Melli Sarina is a pioneer in the Tribal Fusion and Fusion Belly Dance scene with over 26 years of dance experience. Based in Augsburg, Germany, she discovered her passion for Tribal Fusion at sixteen after a transformative workshop with Sharon Kihara. Her signature style—known as “Liquid Fusion”—blends Zoe Jakes' DanceCraft-inspired technique with the fluid artistry of urban waving, creating a powerful fusion of isolations, body control, and expressive flow. With intensive training from masters like Zoe Jakes, Kami Liddle, Mira Betz, and Jill Parker, including 49 hours at The Tribal Massive in Las Vegas, Melli has become known for her precision, biomechanics focus, and deep muscle awareness. She teaches online classes and leads her own Liquid Fusion intensives designed around body awareness, mobility, and personal movement needs. A celebrated performer and educator, she has graced stages across Europe and the U.S., earned titles like 2011 Tribal Star Award winner and 2010 Vice Tribal Bellydancer of the World, and continues to shape the next generation of fusion dancers with her technique-driven, heart-centered approach.

In this episode you will learn about:

- The influence of urban dance styles—especially waving—on Melli’s movement vocabulary.

- The creation and meaning behind the term “Liquid Fusion Belly Dance.”

- How discovering pelvic floor awareness transformed her understanding of belly rolls.

- The value of working with a somatic therapist rather than just dance teachers for deeper growth.

- Her thoughtful approach to teaching levels in Liquid Fusion Belly Dance.

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Melli Sarina on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.

Take a 60-second quiz about Maqam here: www.maqamquiz.com. Created by Maya Youssef.

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

Lidiane is a Brazilian belly dancer currently based in Egypt, known for her expressive style, stage presence, and deep dedication to the art of Oriental dance. She began her journey as a teenager in Brazil and eventually left behind a stable career to pursue her dream of dancing professionally in Egypt. Since arriving originally in Sharm el-Sheikh, and eventually moving to Cairo, Lidiane has performed nightly shows, reshaped her technique, and immersed herself in the cultural nuances of the Egyptian dance scene. Through discipline, emotional resilience, and a commitment to authenticity, she has built a name for herself not only as a dancer but as a performer who embodies the spirit of the stage both on and off it.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Why competitions never brought her medals—but did lead to her most important lesson about confidence on stage

- Leaving a secure job in Brazil to pursue dance in Egypt

- Reshaping her technique and musicality to survive the demands of Egyptian stages

- Learning about branding and applying those skills to her belly dance career

- Why gym workout is an important part of her lifestyle

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Lidiane on Instagram, FB, and YouTube.

Take a 60-second quiz about Maqam here: www.maqamquiz.com. Created by Maya Youssef.

Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.

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

Estelle Zaghloul Ramia is a Lebanese-born, Costa Rica-based belly dancer, choreographer, and cultural ambassador who rose to fame after winning the first season of Hezzi Ya Nawaeem on Lebanese TV and later became the first belly dancer to perform on the national stages of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In recognition of her artistic and community impact, she was honored in 2017 as one of Costa Rica’s Women’s Empowerment Icons. Her most recent project, Modern Organic Dance and Sacred Arts, is a creative and spiritual collective she co-founded, combining dance, music, videography, ritual, and energy work to create immersive, transformative experiences rooted in sisterhood and sacred expression. She shares her work through performances, teachings, and online platforms.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Oriental dance as a vessel for ancestral memory and feminine empowerment

- What it means to dance with the elements and how fire, water, air, and earth can shape your movement practice

- The role of ritual in Estelle’s classes, from altars and candles to setting intentions before movement

- What blocked shimmies can reveal about your deeper energetic or emotional patterns

- How Egyptian mythology holds simple truths about energy, healing, and feminine power

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Estelle Zaghloul on Facebook, YouTube,Instagram, and her website.

Our previous interview with Estelle Zaghloul :

Ep 126. Estelle Zaghloul: Why Has This Dance Entered Your Life?

Books recommended by Estelle in this episode:

Sacred woman, sacred dance: Awakening spirituality through movement and ritual, by Iris J. Stewart

Grandmother's secrets : the ancient rituals and healing power of belly dancing, by Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia B

The Secret Language of Your Body: The Essential Guide to Health and Wellness, by Inna Segal

Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.

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