Types of talks

Prepare to dive into an exciting range of talks at our conference. Each talk offers a unique perspective: some focus on personal experiences, others are evidence-based with well-sourced information, some are inspirational, and others provide practical insights.

Please note that there are NO movement workshops. Instead, we’re introducing practical skills workshops designed to empower you with practical tools. Talks are maximum 50 minutes long and may include a discussion segment. Workshops range from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the topic and number of participants, allowing for ample time to engage in practical exercises.

No movement workshop, but a practical skills session on the topic of the day. Bring paper, ingredients, or your notebook to enjoy some hands-on practice.

by LENKA BADRIYAH

In this talk, we will explore the both the unforgettable and less known dance performances of Naima Akef throughout her film career. We will delve into the diverse styles and types of dance she brought to the screen, examining the costumes and props that defined her iconic routines. Additionally, we’ll trace how her movements evolved over time, reflecting changes in her technique and artistic expression.

#NaimaAkef #GoldenEra #EgyptianMovie

by SHEYLA

Over my 20 years of research and travels in Egypt, I’ve noticed some changes in traditional dances. But what about the changes over the past 50 years? In this lecture, I’ll explore the evolution of these dances, the disappearance of some, and the emergence of new styles. We’ll look closely at the research work of Magda Saleh, the Egyptian prima ballerina who studied traditional dances in the 1970s, and compare her findings with my recent observations. Join me for an engaging session filled with stories, video clips, and a thought-provoking question: Is Egyptian folklore still alive today?

#EgyptianFolklore #Research #TraditionalDances

by SIGRID VAN ROODE | BEDOUIN SILVER

Almost all jewellery from North Africa and Southwest Asia doubles as protection for its wearer. In this talk, you’ll learn how to ‘read’ jewellery and what it tells us about its cultural background. You’ll walk away with knowledge of the most used colours, symbols and patterns, and you’ll have an understanding of just how important these pieces were to their previous owners.

#EthnicJewelry #Amulets #Jewellery #TribalFusionDance

by SIGRID VAN ROODE Ι BEDOUIN SILVER

Learn how to document your jewellery using an easy format! In this workshop, we’ll go over how you can easily and quickly note down the main things about your jewellery. But of course, your jewellery is more than that. You’ll learn the basics of how to find out more about its origin and the people who created this jewellery, and how to recognise if jewellery is newly made or older. And why would you want to learn all this…? Full descriptions of your jewellery are super important for insurance purposes: many dancers save up for their jewellery. But more importantly, understanding the cultural background of your jewellery will help you to become more inclusive in your art.

#EthnicJewelry #Amulets #Research #DocumentingJewelry

by JÉSSICA PRESTES

This presentation will address topics involving the Kawliya people in Iraq, considered a “gypsy/romani” people in the region. We will understand the political impact on the professional, artistic and social life of this community and provide a brief reflection on the contemporary uses of the Raqs el Kawliya dance.

#Kawliya #RomaniPeople #Dom #Iraq

by Dr. MEG MORLEY

This lecture will explain the two main lessons from my anthropological research: the economic and social value of white female beauty in the industry, and the Eurocentric socialization patterns that can sometimes inhibit white women from engaging with Egyptian belly dance on its own terms. Based on my participant-observation in the belly dance industry, including a year living in Cairo, I will explain how the Euro-American prioritization of the visual above all other senses makes it difficult to fully appreciate Egyptian belly dance, which I argue prioritizes senses of vibration – sound and feelings. This not only has practical implications for belly dance students, but also for professional dancers in the Cairo industry, where the growing importance of social media is giving the visually-oriented, rigidly disciplined brand of white-passing femininity increasing economic and cultural value.

#Culture #Egypt #Cairo #Anthropology

by NISAA (HEATHER D. WARD)

The ghawazi are a class of female entertainers from Egypt’s rural towns and villages. For generations, they have provided singing and dancing at important social occasions such as weddings and festivals, but in the last 30 years or so, their circumstances have changed dramatically. In Lower Egypt specifically, the ghawazi tradition has largely disappeared. However, many of the Delta ghawazi, though now retired from public life, live on and are willing to share their stories. This presentation is based on Nisaa’s recent interviews and studies with these women. Together with her examinations of texts, images, and videos, her research challenges popular portrayals of these women and their dance style on the workshop and festival circuit and centers the perspectives of Egyptian traditional entertainers.

#Ghawazi #Sunbat #Research #EgyptianDances

by NADA AL BASHA

How much has the orientalist approach contributed to compromising the image of Arab dance in the world? How much do we still suffer the effects of colonization today? How much cultural appropriation and colonial approaches influence our way of experiencing and interpreting dance? How important is it to understand the political and social history of Egypt to understand the evolution of dance? How important is it to abandon our cultural references when we look at the Arab world?

