Ellie is a belly dancer, teacher, and researcher who approaches Raqs Sharqi with a deep respect for its cultural roots and a focus on connection through movement. Dancing since childhood, she discovered belly dance in 2014 and has since spent over years teaching and performing, cultivating a practice centered on confidence, femininity, and ongoing learning. Alongside her dance career, Ellie holds a PhD in Mental Health and brings a research-based perspective to understanding the psychological and emotional experiences of dancers. She has trained and certified with leading international instructors, including Kaeshi Chai and Keti Sharif, and further deepened her connection to the dance through studies in Egypt and Turkey.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Why belly dance can feel both empowering and intimidating at the same time

• The difference between hobbyists and professionals — and the hidden pressures of making dance a career

• The darker side of the dance world — competition, insecurity, and even bullying within the community

• Simple but powerful tools for self-care — from shimmies to emotional awareness

• And how belly dance continues to create connection, belonging, and a sense of home across the world

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Julieta Maffia is a dance artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, specializing in what was formerly known as Tribal Fusion Bellydance. She is the founder of Saturnus Studio, where she teaches regular classes and develops a wide range of artistic projects. Her work has been recognized internationally, allowing her to present the Argentinian approach to this dance form across different cities worldwide. Through her travels, Julieta continues to expand and refine her artistic voice, integrating diverse influences into her creation, teaching, and performance.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The ongoing search for femininity and sensuality beyond stereotypes and expectations

• How politics and media shaped public perception of belly dance in Argentina

• Why growth happens through discomfort, failure, and real performance experience

• How stage performance can unlock a level of freedom unavailable in daily life

• Why workshops inspire—but real transformation happens through consistent training

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Tamalyn Dallal is an internationally renowned belly dancer, teacher, and author celebrating over 50 years in dance. She began her career in 1976 and toured South America in the 1980s performing for Arab communities before founding the Mid Eastern Dance Exchange in Miami Beach, a nonprofit school and performing company that operated from 1990 to 2007 and trained many professional dancers. She later created and produced the Orientalia International Dance Festival for 14 years, presenting leading artists from around the world and expanding the festival internationally. Tamalyn has performed or taught in 44 countries, was one of the original Bellydance Superstars, and has written four books, produced music recordings, and directed ethnographic dance films including Zanzibar Dance, Trance and Devotion and Ethiopia Dances for Joy.

In this episode you will learn about:

• What it means to celebrate 50 years in belly dance and how the industry has transformed over five decades

• How teaching online requires a completely different kind of presence, connection, and preparation

• How choreography can expand a dancer’s vocabulary—but why true performance must go beyond memorized steps

• The challenge of comparison in the age of Instagram—and why individuality matters more than perfection

• How dancers can adapt to trends without losing their artistic voice

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Sandra Kahloun, born in Tunisia and raised in the world of Oriental music, grew up surrounded by some of the greatest names of Egyptian art. Her father produced the renowned Egyptian orchestra Abdel Aziz Mahmour in 1970s Paris, and her mother was an interpreter of Oum Kalsoum’s repertoire, giving Sandra a deep musical foundation from childhood. She trained extensively in Cairo with masters such as Ibrahim Akef and Sammy Abdelhalim, studying dance and repertory for over a decade at the Theatre and Arts Academy of Cairo. In 1986, she created “Sandra’s Method,” a codified teaching system centered on musical interpretation, repertory structure, and improvisation. Founder of one of the largest Oriental Dance Academies on the Côte d’Azur, she has trained dancers and choreographers worldwide and is known for her rigorous musical standards, technical precision, and dedication to preserving the depth and integrity of Egyptian dance traditions.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Why classical belly dance is making a comeback — and why more students now crave musical depth over trends

• The difference between copying choreography and truly interpreting a song

• What it really means to be a teacher — and why great dancers are not automatically great educators

• How Sandra’s structured method trains dancers for improvisation, not memorization

• Why festivals and quick workshops cannot replace long-term musical training

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Natalie Nayun is an international teacher and performer specializing in contemporary and folkloric dance traditions from Central Asia and the Middle East. With over 20 years of dance experience and 15 years of teaching, she has studied extensively in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Oman, conducting research and training through grants including the HAAS Scholar Award, CLS, and FLAS for Persian language study. She is a well-known soloist and Assistant Director of Ballet Afsaneh, choreographer for the UC Berkeley Central Asian and Middle Eastern Dance Company, Sorayya, and former director of Adara Dance Company. Natalie has completed residencies with state dance ensembles in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and continues to travel regularly to the region for research and collaboration.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The powerful difference between social dance and theatrical folk versions shaped by government agendas

