Belly Dance Life

Episodios disponibles

5 de 313

Ep 338. Sonia Ochoa: How Opportunities Shaped Her Journey from Polynesian Stages to Bellydance Superstars & Beyond
Sonia Ochoa is a versatile dancer, choreographer, and teacher with over 25 years of experience on international stages. Rising to prominence as a principal dancer with the Bellydance Superstars (2002–2010), she toured the world performing in renowned theaters and television shows under the direction of Miles Copeland. A lifelong student of movement, Sonia has traveled extensively through India, Egypt, and Spain to study Odissi, Egyptian folk dances, flamenco, and classical Spanish dance, weaving these traditions into her own signature style. Based in Los Angeles, she directs the Sonia Ochoa Dance Co., leads workshops, judges competitions, and collaborates with artists locally and abroad. With her deep passion for music and dance, Sonia continues to bridge cultures and inspire global audiences through the beauty and diversity of artistic expression.In this episode you will learn about:- The importance of understanding goals when studying multiple dance forms.- Similarities and differences between Polynesian, ballet, flamenco, and belly dance.- How joining the Bellydance Superstars shifted Sonia’s career path.- Sonia’s perspective on fusion—valuing both creativity and cultural respect.- How flamenco and belly dance share both strong/masculine and soft/feminine qualities.Show Notes to this episode:Find Sonia Ochoa on Instagram, Fb, and website.Check Earn What You Deserve Training for belly dance teachers at www.sharqui.com/social.Visit StackableDrills.com to sign up or try one of their free drill practices.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
--------
1:08:57
--------
1:08:57
Ep 337. Amera Eid: The Journey of Growing a Belly Dance Scene in Australia
Amera Eid is one of the leading figures who brought belly dance to Sydney and helped it grow across Australia. For more than 40 years, she has performed and taught around the world, sharing her love for the dance with students and audiences everywhere. She is also a talented fashion designer who created the first belly dance boutique in the Southern Hemisphere in 1987, creating stunning costumes for performers, fashion shows, and films — from Moulin Rouge to Kylie Minogue’s Sydney 2000 Olympic outfit. Beyond dance, Amera is deeply committed to foster care. As a foster carer and adoptive mum, she works to recruit, train, and support others in giving safe and loving homes to children in need.In this episode you will learn about:- The challenge of pursuing belly dance with no family support and almost no local training opportunities in the 1980s.- Founding one of Sydney’s first belly dance schools and a boutique that became a hub for dance community.- Working as a professional dancer across the Middle East, preferring Lebanon over Egypt for contracts.- Returning to Australia due to industry age bias and shifting focus to teaching.- How Australia’s belly dance scene differs from Europe in competitions and festivals.Show Notes to this episode:Find Amera Eid on Instagram, Fb, YouTube, and website.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck 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
--------
1:01:16
--------
1:01:16
Ep 336. Shahdana: Tango Oriental and the Power of Personal Style
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.comCheck 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
--------
1:07:54
--------
1:07:54
Ep 335. Jill Collins: From Company Member to Artistic Director of Sahlala Dancers
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.comFind 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
--------
1:00:05
--------
1:00:05
Ep 334. Shree: How Fusion Belly Dance is Evolving in India
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.comFind 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
--------
1:09:34
--------
1:09:34