Belly Dancer Iana Komarnytska at the Beach Holding a Veil — Articles, podcasts and online classes to help you navigate your dance life.

WELCOME TO THE IANA DANCE BLOG

I’m Iana Komarnytska, a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer, as well as a travel and beauty blogger.

Originally from Ukraine, I have been on the road since 2019, vagabonding across the globe, after living in Canada for over 8 years. I’m a passionate content creator, helping belly dancers navigate their dance life, and inspiring the world to dance more. :)

I am a graduate from the professional dance program at York University (Canada), host of the Belly Dance Life podcast, creator of the Iana Dance Club, author of numerous articles, and winner of Star Bellydancer Canada 2014 among other international competitions. Along with belly dance, I teach Persian Classical and Turkish Romani dancing, and is the first choreographer to start using Triple Isis wings since 2012.

Join me on dance and travel adventures!

New Articles in the Blog:

Featured

December 26, 2024

Dance Training

Your Belly Dance Technique Scan

December 26, 2024

Dance Training

To celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the Iana Dance Club, I am hosting a FREE Zoom workshop to help you get ready for a kick-ass 2025 dance year!

December 26, 2024

Dance Training

Featured

Dance Training

Your Belly Dance Technique Scan

Dance Training

To celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the Iana Dance Club, I am hosting a FREE Zoom workshop to help you get ready for a kick-ass 2025 dance year!

Dance Training

Gift Costume Reveal for our Online Hafla

Dance Training

A few days ago I went to Yasso’s costume shop to find a new costume… But it wasn’t a costume for me. It was for our Hafla participants!

Dance Training

Tips on Memorizing New Choreographies Faster

Dance Training

Here are a couple of tips that I use in my own practice in order to fully remember a new choreo:

Dance Training

Feel Calm On Stage

Dance Training

when it comes to such a sensitive topic as conquering performance anxiety, there is definitely no such thing as ONE-ANSWER for all. Each person, each dancer will need their own tools.

Dance Training

Which Costume Did I Choose?

Dance Training

A few days ago I went to Yasso’s costume shop to find a new costume… But it wasn’t a costume for me. It was for our Hafla participants!

Dance Training

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Latest Episode on the Belly Dance Life Podcast:

Featured

Ep 398. Shayma: From Contract Dancer in the Middle East to Building a Belly Dance Academy in Dubai

Shayma is the founder and director of The Bellydance Academy Dubai, as well as a master teacher, choreographer, and performer with more than 25 years of experience in belly dance. Originally from Argentina, she began performing professionally at just 13 years old at her teacher’s restaurant, Fairuz, and later became a solo dancer at La Alhambra, sharing the stage with some of Argentina’s leading Arabic musicians. In 2008, at the age of 21, she moved to Beirut after being hired by the Lebanese agency La Maison de l’Artiste, beginning an international performance career that took her across the Middle East and beyond. With 15 years of continuous work in the region and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Shayma has developed a teaching approach that combines professional dance experience with a deeper understanding of confidence, body awareness, and personal development.

In this episode you will learn about:

Why psychology became a necessary tool to complement Shayma’s work as a belly dance teacher
What dancers should check before accepting overseas work offers, and why contracts do not always guarantee protection in every country
Why opening a belly dance school in Dubai felt easier administratively than expected
How she uses humor and personality instead of relying only on dance videos for Instagram marketing
Why she wants to help develop more Arab teachers within the belly dance community

LISTEN TO ALL EPISODES

LEARN BELLY DANCE ONLINE WITH IANA

Images of the Iana Dance Club, an online belly dance learning platform.

The Iana Dance Club was created to help you navigate your dance life. Whether you are a dance enthusiast or dream about a professional career, you will find a training program to help you achieve your goals and nurture your dance soul.

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BEST OF THE BLOG

History & Culture

25 Must-Know Tarab Songs

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These are the songs that as belly dancers you must know, understand and recognize.

History & Culture

Beauty & Lifestyle

Pros & Cons of Learning Belly Dance Online

Beauty & Lifestyle

Are you trying to decide what is better for you: to find local belly dance studio, or to purchase some video classes and study by yourself?

Beauty & Lifestyle

Dance Training

Tips for Self Video Recording

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Practicing in front of a mirror is good, but seeing yourself on video helps identifying mistakes and weaknesses way better. But for some of you it may be too intimidating: how to do it properly? what equipment to use? I don't think it's for me because I'm not good with technologies...

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Mindset

How Belly Dance Boosts Your Confidence!

Mindset

Based on my personal journey...

The first time in a belly dance class often feels clumsy and weird. All movements are strange, not to mention that you most likely look funny in the mirror reflection! Great beginning for an article about self-confidence, isn’t it? Lol. Stay with me. Because just a couple classes afterwards…

Mindset

Dance Training

15 Tips for Creating Your Belly Dance Choreographies

Dance Training

Tricks and suggestions on how to approach the dance creation task, and not to be frustrated with creative blocks or dissatisfaction of the work-in-progress.

Dance Training