#Orientalism #Decolonize #CulturalAppropriation #ArabDance #ArabWorld

by NOHA ROUSHDY

This talk will explore the paradoxical formation of baladi dance as both a vibrant and contested cultural form in contemporary Egypt. Drawing on historical and ethnographic research on professional and non-professional dancing, I will discuss the relationship between baladi dancing and issues of gender, sexuality and postcolonial modernity.

#Egypt #GenderAndSexuality #ProfessionalDance #NonProfessionalDancing

by MAMDOUH ELKADY

Many factors influence the unique characteristics of Egyptian heritage, including geography, customs, beliefs, and the cultural diversity of each region, spanning agricultural areas, deserts, seas, and the Nile. Egypt is rich in diverse cultural environments, yet these cultures often face marginalization, reduced to a touristic frame instead of being valued as a core part of societal identity and community building. Inspired by this perspective, the late artist and researcher Zakaria Ibrahim, founder of El Tanbura Band from Port Said and El Mastaba center for Egyptian folk music set out on a journey to preserve and promote this heritage. I had the honor of working alongside him at El Mastaba since its founding in 2000 until his passing in Feb 2024. In my lecture, I will share my journey with Zakaria in preserving, developing, and disseminating Egyptian heritage, highlighting aspects of this rich cultural diversity.

#El_Tanbura #El_Mastaba #Egyptian_FoLk

by SARAH SAFI HARB

Nowadays you see so many types of Hummos: Guacamole Hummos, Tomato Hummos and even (gasp!!!!) chocolate Hummos!!! Little do they know that Hummos actually means “Chickpea” in Arabic!
Hence there can be only one Hummos, the one made from chickpeas!

Hummos is a dish originating from the Levant (Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Jordan). A dish that is part of a sturdy breakfast, but also an essential part of Mezza (arabic tapas you could say). Hummos is something I grew up eating so often, especially during Ramadan as it is so nutritious and healthy.
It’ served with an abundance of olive oil as several loving hands dive into the dish with their bread.

Hummos is not just a dish.. it’s an emotion!
So when life gives you lemons… You make Hummos!

#CultureFood #Hummos #NationalHeritage #CulturalDish

by REDA HENKESH

In an interview conducted by Nisaa, Reda shares his experiences and insights as a musician from Cairo’s famed Muhammad Ali Street. As he recounts personal anecdotes from his career – beginning with his work at baladi weddings with his father and brothers, Reda reveals the unique skills and experiences that set Muhammad Ali Street entertainers apart. Reda shares his observations on how the music and dance industry of Cairo has changed from the late 1970s until the present day, and his thoughts on its future direction. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about traditional Cairo music and dance culture directly from someone who has lived it!

#MuhammadAliStreet #Awalim #Tabla

by ATHENA NAJAT

There is great value and interest in the research, preservation and recognition of “origin” forms of Raqs Sharki and MENAHT dances, especially as the image of “Bellydance” continues to expand globally. “Tsifteteli” is a unique and foundational character in our dance “origin” story. A dance with an important foundation and historical impact, it maintains a very special significance in the social sphere of Greek peoples, however, it is often overlooked in the commercial sector of international festivals, theatrical performative forms of bellydance, and in displays of cultural dances. This presentation will focus on the Greek/Hellenic influence on “bellydance” and its connection to other dances in the region. We will identify “tsifteteli,” its roots, as well as its evolution in mainland Greece and in the Hellenic Diaspora to help expand and further deepen the appreciation of its origins.

#GreekCulture #GreekBellydance #DanceHistory #Anatolia #Tsifteteli

by MANAR OTHMAN

Finding out the limiting beliefs that might be hindering your growth as a bellydancer, realizing how they affect you, and reframing them. We do that by using and understanding how the mind works.

#ChangeYourLife #LifeTransforming #YouAreEnough

by SHRUTI NARAYANAN

We’ll dive into how Bellydance engages with body politics, focusing on body image, representation, and more importantly, the impact of media and commercialization. We’ll also tackle the debate between cultural appropriation and body appreciation, discussing ways to engage respectfully with Bellydance’s cultural roots. By highlighting its role in empowerment and resistance, we’ll explore how Bellydance acts as a tool for social change, especially for women and marginalized groups.

#Bellydancepositivity #BelldanceEmpowerment #BodyPositivity #InclusiveDance

by SARAH SAFI HARB

I would love to indeed speak in a very gentle, mindful and educating way about the current events in the Middle East. I would like to touch up on cultural appropriation and how we can’t separate the dances from the country and people of origin. From there speaking about how to move from cultural appropriation into cultural appreciation through some practical and emotional tips. I want to connect this topic above with the mental health aspect by talking about this notion that is happening in my classes because I speak up about Palestine and that is that some students tell me “but I have come here to have fun and not get depressed with the problems of the Middle East” But this is life, the joy and the sadness can coexist. And that is the richness of Raqs Sharqi! I want to talk about how in society some feelings are accepted and others are not. And how important it is for our mental health to embrace all spectrum of emotions and how this is the doorway to make our dance more embodied, alive and authentic. Then moving into how Bellydance itself can be medicine for the nervous system and truly beneficial for our mental health and then finally doing a movement exercise together.

#MentalHealthAwareness #EmotionalDiscrimination #DanceTherapy

by AUBRE HILL

Explore how we find home in our bodies to feel safe and support our own amazing ability to heal. Developed from years of research on trauma, healing, disease, burnout, and how we live in our current fast paced societies much to the detriment of our health. We are here to not merely survive, but to thrive. It is time to do so. Please wear clothing comfortable for full range of movement and have enough space to lay down as well as stand with your arms extended. A simple armless chair is recommended.

#BodyWork #Healing #BodyAsHome #Workshop

by AUBRE HILL

“Dance as Advocacy and Solidarity” is an examination of how dance has been used for political advocacy, as well as a look at how participation in dance is shifting from fitness and entertainment to community connection and building compassion and humanity across differences.

#Advocacy #Solidarity #Politics #Community

by SAMANTHA KARIM

Can you really enjoy posting on social media? Is there a true benefit to doing it? We will go through why the resistance is so fierce when it comes to this topic and how you can shift it into something that grows a strong and powerful community. Bring your thinking caps and get ready to do some self-coaching and open discussion.

#SocialMedia #Marketing #BellydancePosts #Community

by JASIRAH

Jasirah will share insights and experiences from her long dance career on how to effectively receive and apply feedback from judges. Participants will learn how to approach critique with respect, avoid taking it personally, and use it as a tool for growth. The workshop will also cover when and how to ask for feedback, ensuring that you maximize the benefits of judge’s insights while maintaining professionalism and respect.

#DanceCompetition #Feedback #Opinion #Growth #Improvement

by SIOBHAN CAMILLE

All athletes train exceptionally hard at their sport, just as dancers focus intensely on their improving their dance technique and repetoire. All athletes also participate in a strength and conditioning regime outside of their sport – and this is where the dance world is sometimes lagging behind. There is a mountain of evidence that taking part in strength training and metabolic conditioning outside of dance is hugely beneficial to our performance and reducing our injury risk. But how do we do it? Join Siobhan Camille of Greenstone Dance Arts as she explains the why and the how! You’ll leave this lecture with a great starting point for your own training program to support your dance.

#Strenght #CrossTraining #InjuryPrevention

by AMANDA ROSE

This is an insightful lecture exploring the multifaceted role of dance coaches. This session delves into the diverse aspects coaches can offer, from specialized dance techniques and comprehensive support strategies to artistic development. Emphasizing a holistic approach, the lecture highlights the importance of understanding and nurturing the physical, mental, and emotional needs of dancers throughout their journey. Learn how to effectively support and challenge your clients, discovering methods to create a positive, nurturing environment that sets dancers up for success, both on and off the stage.

#Coaching #MentalHealth #HolisticalDanceApproach

by SERENITY (Setsuna Dance)

How do dance groups sustain themselves over 10 years, 20 years, 30 years? What makes a resilient dance group, resilient? And how can you tell if your group is doing it right? This lecture brings together wisdom from dance groups and dance researchers around the world. I have spent the last 4 years researching how community-based dance groups sustain themselves and what keeps dancers participating in their groups and classes. I share my findings, specifically the information that relates to Raqs sharqi and belly dance classes and groups. You are invited to submit your questions in advance about making and keeping dance classes and groups sustainable. I will present the questions anonymously (to allow everyone to learn while still respecting any sensitive information about your experience!) and give any answers I can from my research and my 20+ years of experience in Raqs sharqi (in several countries). You will also be able to ask questions during the session if you like.

#Teaching  #ClassRetention #Resilience

by SERENITY (Setsuna Dance)

This session is geared toward foreign dancers of SWANA/MENAHT* dance practices, meaning dancers who are not of the same cultural origin as the SWANA dance they practice and teach. Anyone is welcome to join, but the aim of this session is for foreign dancers to do the work that is our responsibility as guests within SWANA dance.

SWANA dance learning in and out of a studio
As guests within SWANA dance, taking on the challenge of teaching these dances also usually means taking on the challenge of teaching a dance inherently outside of its indigenous context. For example, many of the people who contributed to the soul, technique, and very nature of raqs sharqi did so inside and outside of the studio, but mostly outside! This is common of social and popular dances around the world, as they are often born and innovated in all of the places where people do their most expressive living (celebrations, homes, public spaces). The places where dances are innovated also tend to be the places where people of the culture learn them. These are the indigenous learning environments for the dance, and they usually encompass the indigenous learning methods for the dance.  

