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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Melissa Gamal is an award-winning dancer, instructor, and event producer based in Toronto, Canada. As the director of the Ya Amar School of Dance, Melissa is dedicated to providing comprehensive training in Egyptian dance, blending refined technique with a strong awareness of history and cultural context. Her work has taken her across North America and to Egypt, where she continues her studies to bring the most authentic and up-to-date knowledge to her students. In recent years, she’s gained recognition for her elegant Golden Era style and her mastery of sagat—culminating in a remarkable performance at the Cairo Opera House in 2021.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The turning point that made her quit a stable 9-to-5 job to follow dance full time.

• The moment she decided to open her own studio instead of staying “comfortable” with already established organization.

• The story behind her performing as a zill player at the Cairo Opera House.

• The advice she’d give her younger self about self-doubt and body image.

• Why dancers must go beyond aesthetics and stand in solidarity with cultures of origin.

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Virginia Danielson (PhD, Ethnomusicology, University of Illinois, 1991) is an associate of the Harvard Music Department and a visiting scholar at New York University Abu Dhabi. She is the author of The Voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthum, Arabic Song and Egyptian Society in the 20th Century (University of Chicago Press, 1997), the first English-language biography of the Arab world’s most celebrated singer. Through rich ethnographic insight and historical analysis, Danielson traces how Umm Kulthum—known as “the voice of Egypt”—rose from rural beginnings to become a unifying cultural icon whose songs shaped modern Egyptian identity and Arab popular culture. Danielson’s work illuminates the complex interplay between gender, media, and nation-building in 20th-century Egypt, showing how one woman’s artistry transcended social boundaries to define an era.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How a village Imam’s daughter became Egypt’s most celebrated voice through talent, strategy, and relentless discipline.

• The clever business deals and radio contracts that secured Umm Kulthum’s financial and artistic independence.

• The myth-making and media control behind her carefully protected public image.

• The musical evolution of Umm Kulthum’s ensemble, blending classical Arabic poetry with modern Western instruments.

• Why audience described her concerts as a national ritual where “life stopped” every Thursday night.

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Elen Oriental (Elen Chikhladze) is a Georgian choreographer and dance instructor from Tbilisi, specializing in oriental dance since 2002. Beginning her artistic journey at the School for Athletic Fine Arts and later the Department of World National Dances, she graduated with honors from the College of Choreography and the N. Pridonishvili School of Popular Dance in 2001. As President of the International Association of Oriental Dance in Georgia and founder of her own belly dance school, Elen emphasizes the historical depth, elegance, and physical artistry of the dance. Her teaching method combines elements of gymnastics, yoga, and dance to strengthen muscles and joints while fostering psychological readiness, enabling students to master the demanding yet captivating techniques of oriental dance.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The danger, stigma, and literal risks of working as a belly dancer in Georgia during the chaotic post-Soviet years.

• How Elen fought back against prejudice by going on national TV, writing in magazines, and reframing Oriental dance as an art form.

• The story behind her iconic Arabic–Spanish fusion pieces, why they made audiences cry, and why she later chose to move beyond them.

• The critical difference between “advanced” and truly “professional” dancers.

• Why she insists on studying with Egyptian teachers rather than chasing festival choreographies.

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Laman Hendricks is an acrobatic gymnast, Azerbaijani and Caucasus folk dancer, teacher, and choreographer, as well as the Artistic Director and Founder of Dances of Caucasus. Born and raised in Azerbaijan and Turkey, she trained in classical ballet and folk dance at the Baku Choreography Academy while also competing as a member of Azerbaijan’s national gymnastics team and founding the country’s first post-Soviet women’s cycling team. A silver medalist in both cycling and mountain climbing, Laman has combined her athleticism with artistry, earning recognition at the 2015 Rakkas Istanbul International Dance Festival for her innovative performance as a male Caucasus dance part. She has since performed and taught at festivals and events across the United States and internationally, sharing the rich traditions of Azerbaijani dance while continuing to explore the intersections of ballet, gymnastics, Middle Eastern dance, and folk heritage.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How a 1001 Nights ballet production sparked her lifelong curiosity about belly dance.

• The transition from professional ballet training to belly dance, and tips for loosing up your shimmies.

• The challenges of cultural stigma around belly dance and the tension of being recognized only as a folkloric dancer.

• Folklore versus belly dance, and how folk dances enrich belly dance but are undervalued at festivals.

• How Azerbaijani and Caucasus dances remain a parallel passion alongside Laman’s belly dance career even today.

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Keti Sharif is an Australian dance teacher, performer, and choreographer who lived in Egypt for two decades, directing the Sphinx Festivals and collaborating with legends Mahmoud Reda and Farida Fahmy. Creator of the A-Z Bellydance methodology—taught to over 6,000 students in 40 countries—Keti combines live Egyptian music, cultural dance traditions, and somatic movement to deepen musicality, artistry, and wellbeing. Her vision of belly dance as both a healing path and a communal art has shaped her global teaching, performances with international artists, and her role in preserving Farida Fahmy’s legacy through publications and archives. Today, she continues to teach, write, and inspire dancers worldwide through her studio, online academy, and cultural projects.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Connections between Chinese medicine and Zar rituals.

• The concept of “movement connectivity” and how body halves, upper-lower, and spinal movements influence creativity and decision-making.

• The contrast between authentic Egyptian embodiment and Westernized, fast-paced choreographies.

• Keti’s unique experience training with Mahmoud Reda and Farida Fahmy, and their complementary teaching styles.

• Farida Fahmy’s writing legacy, the preservation of Reda troupe history, and the emotional journey of documenting her life.

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Payal Gupta is one of India’s most sought-after master teachers of belly dance, celebrated for her structured classes, private lessons, workshops, performances, and intensives. Since 2008, she has trained over 10,000 students from all walks of life, earning recognition as a leading figure in the field. Coming from a culturally rich background where the performing arts hold deep value, Payal has been passionate about dance since the age of seven, exploring a wide range of styles before finding her true calling in belly dance. An Electrical Engineering graduate and lifelong dance enthusiast, she eventually chose to leave her corporate path to pursue dance as a career, sharing her love for belly dance with students across India and beyond.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Overcoming shyness and stage fright, and later guiding her own students through performance anxiety.

• The role geography played in Payal’s early success as one of the leading local teachers in her area.

• The difficulty of leaving behind her 15-year dance “empire” in Bangalore and starting over in Mumbai.

• Lessons that motherhood taught Payal, and the concept of nurturing students instead of just teaching them.

• Comparing dance life and opportunities in Mumbai and Bangalore.

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Rachel Brice is an internationally renowned dancer, teacher, and choreographer recognized as one of the key figures in the evolution of tribal fusion belly dance. A former member of the Bellydance Superstars and artistic director of The Indigo Belly Dance Company, she blends decades of experience in American cabaret, FatChanceBellyDance Style, and world dance traditions with her own distinctive artistry. Based in Portland, Oregon, she founded Studio Datura, created the 8 Elements of Belly Dance training, and continues to share her work worldwide through Datura Online and international tours.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Rachel’s first spark for belly dance and the role of goth culture and live music in eventually shaping her unique dance style.

• The downside of early success: why it can make you afraid to risk and try new ideas.

• Behind-the-scenes lessons from her Bellydance Superstars experience on leadership, rehearsal discipline, and handling pressure on tour.

• Why she believes “do what you love and you’ll never work a day” is a myth — and what actually happens instead.

• Rachel’s plan to partially retire in 2029 so she can return to more play, creativity, and collaboration.

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