Belly Dance Life

Summer Deng is one of the most sought-after Chinese professionals in the world of Oriental dance, celebrated for his exceptional technical precision, artistic expression, and groundbreaking contributions as a male dancer. He has performed, taught, and judged across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, conducting hundreds of workshops and intensives in over 80 cities in China alone. Known for his versatile style—blending high-energy, dramatic movements with fluid, intricate technique—he has inspired countless dancers through his masterclasses, helping them grow, transform, and deepen their connection to Oriental dance. In this episode you will learn about:- What it meant to be one of the first male belly dancers in China—and face 10 years of silence from his family- Why Summer walked away from Chinese classical dance to fully devote himself to Raqs Sharqi- How copy-paste choreography culture is weakening artistic identity in China- His mission to build a transparent, fair festival system in China starting in 2015- The rise of China and Korea as serious forces in the Asian belly dance competition sceneShow Notes to this episode:Find Summer Den on Instagram.Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comDetails 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

Fernanda Reschke is a Brazilian-born Oriental dance artist, educator, and trauma-informed psychotherapist whose work bridges movement, culture, and healing. She began her career as a dancer and choreographer at a young age and later trained in counseling and naturopathy, holding a bachelor’s degree in holistic health and wellbeing. Fernanda spent many years living and performing professionally in the Middle East, specializing in Egyptian Raqs Sharqi and folkloric traditions of the SWANA region. Now based in Australia, she is internationally recognized for her warm, inclusive, and culturally respectful teaching approach. As a PACFA-accredited psychotherapist and advanced Somatic Experiencing practitioner, Fernanda supports dancers in reconnecting with their bodies, emotions, and sense of belonging while honoring Raqs Sharqi as a living cultural art form.In this episode you will learn about:- The hidden mental health challenges of working belly dancers- Body image pressure, harassment, and unspoken industry norms- How validation, visibility, and social media affect dancers’ nervous systems- Why not every hardship is trauma — and why that distinction matters- What “taking care of mental health” actually looks like in daily lifeShow Notes to this episode:Find Fernanda on Instagram, Facebook, and website.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

Mohamed Reda Saad is a prominent Egyptian musician and the leader of the Cairo Band, one of Cairo’s most sought-after ensembles for major dance festivals and cultural events. Continuing the artistic legacy of his father, the renowned musician Reda Saad, Mohamed has both preserved and expanded this heritage, specializing in traditional and contemporary Egyptian music created specifically for professional Oriental dance performance. Known for its refined arrangements and exceptional musicianship, the Cairo Band performs regularly at prestigious events in Cairo and on international stages. In parallel with his work as a performing musician and band leader, Mohamed is also an experienced music engineer who has recorded and produced numerous albums for Oriental dance and collaborates with dancers worldwide to create custom-made music tailored to their performance needs.In this episode you will learn about:- The difference between musicians who play for singers and those who play for dancers, and why Egyptian drummers follow the dancer, not the other way around- The most common mistakes dancers make with live bands—entrances, endings, and accents- How dancers can communicate with musicians using simple, universal stage signals- How dancers should prepare for rehearsals to truly benefit from limited time- The behind-the-scenes reality of creating custom music for dancers and why recording dance music takes weeks—not hoursShow Notes to this episode:Find Mohamed Reda on Instagram, and FB.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

Martina Tellini is an Italian professional belly dancer, teacher, and choreographer known for her dynamic, powerful, and natural style. Born in Florence, she began her artistic path with music, singing, and acting before dedicating herself to dance. Martina trained extensively with leading figures of Oriental Dance, including Randa Kamel, Tito Seif, Yousry Sharif, and Wael Mansour, and went on to win numerous international competitions across Europe and Asia, as well as becoming a finalist at the prestigious Raqs of Course Festival in Cairo. She has performed, taught, and judged worldwide. Deeply committed to artistic individuality, Martina’s teaching focuses on strong technique, unconventional choreography, and helping dancers discover their own unique voice. Alongside her belly dance career, she is also the president of the Renaissance dance association Il Lauro, performing historical dance across Italy and Europe.In this episode you will learn about:- Starting belly dance directly in festivals and masterclasses, not beginner classes- How progressing too fast can cost you foundational technique- When audience love can mask what you need to work on — but competition feedback exposes it- The role of choreography vs. improvisation at different career stages- How pregnancy reshaped priorities, body awareness, and paceShow Notes to this episode:Find Martina Tellini on Instagram, Youtube and Facebook. Details and training materials for the BDE castings 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

