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by Iana Komarnytska
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- Today1h 12m
Ep 375. Verona Kemet (Veronika Kremenskaya): Between Ukrainian Training and Egyptian Style
Verona Kemet (Veronika Kremenskaya) is a Ukrainian belly dancer, known for her strong musicality, expressive style, and deep connection to Egyptian dance aesthetics. She has taught workshops and master classes across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, including Spain, Italy, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Brazil, and Egypt. A highly accomplished competitor, Veronika is the winner of the Royal Crown at Cleopatra Festival 2025, among many other international events. Her artistic style has been shaped through long-term study with renowned Egyptian masters including Mohamed Shahin, Khaled Mahmoud, Kareem Gad, and Sahar Samara, blending technical precision with a strong commitment to musical interpretation and authentic oriental dance.In this episode you will learn about:- Growing up in Ukraine and choosing belly dance over every other style at just six years old- Training, competing, and continuing festival life while navigating war, blackouts, and daily instability- Finding an artistic identity between Ukrainian training and Egyptian style- The difference between “just improvising” and truly knowing how to improvise- The pressure of beauty standards in modern belly dance—from tanning to stage makeup and image expectationsShow Notes to this episode:Find Verona Kemet (Veronika Kremenskaya) on Instagram, and FB.Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow 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
- 6 days ago1h 7m
Ep 374. Süreya: The Fine Line Between Being Passionate & Pushing Too Hard in Belly Dance
Süreya is a London-based, internationally recognized Turkish belly dancer, choreographer, and instructor known for her dynamic stage presence, strong musicality, and versatility across multiple Middle Eastern dance styles. Deeply connected to her Turkish cultural roots, she has trained extensively in Turkish, Egyptian, Lebanese, Iraqi, and Khaleegy dance, as well as ballet and theatrical fusion. A multi-award-winning performer, Süreya has taught and competed in over 10 countries, including Turkey and Egypt, earning recognition at major international festivals and competitions such as Rakkas Istanbul, the International Belly Dance Battle, and Dum Tak Festival. Alongside performing at prestigious venues and events across the UK and internationally, she is also known for her passionate teaching style, commitment to continuous learning, and dedication to sharing authentic oriental dance with new generations of dancers.In this episode you will learn about:- Growing up loving belly dance in Turkish culture while feeling pressured to hide it- How burnout affects dancers mentally more than physically—and ways to recover from it- Why nutrition, fitness, and structure become essential for sustaining a dance career- The importance of lifelong learning and studying with many different teachers- Competing in nine categories while unknowingly dancing with pneumonia—and the reality behind pushing too hardShow Notes to this episode:Find Süreya on Instagram, FB and her website, or contect her directly at sureyabellydance@gmail.com. For Moyolo (Egyptian Dance and Cultural Tours) visit www.moyolotravel.co.uk Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow 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
- 1 weeks ago1h 6m
Ep 373. Sharon Mesguich: How Much Does It Cost to Organize a Festival & What It Takes to Create a True Artistry on Stage
Sharon Mesguich is a French, Tunisian, and Algerian belly dance artist, teacher, and festival organizer known for her dynamic stage presence and deep connection to Egyptian style. Introduced to oriental arts from a young age, she discovered belly dance in 1999 and has since built an international career, performing at major venues and events while teaching across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. She trained extensively in Egypt with renowned masters such as Dina, Mahmoud Reda, and Mayodi, shaping her musicality, technique, and expressive style. In 2004, she founded her school “Les Danseuses du Sinaï” in Montpellier, and later created the Oriental Marathon Festival, now one of the leading belly dance events in France. Known for her energy, generosity, and strong artistic identity, Sharon is dedicated to preserving the essence of oriental dance while supporting new generations of dancers through performance, education, and community.In this episode you will learn about:- What it really takes to organize a large-scale belly dance festival—and why it’s far more complex than it looks- The behind-the-scenes reality of hosting a dance cruise, from logistics to unexpected chaos- How improvisation in belly dance is not truly “improvised”—but built on deep musical knowledge- The difference between dancing steps and creating a real emotional connection on stage- How to develop your own style by learning from many teachers without copying themShow Notes to this episode:Follow Sharon Mesguich on FB, Instagram, YouTube, and website. Oriental Marathon Festival: website.Previous interview with Sharon Mesguich:Ep 92. Sharon Mesguich: Put Your Life In Your DanceDetails the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow 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
- 3 weeks ago1h 9m
Ep 372. Maha Al Musa: Belly Dance as Preparation for Childbirth and Guiding Practice Through Menopause
Maha Al Musa is an award-winning international childbirth educator, speaker, and the founder of EmbodyBirth and BellydanceBirth®, a pioneering approach to pregnancy and birth preparation she has been teaching since 1997. A leading advocate for natural birth, breastfeeding, and women’s embodied wisdom, she is the author of the acclaimed book Dance of the Womb: The Essential Guide to Belly Dance for Pregnancy and Birth, along with a widely recognized practice video series. Maha has presented at major conferences and institutions worldwide, sharing her work across Australia, the USA, India, and China. A mother of three, she is known for integrating personal experience with decades of teaching, including giving birth to her daughter at 46 in a home water lotus birth. Her work has received international awards and endorsements from respected figures in the birth community, and continues to influence both mothers and birth professionals globally.In this episode you will learn about:- Why most women are disconnected from their bodies—and how dance can rebuild that trust- Reasons why traditional belly dance was never about choreography—but about energy, emotion, and shared presence- Why professional belly dancers often struggle with birth—and the impact of muscle tension and control- How fear, medical systems, and external authority can disconnect women from their own instincts- Approaching menopause as a powerful rite of passage rather than declineShow Notes to this episode:Find Maha Al Musa on Instagram, YouTube, and her website with book and courses info.Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow 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
