Belly Dance Life

Shahdana is an international belly dancer from Argentina whose artistic journey began not with dance, but with music—studying piano and musical composition for nearly two decades, including performing in a tango orchestra. Her deep connection to music later found a new expression in belly dance, where Arabic rhythms became her primary focus. But it was a moment of emotional clarity—dancing to Piazzolla’s tango and breaking into tears—that reminded her to honor her roots. That decision to merge tango with belly dance not only defined her unique style but opened international doors, beginning with her first overseas performance in Korea. Today, Shahdana is celebrated for her emotional depth, musicality, and distinctive fusion of tango and belly dance, teaching and performing around the world.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Late start is not a barrier to build a belly dance career

- How setting a 7-year goal helped Shahdana stay focused through years of rejection.

- The role of intuition and networking in building a dance career.

- Why she emphasizes interpreting tango with authenticity rather than mimicking tango dancers.

- How to develop a unique style through consistent improvisation and personal storytelling.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Shahdana on Instagram, and YouTube.

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

Check Earn What You Deserve Training for belly dance teachers at www.sharqui.com/social.

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

Jill Collins is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, and educator whose versatile career spans contemporary, theatrical, and Middle Eastern dance. She began performing professionally as a teenager and later earned her BFA in Dance Education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2007, she joined Jillina’s Sahlala Dancers, eventually becoming Artistic Director and owner in 2021. Jill has toured internationally for over a decade with Bellydance Evolution, serving as both featured dancer and rehearsal director, as well as co-director of the company’s training branch, BDEx. In 2015, she founded Cathartic Art, a collective dedicated to advocating for mental health through creative performance. In addition to her work with Sahlala, she performs with LA Choreographers & Dancers and holds teaching credentials from Dance Masters of America and SharQuí: The Bellydance Workout.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How a Craigslist audition unexpectedly launched Jill’s journey into belly dance with Jillina’s Sahlala Dancers.

- The challenges of transitioning from ballet to belly dance—especially shifting posture and grounding.

- How the gig and performance landscape changed after the pandemic, including shifts in audience attention and show structure.

- The ups and downs of taking over Sahlala Dancers during the pandemic and rebuilding it from near scratch.

- Her current focus on work-life balance, adding Zoom rehearsals, and developing educational outreach performances.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Jill Collins on Instagram, FB, and Sahlala Dancers website.

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

Find out what’s missing in your musicality and connection to Arabic music in 60 seconds. Take the quiz: www.maqamquiz.com Created by Maya Youssef.

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

Shreeprada (Shree) is a captivating Indian Tribal Fusion dance teacher known for her layered style, artistic depth, and commitment to creativity. With a background in Bharatanatyam and a Master’s degree in Textile Design from the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, she brings a unique fusion of movement and visual artistry to her work. Trained in printing, embroidery, weaving, dyeing, and knotting, Shree has an exceptional ability to conceptualize and design textured surfaces—skills that mirror her intricate dance style as well. Passionate about sharing the magic of Tribal Fusion, she inspires dancers worldwide through her recorded courses and online classes.

In this episode you will learn about:

- The impact of colonization and media on Indian clothing norms and perceptions of dance.

- How Shree discovered belly dance through television and dealing with cultural taboos in India.

- The strong visual and cultural parallels between Tribal Fusion and Indian folk aesthetics.

- The creation of "Tribal Fusion India" to showcase diverse Indian voices in the style.

- How she uses social media strategically to attract aligned students rather than just followers.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Shree on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website. Here is also Tribal Fusion India Instagram.

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

Find out what’s missing in your musicality and connection to Arabic music in 60 seconds. Take the quiz: www.maqamquiz.com Created by Maya Youssef.

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

Melli Sarina is a pioneer in the Tribal Fusion and Fusion Belly Dance scene with over 26 years of dance experience. Based in Augsburg, Germany, she discovered her passion for Tribal Fusion at sixteen after a transformative workshop with Sharon Kihara. Her signature style—known as “Liquid Fusion”—blends Zoe Jakes' DanceCraft-inspired technique with the fluid artistry of urban waving, creating a powerful fusion of isolations, body control, and expressive flow. With intensive training from masters like Zoe Jakes, Kami Liddle, Mira Betz, and Jill Parker, including 49 hours at The Tribal Massive in Las Vegas, Melli has become known for her precision, biomechanics focus, and deep muscle awareness. She teaches online classes and leads her own Liquid Fusion intensives designed around body awareness, mobility, and personal movement needs. A celebrated performer and educator, she has graced stages across Europe and the U.S., earned titles like 2011 Tribal Star Award winner and 2010 Vice Tribal Bellydancer of the World, and continues to shape the next generation of fusion dancers with her technique-driven, heart-centered approach.

