Rabia found her love of music and dance at a young age in Turkey where she started dancing, drumming, and performing at traditional celebrations and social gatherings. Growing up listening and dancing to the complex rhythms of Turkey’s beautiful Aegean region was to her benefit during her formal dance education. Her unique dancing and teaching style is rooted in Turkish culture and tradition. She is an internationally acclaimed performing artist, researcher, instructor, choreographer and specialized in 9/8 dances of Turkey. She believes and advocates for the healing power of music and dance in a person's physical, emotional and mental well being. She performs and teaches nationally and internationally. In addition to being a registered nurse, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in athletics and dance, a Master of Science in Nursing Education and studying for her Nurse Practitioner degree. She integrates her formal educational background into her dance instructions to benefit her students.

In this episode you will learn about:

- The concept of Haflas in the belly dance community vs Turkish tradition

- The tricky task of teaching 9/8 rhythm to a Western ear

- The variety of 9/8 rhythms in Turkey, including the richness of Karsilama regional styles

- Intricate nuances of Roman Havasi rhythm, and different ways to dance to them

- The Historical roots of Turkish belly dance

Show Notes to this episode:

Thank you for your support via Iana Dance Club: www.ianadanceCLUB.com.

Find Rabia on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

Bellydance Evolution and information about their BDExperience program at www.JoinBDE.com.

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast