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

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Ellie on Instagram, FB, and website.

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

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

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Julieta Maffia on Instagram, and YouTube.

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

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

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Tamalyn Dallal on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and her website. Join Tamalyn's Substack for essays and articles.

Previous interview with Tamalyn:

Ep 51. Tamalyn Dallal: Following Her Heart & Destroying "Us Vs Them" Stereotypes

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