Belly Dance Life

What a treat we have on today’s show! Welcome one of the most creative and successful couples in the belly dance industry, Aliah and Vladimir Kluchenkov! They are constantly travelling all around the world with Aliah being a professional bellydance performer, instructor, judge, and costume designer, and Vladimir being a videographer, photographer and graphics specialist. Also, they put together an international annual dance event “Dance Weekend in Warsaw with stars”.

In this interview you will discover:

- When to buy costumes at festivals, and how to choose the best outfit

- Tips on stage lights and event logistics for festival organizers

- The importance of having a professional photo and video portfolio

- The value of attending belly dance festivals

- A bunch of funny stories on how Aliah and Vladimir work and travel together as a couple!

Show Notes to this episode:

Belly Dance Life Podcast CHALLENGE: www.ianadance.com/challenge

Find Aliah on website, Instagram, YouTube, and FB. Find Vladimir Kluchenkov on website, Instagram, and FB. Information about Dance Weekend in Warsaw festival HERE.

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

It’s a MINI episode with Iana!

Have you ever felt frustration trying to create a dance: “Oh, I don’t know what should I do with this music? How to even start putting a choreo together? This is too complicated, too scary, too stressful….”

Well, here are some of the tips I’m sharing in this new podcast episode:

- Listen to the song as many times as possible.

- Find out the translation of the lyrics.

- Start with improvising and listening to your body.

- Understand that your first draft won’t be perfect.

- Break down the structure of the song before you start.

- Study the work of other dancers.

- Don’t think only about movements. Think about the audience’s attention.

- Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback.

Want more? Listen right now to the new episode!

Show Notes to this episode:

My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com . Use promo code PODCAST to get 10% off for your favorite items until May 30th, 2019.

Belly Dance Life Podcast CHALLENGE: www.ianadance.com/challenge

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Nathalie is known for her grace, fluidity and precision, as well as for her belly dance event, the Annual Miami Bellydance Convention! Nathalie was featured in many music videos and television shows such as Timberland’s Music Video (Indian Flute), R- Kelly’s Music video (Whine for me), MTV music Award 2005, Opening Act for the Cirque du Soleil “KA” in Las Vegas, Fox Sports awards, and many more. She has also performed for many celebrities like Shaquille O’Neil, Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jason Taylor, Method man, and Alonzo Mourning. In the summer of 2008 she brought to South Florida the first Miami Bellydance Convention festival held at the Intercontinental Hotel, bringing performers and instructors from all around the world. More than 2,000 people have attended this event during the past 10 years.

In this interview we discussed such questions and topics:

- How the Miami Bellydance Convention was born.

- How Nathalie chooses dates for the event, and coordinates it with the busy schedules of invited artists.

- How much in advance does she start preparations for the event.

- Struggles of combining motherhood and festival organization.

- Visa procedures for artists and participants.

- How to deal with stress.

- Best advertising for your event.

- Nathalie’s advise to starting events.

Show Notes to this episode:

Belly Dance Life Podcast CHALLENGE: www.ianadance.com/challenge

Find Nathalie Hatab on website, Instagram, YouTube, and FB. Information about Annual Miami Bellydance Convention HERE.

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Today we talk with Veronika Shulkevich, a young star of the belly dance world scene. At the age of 16 she is already a teacher at Ahlan Wa Sahlan (Egypt) and Cairo Mirage (Russia) festivals, the founder of Dance School VEROSHDANCE, a certified teacher of the League of Bellydance Masters of Russia, International Belly Dance Union, and International Association of Eastern Dance (IAED), as well as winner of multiple competitions including Ahlan Wa Sahlan, Cairo Mirage, Ah Ya Elbi, Yalla Yalla Festival, El Hana Festival, Cup of the World according to IDF, and many other awards.

In this interview we discussed such questions and topics:

- How Veronika got involved in belly dance world at the age of 5.

- What are the differences between teaching classes to kids and adults.