Fascinated by the arts since childhood, Nivetha Shree discovered Belly Dance at the age of 21 and has since trained with renowned teachers around the world. She holds certifications in DanceCraft – Key of Diamonds by Zoe Jakes and Krysalis – Invocation by Kami Liddle, and is an FCBD® Teacher, proudly leading the first officially recognized FCBD® Sister Studio in India. A Level 2 Yoga practitioner certified by the Government of India, she integrates a holistic body–mind awareness into her dance practice and teaching. As a solo artist and director of Saara – The Tribe, Nivetha has performed on leading dance platforms and, through Saara – The Bellydance Space in Bangalore, cultivates a supportive environment where dancers grow with confidence and self-expression. Her performances and workshops across India, Germany, the UK, and Australia reflect her mission to share the depth, artistry, and joy of Belly Dance worldwide.In this episode you will learn about:- How growing up with a dancer father shaped Nivetha’s creative foundation and artistic discipline.- Why costuming became an extension of her storytelling rather than just decoration.- Her deep connection to music as the core inspiration for choreography and improvisation.- The philosophy behind her fully improvised performances and how she accesses “flow state.”- Co-creating energy with the photographer instead of just posing.Show Notes to this episode:Find Nivetha Shree on Instagram, Youtube and website.Details and training materials for the BDE castings 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

Gracie Mandujano was born in Honduras, a land rooted in ancient Mayan traditions, and from an early age felt called to reconnect with life’s true purpose and the depth of her courageous spirit. Guided by yoga and dance, she returned to her physical body and divine power, dedicating herself to ancestral arts and becoming a healer and light worker. Her lineage eventually led her back to the ways of her ancestors, committing to the Camino Rojo and the Danza de la Luna, where she studies traditional forms of ceremony, prayer, and healing. Uniting these paths, Gracie and Estelle co-created a series of transformative containers under the school Modern Organic Dance & Sacred Arts, sharing this sacred space of essential growth with women and men across the world.In this episode you will learn about:- Gracie’s journey from dentistry to discovering tribal fusion and Oriental dance.- The hidden energetics behind “inward” and “outward” movements in Oriental dance.- How class energy, rhythm choices, and even the moon cycle shape her teaching.- The story of healing a pre-cancer diagnosis through intentional dance practice.- The birth of “Modern Organic Dance” and why belly dance didn’t feel like the right label.Show Notes to this episode:Find Gracie Mandujano on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.Details and training materials for the BDE castings 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

Leli Neeraja is a dancer and teacher who has dedicated over a decade to guiding others toward inner balance through movement. Her work is a continuous exploration of fusion between East and West, blending the grace of Indian classical dance with the expressive freedom of contemporary forms. She spends several months each year in India, deepening her study of traditional disciplines that help her explore and love her inner world. These experiences have profoundly shaped her artistic voice, where echoes of Odissi and other Indian styles merge seamlessly into her unique Fusion dance. Deeply inspired by the beauty, refinement, and spirituality of Indian culture, Leli feels a calling to share its essence in Italy—keeping her artistic journey ever-evolving through new encounters, discoveries, and creative adventures.In this episode you will learn about:- The spark that made Leli leave music to pursue dance full-time.- How studying Odissi in India made her body “vibrate” with new awareness.- The deep connection between dance and yoga through alignment and breath.- Dance as her therapy for anxiety, anger, and panic attacks.- Launching a handmade clothing line inspired by Indian textiles.Show Notes to this episode:Find Leli Neeraja on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website, and the Insta page of her dance wear collection. Info about her upcoming tour to India is available HERE.Details and training materials for the BDE castings 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

Badriyah is a professional oriental dancer based in Belgium, dedicated to Egyptian classical and folkloric styles, modern fusion, and the Golden Age of belly dance. With over a decade of teaching experience, she offers regular classes at Shoonya Dance Centre in Ghent and travels across Europe to teach and lecture. A former lead and troupe member of Jillina’s world-touring company Bellydance Evolution, Badriyah has performed more than 60 shows across 13 countries, from Hollywood to Morocco. Passionate about preserving dance heritage, she is also the founder of the Raqs Sharqi Museum project and a devoted collector of vintage belly dance artifacts dating from the 18th to the 20th century, bridging the past and present of this art form through both performance and research.In this episode you will learn about:- How becoming a mother and going through a divorce reshaped Badriyah’s life, art, and priorities.- The transformation of her dream of “Raqs Sharqi Museum” from a private project into a global cultural collaboration.- How the war in Gaza profoundly affected her worldview, anxiety levels, and artistic expression.- Practical methods for managing anxiety and creative burnout — from micro-task planning to “first aid for the mind” through movement.- Her unique approach to storytelling in Golden Era acts — blending historical recreation with deeply personal authenticity.Show Notes to this episode:Find Badriyah on Instagram, FB, Youtube and website, as well as Raqs Sharqi Museum and Leylet Raqs festival. Find out more info about the T-shirt project mentioned in the interview HERE.Previous interview with Badriyah: Ep 147. Badriyah: Dreaming Big, Digging Deep!Details and training materials for the BDE castings 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