• What Natalie discovered studying in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan: 5 a.m. training, government ensembles, village libraries — and people drumming on tables to show her their dance

• How weddings, birth rituals, and even mourning ceremonies keep dance alive as a lived, communal practice

• The creation of a global online platform dedicated to the Central Asian dances, which supported 40+ teachers worldwide during the pandemic time and afterward

• Why art is often the first thing silenced by governments— and what that reveals about its power

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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. Winner of the Gold Award at the Nagwa Fouad Cup in South Korea and top honors at Raks Shakki in France, Summer continues to break traditional gender barriers and mentor a new generation of dancers worldwide.

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 scene

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Belyssa is a pioneering figure in Australian belly dance who founded the Belyssa Academy of Danse Orientale and the Flames of Araby troupe, establishing a legacy of dramatic, classical artistry. Over the past 30 years, Belyssa has dedicated herself to documenting the raw, earthbound rhythms and movements of isolated Bedouin tribes in the Sinai and Western Desert, far removed from the theatrical polish of Cairo stages. This deep anthropological work defines her current teaching philosophy, "Just Dance," which focuses on transmitting authentic micro-mannerisms and a profound, respectful connection to community traditions rather than mere choreography. Today, she holds a massive, sensitive archive of cultural documentation and continues to mentor dancers globally, advocating for the ethical preservation of dance as a living memory of its people.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How dance lives in social contexts that most performers never witness

• What she discovered about Bedouin celebrations, gender dynamics, and who actually dances — and when

• The ethical dilemma of carrying stories that are not fully yours when sharing her research publicly

• Her firsthand experience of Ramadan and how it shifted her perception of cultural moments

• The difference between staged folklore and lived embodied practice

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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 life

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Sadie is an internationally recognized Oriental dance artist, educator, and innovator dedicated to empowering people through the art of belly dance. She has produced dozens of bestselling instructional videos, amassed millions of views through viral online content, and represented Oriental dance before a global audience on America’s Got Talent. Sadie is the founder and director of Raqs Online and the Raqs Flow training program, which offers a strong technical foundation while maintaining deep connection to cultural roots, musicality, and embodied expression. In addition to teaching and performing worldwide, she curates destination dance retreats that blend movement, self-exploration, nature, and conscious living. Based in Denver, Colorado, Sadie is passionate about holistic, sustainable living and weaves together dance, music, nature, and human connection in both her teaching and retreats, inspiring dancers around the world to grow artistically and personally.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How Sadie’s relationship with dance has evolved over her career

• The ongoing dilemma between following artistic calling and choosing stability

• Navigating aging, visibility, and self-worth in a youth-centered dance culture

• Why the “maiden–mother–crone” archetype matters in belly dance today

• Why Sadie chose to return to university and study psychology at this stage of life

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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 hours

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Yaël Zarca is an internationally recognized Oriental dance artist and one of the leading figures of Egyptian dance in France. She discovered Oriental dance in 1999 and has since built a remarkable career spanning Parisian studios, major international stages, television appearances, instructional DVDs, and creative projects within the dance world. Known for her expressive, elegant style, Yaël blends deep Egyptian tradition with modern sensibility, placing strong emphasis on musicality, emotional interpretation, and impeccable technique. An outstanding pedagogue, she teaches Sharqi, Baladi, and Egyptian folklores in Paris, across France, and worldwide, sharing a dance rooted in feeling, culture, and transmission. Her professionalism, artistic integrity, and commitment to teaching have made her a respected and influential voice in the global Oriental dance community.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How motherhood reshaped her priorities, dance practice, and definition of success

• Why improvisation is essential—and how to teach it without terrifying students

• How feeling good as a woman is essential to becoming a better mother - and its relationship with dance

• Why Egyptian style is now labeled “old school” in global dance scenes

• Yael’s decision to charge her students only on an annual basis—and how such commitment changes everything

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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 pace

