.com/intensives. This intensive was inspired by and created in collaboration with the Museu Egípcio e Rosacruz in Curitiba, Brazil. To learn more about the museum, visit their website at https://museuegipcioerosacruz.org.br

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

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Today we are having a conversation with the team of Taqseem Institute of Cairo.

Taqseem Institute is an integrated dance institute/lab with the main objective of providing increased access to culture (Egyptian Music and Dance), improve the environment where those expressions can thrive and contribute to social cohesion, targeting females; the segment most compromised in the sector of art. Aiming to generate a tangible impact on the influence of heritage dance in modern Egyptian society.

Amie Sultan is the founder and dance program director of Taqseem. The team also includes Safaa Saeed, Aya Saada, Menna Emam and Fagr Amien.

In this episode you will learn about:

- The current team of the Taqseem Institute, and how they got involved in the project

- Hesitations regarding choosing dance as a career in Egypt

- What is the real Egyptian dance

- Struggles in the research process

- The educational process and structure of the Taqseem Institute.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find more about Taqseem Institute on Instagram, and website. Previous interview with the founder Amie Sultan is available HERE. Connect with the team of the Taqseem Institute via Instagram: Safaa Saeed, Aya Saada, Menna Emam and Fagr Amien.

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

Yasmina, sometimes known as 'The English Rose of Cairo', has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of Egyptian oriental dance. Originally from the UK she spent many years travelling and dancing her way around the Middle East before settling in Cairo in 1995. Here she performed with her orchestra for eight consecutive years, appearing at major Cairo venues such as Meridien Heliopolis, Safir, Pyramisa and the Semiramis Intercontinental hotels, the Nile Maxime, Tivoli Heliopolis, as well as hundreds of weddings and parties in Cairo and around Egypt. She has also worked extensively as a photo-journalist in Cairo and writes regularly for several Egyptian and foreign publications. Based at her home beside the Giza pyramids she is the coordinator and co-host for several international belly dance tours each year, and provides back-up to both groups and individuals in their adventures in Egypt.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Differences between dance contracts in Gulf area and work in Cairo

- Yasmina’s decision to stop active performance career, but still be based in Egypt

- The evolution of Cairo dance scene since 1995 till now

- Where can you do belly dance photoshoots in Cairo

- Yasmina’s unique Bed & Breakfast accommodations for dancers.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Yasmina of Cairo on Instagram, Facebook, and website. Classes and tours with Yasmina via bellydance-now.com. For details regarding Yasmina’s Belly Dancers B&B email to [email protected].

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

Amie Sultan is an Egyptian belly dancer and classical ballerina. She was born and grew up in Singapore to an Egyptian family that was working extensively in South East Asia. Having established herself first as a successful ballet dancer, she has toured across the world dancing in Swan Lake, La Dame Aux Camellias, Jeune Homme Et La Mort, La Bayadere and Raymonda. In her quest to add a new layer to her dance repertoire, it is Amie's goal as a performance artist to restore the glamour and brilliance of the belly dance technique that was at its height in the 1940's and 50's.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How Amie transitioned from a professional ballet career to the belly dance world

- Difficulties of being a dancer in Egypt

- Bringing this dance to institutions such as museums.

- Creating the Taqseem Institute and Tarab Collective

- Relationships between belly dancers that affects the reputation of the dance

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Amie Sultan on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. More info about Taqseem Institute HERE.

Join SharQui - The Bellydance Workout at sharqui.com/online

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

Eva Charkina is the winner of the DariyaM Cup 2018 in the category “Youth. Lovers.”, winner of the competition “The way to the stars” 2018, and many other Ukrainian and international dance events. She has a university degree in modern choreography from the Kyiv University of Culture. Currently living in Kyiv, Eva stays as an active dancer and teacher both in Ukraine and abroad.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Her first belly dance performance after the beginning of the war in Ukraine

- Creating choreographies for competitions

- The importance of a dance repertoire

- Finding individuality as a dancer

- Teaching classes

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Eva Charkina and her events on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube.

Join SharQui - The Bellydance Workout at sharqui.com/online

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