- 3 weeks ago1h 36m
Ep 371. April Rose: From Connection to Isolation in Belly Dance and Searching Our Way Back
April Rose is a belly dancer, teacher, and creator of the Dance Cohesion method, known for her precise technique, integration of finger cymbals and frame drum, and emphasis on group improvisation and musical connection. Based in Austin, Texas, she has taught and performed in over 25 countries, sharing a fusion approach rooted in Middle Eastern, North African, Turkish, Hellenic, and Central and South Asian dance influences. With a background that includes a bachelor’s degree in Dance and a master’s in Culture and Performance from UCLA, April combines academic research with embodied practice, exploring dance as a tool for presence, creativity, and human connection. She is also the founder of the Boss Bellydancer training program, where she mentors dancers in building sustainable and meaningful professional careers.In this episode you will learn about:- What multi-generational dance spaces can teach us beyond technique- How alternative dance communities expanded ideas of beauty, identity, and self-expression- The balance between respect for cultural roots and freedom to explore the dance- The reality of building a sustainable dance career without burnout- Why dance is ultimately a practice of presence, creativity, and human connectionShow Notes to this episode:Find April Rose on Instagram, FB, YouTube, TikTok and her website.Our listeners can get April’s "Frame Drum for Bellydance Workshop Bundle" for free when they use the code PODCAST during check out: https://brilliantbellydancer.com/framedrumforbellydancewithaprilrose/Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow 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
- Apr 16, 202652 min
Ep 370. Dr George Sawa: How Centuries-Old Knowledge Can Still Guide Modern Dancers and Musicians
Dr. George Sawa is an internationally recognized musicologist, performer, and educator specializing in Arabic music history, theory, and performance. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, he brings over 50 years of experience, with training from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music and a PhD in historical Arabic musicology from the University of Toronto. He has taught at the University of Toronto and York University, and lectured and performed worldwide. A prolific author on medieval and modern Arabic music, his work bridges historical research with contemporary practice and has become an important resource for the dance community. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture for his contributions to Arabic music research.In this episode you will learn about:- How translating 11th-century Arabic music dictionaries reveals detailed insights into dancers, musicians, and aesthetics of that time- Why even medieval musicians warned dancers about tricky drummers—and the importance of knowing the music- The reality of fusion in history—and why some combinations worked while others failed- How European influence shaped Egyptian music and led to the rise of large orchestras- Why modern dancers struggle to interpret older music—and what is required to truly dance to itShow Notes to this episode:Find Dr George Sawa on YouTube, FB, and website with the info about his publications.Previous interview with Dr George Sawa:Ep 75. George Sawa: Digging Deep Into the History of Egyptian MusicDetails the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow 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
- Apr 8, 20261h 8m
Ep 369. Bindu Bolar: An Artist Is Always a Student
Bindu Bolar is an award-winning Indian dance artist and a pioneer of Tribal Fusion Belly Dance in her country, known for creating her signature style, “Belly Animation,” which blends belly dance with popping and animation. She is the founder and artistic director of Lights Camera Dance in Bangalore and has built an international career as a performer and teacher, leading workshops across the USA, Europe, and Asia. After initially balancing a career in software with dance, she chose to fully pursue her artistic path despite social pressures. Bindu has trained with leading figures including Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, and Carolena Nericcio, and was the first Indian dancer to win an International Belly Dance title in the Solo Tribal category. She continues to evolve as an artist and educator, with a strong focus on individuality and lifelong learning.In this episode you will learn about:- Why movement can become a form of communication beyond words- What it means to move beyond technique and become an artist who makes people feel- The reality of pursuing dance in a conservative environment—and the stigma around belly dance- How dancers navigate family pressure, social judgment, and career risks- Reframing success and failure into milestones and lessons in a lifelong artistic journeyShow Notes to this episode:Find Bindu Bolar on Instagram.Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow 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
- Apr 2, 20261h 20m
Ep 368. Kamilia: How the Modern Economy Is Reshaping the Belly Dance Industry
Kamilia is a Brazilian-born belly dancer who built an international career performing across Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, where she became known for her powerful stage presence and deep connection to Oriental music. Beginning her dance journey at the age of six, she went on to become one of the youngest dancers featured on LBC TV and trained under renowned figures including Caracalla. At the height of her performance career, she appeared in top five-star hotels in Cairo, sharing stages with icons such as Lucy, Mona Said, Fifi Abdou, Dina, and Hendeya, and performing with large live orchestras of up to 45 musicians. Today, Kamilia works as a teacher, artistic producer, and event organizer, dedicated to building a supportive and professional global dance community.In this episode you will learn about:- How Oriental dance has shifted from local Arabic dominance to a global, foreign-led scene- How economic changes transformed belly dance performances into shorter, simplified formats- What does it mean to be prepared for the dance improvisation- Why foreigners must train their ears differently to truly understand Arabic music- What it means to remain a “forever learner” after 30+ years in danceShow Notes to this episode:Find Kamilia on Instagram, and FB.Previous interview with Kamilia:Ep 62. Kamilia: Dreaming of a Big Supportive CommunityDetails the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow 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
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