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Roxxanne Shelaby is a Southern California–based performer, teacher, and producer whose work is rooted in her Lebanese/Brazilian heritage and a lifelong immersion in Egyptian Style Oriental Dance. Raised in her family’s legendary nightclubs, Fez and Cascades, she grew up surrounded by live Middle Eastern music and dance, learning directly from iconic artists such as Feiruz Aram, Marie Silva, Sahra C. Kent, and members of Egypt’s Komeya Troupe. Roxxanne began performing at age five and professionally at sixteen at the request of Farida Fahmy, later studying with masters including Mahmoud Reda, Fifi Abdo, Aida Nour, and Ahmed Hussein. She spent 11 years performing with and serving as Assistant Director of Sahra C. Kent’s Ya Amar! Middle Eastern Dance Company, appearing in major U.S. festivals and international performances. Beyond performing, Roxxanne produces the showcases with live Arabic music, teaches internationally, and is the producer/director of the acclaimed Fez Documentary, preserving the history of belly dance on the U.S. West Coast while honoring its pioneering artists.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The story of The Fez club in Hollywood and why it changed belly dance history forever

• The surprising origin story of the Maya movement term and the dancer it was named after

• The journey from “this should be a book” to creating a 90-minute documentary against all odds

• The loss of long-form performance and what modern dancers are missing because of it

• Why watching other dancers perform is as important as performing yourself

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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.

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Snigdha Sachdev is a Delhi-based fusion belly dance artist and dedicated yoga enthusiast. A Biotechnology graduate with a master’s degree in Stem Cell Technology, she discovered her pull toward belly dance at a very young age. Her dance journey began with extensive training in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, and Kathak—foundations she later blended to deepen her belly dance technique and develop her own distinctive movement style. In 2019, Snigdha co-founded The Dance District, a studio that has since expanded to multiple locations across Delhi NCR. Today, the studio offers a range of dance forms, and Snigdha leads the belly dance division, where she continues to share her passion, discipline, and unique fusion approach with dancers across the region.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The secret to creating choreography that actually feels alive: improv first, structure later

• Her class-building process: 90 minutes of prep for every hour of teaching

• The “punishments,” the homework, and the tough-love philosophy her students know well

• Why collaboration thrives in India’s tiny but fiercely supportive belly dance community

• The ethics of taking inspiration vs. copying—and how she credits her teachers with integrity

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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.

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Esmeralda Colabone has dedicated herself to Arab dance and culture since 1999. From 2002 to 2014 she worked with Belly Dance Brazil and Lebanon’s famed La Maison de L’Artiste, becoming the agency’s youngest dancer at 19 and spending 12 years performing across the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Syria, and Lebanon. She was the first Brazilian to tour the Maghreb and held one of Tunisia’s longest foreign dance contracts—experiences that shaped her both artistically and personally. After her “Enta Omri” video went viral in 2015, her influence spread worldwide. She helped popularize Lebanese style globally through her 2014 workshop and even co-created the first belly dance shoes with Capézio Brazil. A soloist, teacher, choreographer, judge, writer, and producer known as “The Turban Dancer” and “The Tunisian Treasure,” she has performed in 38 countries, inspiring dancers everywhere with her musicality, presence, and lived connection to the Arab world.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The painful gap between YouTube criticism and the power of her live performances.

• Feeling “outdated” in an industry racing with new trends and younger dancers.

• The birth of the Silver Tour and her decision to call it “one last time.”

• The hidden reason behind her tribute performances—and how they helped her survive emotionally.

• Feeling more like a displaced performer rather than a true teacher.

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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.

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Suhaila Salimpour, of Sicilian-Greek and Kurdish-American heritage, is a second-generation belly dancer and a pioneering figure in the global dance community. A former house dancer at the legendary Byblos nightclub in Beverly Hills, she toured internationally for over a decade, performing across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America. As the visionary creator of the first codified pedagogy and certification system in belly dance, she transformed both performance and teaching, building a worldwide network rooted in discipline, anatomy, and cultural respect. Now directing the Salimpour School of Dance, she continues her mother’s legacy through global online education, choreography, and community leadership. A recipient of the Gerbode Foundation’s 2024 dance award and the Isadora Duncan Special Award (2023/24), she also serves on multiple dance boards and is completing her MFA in Dance at Saint Mary’s College of California.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Suhaila’s decision to pursue an MFA in Dance after decades on stage

• The need for Arab and immigrant voices in academia

• Her research on how colonization codified cultural dance forms, and the idea of “outside and inside colonization”

• The growth of the Salimpour School into a full online institute

• Three generations of Salimpour women carrying the dance forward

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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.

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