Sara Pappalardo is an Italian Oriental and Bollywood dancer, choreographer, teacher, and festival organizer based in Catania, Sicily. Founder of the dance school Tery al Kubra and artistic director of the internationally recognized Khamsin Festival, Sara is known for blending strong technical foundations with expressive freedom and deep musical understanding. Specializing in Muwashahat, she has also developed her own teaching method for finger cymbals and rhythm, helping dancers build a stronger connection to Arabic music and musical interpretation. Alongside her work in oriental dance, Sara explores Indian dances and fusion styles, bringing warmth, humor, and a deeply personal teaching approach to students across Italy and internationally.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Living with endometriosis for over 20 years—and how belly dance became therapy, healing, and body acceptance

- What studying Indian classical dance taught Sara about discipline, focus, and falling back in love with dance

- Why good teachers should sometimes say “you’re not ready yet”—and why that can be a gift

- How finger cymbals can completely transform a dancer’s understanding of rhythm and musicality

- The beauty of fusion dance—and how mixing influences can become a way of expressing your full self

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Sara Pappalardo on Instagram, YouTube and FB.

Details the BDE shows and training programs 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