Ep 362. Summer Deng: The Rise of Belly Dance in China

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

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Summer Den on Instagram.

Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.com

Details the BDE shows and training programs 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