As SWANA dance teachers
We know that a student’s understanding of a subject is affected not only by what we teach, but also how we teach it. To give our students the richest possible education in a dance form, it is valuable to give them some competency in the indigenous/conventional manner the dance is taught. And conversely, the overuse of culturally inauthentic teaching methods and environments can result in white-washing, misunderstanding of the dance/culture, and an under-preparedness for the students looking to further their learning and experience with the dance, because they never learned or how to learn (context).

Working through decolonization together
What do we do when we live far from the indigenous context of the dance, and our students’ learning style is not used to the usual way the dance is taught, and as teachers we also don’t want to feign like we come from somewhere we don’t?
During this workshop, I will share a selection of teaching methods (pedagogy) and choices that may help to place SWANA cultures more centrally in your SWANA dance class. I will also include the reasoning behind each choice, allowing for you to adapt the method to your classroom needs, while still being able to retain the theory/reasoning behind it. We will then open the discussion to the participants in the workshop to contribute their methods/ideas for decolonizing the SWANA dance class.

*SWANA = Southwest Asian, North African / MENAHT = Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic, Turkish

#Decolonizing #TeachingMethods #Classes

by MINDA MAE

Want more disabled people in your classes? Tell them if they can participate! Accessibility Statements share existing accommodations and accessibility options for disabled performers, audience members, and students. They empower people to choose if an event is accessible to them, which can increase attendance and expand the diversity and inclusion of individuals at your events. In this workshop, you’ll learn about ways to make your classes accessible to a wider audience, along with essential information and how best to share it. Then, in a half-hour follow-up session the next week, you will discuss your statements, share ideas, and walk away with something tangible to support those who want to support you!

#Accessibility #AccessibleLearning #VirtualLearning #DisabledDancer

by EBONY

This lecture offers a valuable toolkit for troupe directors, members, and anyone collaborating in creative endeavors. We’ll explore the art of balancing individuality with uniformity in group movement, ensuring each member’s unique expression is honored within a cohesive whole. The session will provide insights into fostering morale and nurturing relationships among dance partners. We’ll explore strategies for setting clear expectations, encouraging personal and collective growth, and delivering constructive feedback in a supportive environment. Join us for a thoughtful exploration of the delicate dance of leadership and collaboration in a troupe setting.

#Troupe #Learning #Leadership #Collaboration #Partnering

by SHAHRZAD

In this lecture Shahrzad will share about her journey of becoming an internationally sought after dancer teacher, her methodology and mentality around teaching, and her top tips and advice for those wanting to take their teaching skills to the next level.

#Teaching #TeacherTraining #DanceTeacher

by MARTINA CANCIO

Working as a professional dancer in Arab land since 2007, Martina will share key informations for those interested to understand how it works the entertainment field. All what you need to know to work professionally in the Arabian Gulf.

#ArabianGulf #InternationalCarrer #InternationalBellydancer #Dubai

by SILVIA BRAZZOLI

When life gives you lemmon ask for salt, tequila and add some shimmy. This talk will provide some hope, inspiration, and some extra tools if you are facing any adversity in your life that forces your body to stop moving. It will be a deep and intense reality check that connects dance, arts, pain, love, creativity, inspiration, depression, expression and more aspects of life.

#Whenlifegivesyoulemmonmakeshimmy #StayInspired #StayReal

by SHEYLA

This workshop focuses on the practical use of AI tools and demonstrates how we, as dancers, can benefit from using AI in our lives and careers. We’ll explore how AI tools can enhance your creative process and boost your career, playing around with everything from audio and video to text and graphics. You will receive materials and instructions before the our session to prepare for working on your own projects during the session.

#ArtificialInteligence #GrowWithAI #AITools #Workshop

by SADIE

In today’s busier and busier world, juggling career and home life becomes increasingly challenging. The toll is often felt as disappointment, anxiety, FOMO and overwhelm. We end up comparing our ability to manage the balancing act to others with consequences on our mental, emotional and even physical health. Sadie is delighted to share the amazing blessing that motherhood has been in her life and has some encouraging words and information to help dancers consider such life changing decisions. Sadie has been learning this delicate balancing act of 13 years now and has some incredible strategies’ and tips to help busy moms, moms to be and those considering motherhood.

#Balance #WorkingMom #WorkLifeBalance 

by ZARA DANCE

Come and find out the realities, good and bad, of what it is like to be a dancer in and Cairo and what it takes to make it in this crazy industry!

#BellydanceCairo #CairoNightLife #EgyptianCabaret