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