In this episode you will learn about:

- The influence of urban dance styles—especially waving—on Melli’s movement vocabulary.

- The creation and meaning behind the term “Liquid Fusion Belly Dance.”

- How discovering pelvic floor awareness transformed her understanding of belly rolls.

- The value of working with a somatic therapist rather than just dance teachers for deeper growth.

- Her thoughtful approach to teaching levels in Liquid Fusion Belly Dance.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Melli Sarina on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.

Find out what’s missing in your musicality and connection to Arabic music in 60 seconds. Take the quiz: www.maqamquiz.com Created by Maya Youssef

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

Lidiane is a Brazilian belly dancer currently based in Egypt, known for her expressive style, stage presence, and deep dedication to the art of Oriental dance. She began her journey as a teenager in Brazil and eventually left behind a stable career to pursue her dream of dancing professionally in Egypt. Since arriving originally in Sharm el-Sheikh, and eventually moving to Cairo, Lidiane has performed nightly shows, reshaped her technique, and immersed herself in the cultural nuances of the Egyptian dance scene. Through discipline, emotional resilience, and a commitment to authenticity, she has built a name for herself not only as a dancer but as a performer who embodies the spirit of the stage both on and off it.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Why competitions never brought her medals—but did lead to her most important lesson about confidence on stage

- Leaving a secure job in Brazil to pursue dance in Egypt

- Reshaping her technique and musicality to survive the demands of Egyptian stages

- Learning about branding and applying those skills to her belly dance career

- Why gym workout is an important part of her lifestyle

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Lidiane on Instagram, FB, and YouTube.

Find out what’s missing in your musicality and connection to Arabic music in 60 seconds. Take the quiz: www.maqamquiz.com Created by Maya Youssef

Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.

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

Estelle Zaghloul Ramia is a Lebanese-born, Costa Rica-based belly dancer, choreographer, and cultural ambassador who rose to fame after winning the first season of Hezzi Ya Nawaeem on Lebanese TV and later became the first belly dancer to perform on the national stages of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In recognition of her artistic and community impact, she was honored in 2017 as one of Costa Rica’s Women’s Empowerment Icons. Her most recent project, Modern Organic Dance and Sacred Arts, is a creative and spiritual collective she co-founded, combining dance, music, videography, ritual, and energy work to create immersive, transformative experiences rooted in sisterhood and sacred expression. She shares her work through performances, teachings, and online platforms.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Oriental dance as a vessel for ancestral memory and feminine empowerment

- What it means to dance with the elements and how fire, water, air, and earth can shape your movement practice

- The role of ritual in Estelle’s classes, from altars and candles to setting intentions before movement

- What blocked shimmies can reveal about your deeper energetic or emotional patterns

- How Egyptian mythology holds simple truths about energy, healing, and feminine power

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Estelle Zaghloul on Facebook, YouTube,Instagram, and her website.

Our previous interview with Estelle Zaghloul :

Ep 126. Estelle Zaghloul: Why Has This Dance Entered Your Life?

Books recommended by Estelle in this episode:

Sacred woman, sacred dance: Awakening spirituality through movement and ritual, by Iris J. Stewart

Grandmother's secrets : the ancient rituals and healing power of belly dancing, by Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia B

The Secret Language of Your Body: The Essential Guide to Health and Wellness, by Inna Segal

Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.

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

Pinky Selim is a banker by profession, a dancer by passion, and the founder of the AUC Alumni Folklore Group, a troupe dedicated to reviving Egyptian folkloric dance. While studying at the American University in Cairo, she was deeply involved in the university’s folklore club, and after graduation, she couldn’t imagine letting go of this art form. In 2013, with the support of AUC’s Alumni Office, she launched AUC Alum Folk to preserve and celebrate Egyptian heritage through performance and education. Inspired by legends like Mahmoud Reda and Farida Fahmy, Pinky has choreographed and staged numerous shows that bring folklore to life for new generations. As a proud mother and twin sister, she leads a growing troupe of dancers of all ages, teaching workshops and organizing performances that honor the richness and diversity of Egyptian folk traditions.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How a simple alumni club became a full dance company

- The deep influence of her father on Pinki’s view of music and culture

- The growing disconnection between young Egyptians and their own cultural heritage

- Why teaching folklore felt urgent in a culture where kids mock their own language

- What it takes to lead amateurs who dance like pros

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Pinky Selim on Instagram, and Instagram page of AUC Alumni Folklore.

Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.

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

Rae Chrysalis is a classically trained dancer, embodiment coach, and leading voice in the silk fan community with over 30 years of experience in movement and performance. She is the founder of Chrysalis Silk Studies, an online school that has trained students in more than 60 countries in the art of silk fan dance. Rae’s work is at the forefront of Silk Fan Fusion, helping shape the future of this emerging art form through her signature blend of technical dance foundations, flow arts, and soul-driven expression. She has toured with artists like Seven Lions and Ayla Nereo and performed at premier festivals including Shambhala, Lightning in a Bottle, and Envision. As both performer and educator, Rae is celebrated for her ability to make advanced movement accessible while creating transformative spaces for deep embodiment and artistic discovery.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How Rae discovered fan veils and made them her signature tool

- Common mistakes dancers make during their learning process, how Rae built her teaching system over years of exploration

- Why belly dancers are drawn to her work to deepen their connection with fan veils

- How to choose fan veils that match your style and purpose

- What is the essence of ritual art, and Rae’s personal journey into it

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Rae Chrysalis on Instagram, YouTube, and website.

Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.

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

Dawn Devine, also known as Davina, is a costume designer, author, and lifelong dancer with a passion for belly dance and all things that sparkle. Best known for her popular books on how to design and construct belly dance costumes, she has built a unique career at the intersection of dance, fashion, and education. With a background in tap, jazz, modern, and ballet, Davina discovered belly dance as a teenager and has since taken the stage as a performer, teacher, and creative mentor. She is dedicated to helping dancers create beautiful, well-fitting costumes and is constantly writing—whether it’s books, blog posts, or magazine articles. A true costume historian at heart, Davina also enjoys diving into archives to uncover the origins and evolution of fashion, textiles, and stagewear.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How Davina’s passion for sewing turned into costume repairs for local dancers and eventually her own costume book

- Learning self-publishing from sci-fi zine culture, selling her first 50 books on spot, and writing over 20 books since then

- Challenges of affording professional costumes in the 80s and the importance of the costume making skills

- Her research into vintage Assiut fabric and what makes it so magical

- Deep dive into zills—why dancers need more context, not just technique

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Dawn Devine (Davina) on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, website, and Patreon.

Publications in Print:

Cloth of Egypt - Amazon, Etsy.

Zills: Music On Your Fingertips - Amazon , Etsy

Becoming a Belly Dancer - Amazon , Etsy

Embellished Bras - Amazon , Etsy

Skirting The Issues & Pants for the Dance - Amazon , Etsy

Costuming From the Hip - Amazon , Etsy

Bedlah, Baubles, and Beads - Amazon , Etsy

From Turban to Toe Ring - Amazon - Etsy

Color Theory - Amazon - Etsy

Gloves and Gauntlet (Sewing Pattern) - Etsy

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

Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.

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

Portia Lange is a renowned belly dance educator, performer, and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Belly Motions, a Miami-based studio turned global platform blending Middle Eastern dance with fitness and empowerment. With over 20 years of experience, she has developed a unique, inclusive teaching method that welcomes all ages and abilities. A champion of Cairo’s Nile Group Competition, a Miami Herald Top 20 Under 40 leader, and a two-time ELLE Oriental cover star, Portia has also trained instructors worldwide through her Belly Dance Fitness Instructor Training Program. She is the creator of MIAMI RAKS FEST and continues to inspire thousands through both in-person and online programs that celebrate confidence, joy, and self-expression through dance.

In this episode you will learn about:

- How belly dance helped Portia heal from trauma and reclaim her self-worth.

- "Fake it till you become it" mindset: launching a studio while still learning to dance and facing community backlash.

- Feeling guilty for being beautiful during her son’s cancer battle and finding healing again through movement.

- From growing her following to nearly a million, to losing 300K followers in a scam.

- What really drives viral content, conversion rates, and why most followers won’t dance.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Portia Lange on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and her website.

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

Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.

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