Ep 350. Leli Neeraja: A Journey From Anxiety to Self-Connection Through Belly Dance, Tribal Fusion and Odissi

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.com

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