- Her experience at belly dance competitions.

- Combining active dance training with school.

- Teaching Skype classes and creating choreographies for other dancers.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Veronika Shulkevich on Instagram, YouTube, and FB.

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Originally from Brazil, Kamilia had made a stunning career as a professional performer in Lebanon, Arab Emirates and Egypt. Today she is a teacher, artist’s producer and event organizer with a big dream of creating a supportive and welcoming community of dance professionals. Her passion for belly dance started at the age of 6, and since then that passion brought her to multiple stages across the Middle East and beyond. She was the youngest dancer at LBC TV, and had guidance of master teacher Caracalla, along with other amazing mentors. At some point in her career, Kamilia was performing with an orchestra of 45 musicians, singers and 6 dancers for her show, being featured at the top 5-star hotels in Cairo along with such stars as Lucy, Mona Said, Fifi, Dina, and Hendeya.

In this interview we discussed such questions and topics:

- How Kamilia got interested in belly dance.

- The beginning of her performance career in Lebanon.

- The importance of understanding Arabic soul in dance, and never stop studying.

- The concept of Arabic musicality, and her methodology of teaching foreign dancers.

- Main pillars of successful interpretation of the song.

- Being a producer, and mentoring other dancers on their career path.

- The story of her stage name.

- The Ishtar Congress in Abu Dhabi.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Kamilia on Instagram, and FB. Also, check the Ishtar Congress Fb page.

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

What do you know about the historical figure of Little Egypt? Be ready to be shocked after listening to this episode, because Donna Carlton shares her extensive research on this topic, and unveils a lot of misinformation circulating on the Internet!

Donna Carlton established the International Dance Discovery in 1987, selling dance accoutrement. She began teaching group classes at Lynda Mitchell Yoga Studio in 1989. She published the “Middle Eastern Dance Video Sourcebook” annually from 1989-2005. In 1995, she published her book “Looking for Little Egypt” about the history and perceptions of Middle Eastern Dance in USA.

In this interview we discussed such questions and topics:

- How did Donna get involved in the research project about Little Egypt?

- What was significance of the 1893 Colombian Exposition in Chicago?

- Scandalous performances of Little Egypt.

- Was Little Egypt a real person?

- The origins of Hoochy Kootchy melody.

- Does Little Egypt have anything to do with original Middle-Eastern dancers?

- The origins of the term “belly dance” in English language.

- The influence of Little Egypt on the modern belly dance scene.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Donna Carlton on Instagram, FB, her website. Her book Looking for Little Egypt is available at lulu.com. Also check Donna’s Fb page All About Bellydance.

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

In this episode we are featuring Egyptian master teacher Wael Mansour, who studied Egyptian dance and ballet at the National Academy of Folklore and Theatre, as well as worked with a number of companies, including the Elkawmeia and Hassan Hafifi Group.

In this interview we discussed such questions and topics:

- The importance of ballet training for belly dancers: what to do, what not to do, is there an age limit to start practicing ballet, and more.

- Different stages of his dance career, and why he left the Balloon theatre in Cairo.

- The process of music production: from an idea to the CD release.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Wael Mansour on Instagram and FB.

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

Show Notes to this episode:

This episode is brought to you by My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com , a fashion and lifestyle brand inspired by belly dance.

Find Amir Thaleb on Instagram, FB, and website.

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

Show Notes to this episode:

Submit your question for ASKianaDANCE: www.ianadance.com/ask

Ep 11. Valerick Molinary: Different Ways to Develop Your Belly Dance Career

Ep 41. Maria Sokolova: From Accounting to a Belly Dance Career!

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com

Show Notes to this episode:

This episode is brought to you by My Inner Dancer: myinnerdancer.com , a fashion and lifestyle brand inspired by belly dance.

Find Idil on Instagram, FB, and Youtube.

Find Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Bellydance Evolution and information about their new program and casting: bellydanceevolution.com