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. 

Film screening

This edition features Film Festival and you will be able to watch differenet documentaries and have discussion with authors.

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by LENKA BADRIYAH

This talk explores how dancers can transform a performance into a living story, drawing inspiration from the artistry of the golden era of raqs sharqi. Through examples from classic stage and film performances, we will uncover the methods legendary dancers used to embody characters, emotions, and narratives that captivated their audiences. Participants will learn how to translate these timeless techniques into their own stage acts — from choosing music and building atmosphere, to using expression, gesture, and movement as tools of storytelling. By the end, you’ll have a clearer vision of how to weave story and meaning into your dance, creating performances that stay with your audience long after the final note.

#Egypt #GenderAndSexuality #ProfessionalDance #NonProfessionalDancing

by JASIRAH

In this lecture, I will guide you through the essentials of producing high‑quality dance tutorial videos on your own. We’ll explore how to properly light your scene, use microphones, frame your camera setup, prepare a script to ensure smooth, well‑structured delivery, and identify common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll be equipped with practical techniques to create engaging, professional-looking dance tutorials all by yourself!

#DanceTutorials #MakingVideos #HowTo

by CHANTAL

Are you looking for ways to grow your dance platforms without conforming to trends that don’t feel authentic or natural to you? Have you spent time creating beautiful content and feel disappointed or confused by a lack of followers, likes, shares, and engagement? In this lecture, I will share how I have grown my dance Instagram to over 450K followers while remaining true to myself and never paying for promotions! Subjects will include mindset, stylization, branding, editing, formatting, hashtags, collaborations, time management, app/software recommendations, and more!

#InstagramForArtists #Authenticity #SocialMedia  #DanceReels 

by SHEYLA

AI can save you hours on captions, flyers, newsletters, blogs, and video scripts—but it can also flatten your voice, invent “facts,” and slip into cliché or orientalist framing. In this practical lecture, we’ll demystify popular AI tools and show you exactly where they shine and where to say a firm nope!

#AIforDancers #HowToUseAI #SkillsForDancers #MakeItWork

by KATIE SHAARANY

If the word “sales” makes you want to hide under a veil, this class is for you. We’ll ditch the cringe and talk about simple, authentic ways to share your work, fill your classes, and get booked—without feeling pushy or fake. If you’ve ever thought, “I just want to dance, not do marketing,” you need this lecture. You’ll leave with strategies that feel good, make sense, and (bonus!) actually get you paid.

#MarketingForDancers #CreativeBusinessOwner

by CANDICE OF PHOENIX BELLY DANCE

Join Candice in this lecture on how to turn your passion into purpose with strategy, sustainability and soul. Discover some of the essential tools and insights every dance artist needs. In this session, Candice shares real-world lessons from over a decade of experience in building an award-winning dance company. Learn how to balance creativity with smart business practices, avoid burnout, and create a sustainable dance career that aligns with your values.

#Dancepreneur #DanceBiz

hosted by AUBRE HILL

guests: Sheyla, Badriyah, and more

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by CHRYSTELLE

Building on Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, and specifically focusing on the seventh art, this presentation will journey through Western cinematography. We will pay particular attention to classic Hollywood cinema and the “star system” as well as European peplum and historical fantasy films. We will analyze various examples, from silent cinema and its portrayals of Cleopatra, through the specific case of Salome or “Salomania,” to the image of the exotic belly dancer from the 1960s onwards. Through this exploration, we will delve into different orientalist stereotypes and reflect on how the western gaze concerning the oriental dancer persists to this day.

#Orientalism #OrientalistCinema #Salomania #FemmeFatal

by Viola Shafik

The lecture will trace the origins and developments of Egyptian belly dance on the silver screen during the 1930s up to its decline in the 1970s. Artistic influences and socio-political challenges will be addressed in this context.

#BellyDance #OrientalDance #EgyptianCinema

by NISAA (HEATHER D. WARD)

In the city of Cairo, certain spaces bear strong historical associations with belly dance, belly dancers, and professional entertainment in general. Azbakiyah, Imad al-Din Street, and Muhammad Ali Street were all staging grounds for the development of raqs sharqi at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and in the Egyptian popular imagination, these places continue to be linked to professional entertainment and entertainers. However, research reveals that the ties binding these spaces to entertainment extend much deeper than the 19th century. For example, the area that would become the Azbakiyah Gardens was associated with entertainment, recreation, and leisure since the era of the Fatimids, and near the intersection of Muhammad Ali Street with Fatimid Cairo’s main north-south thoroughfare, there was a market for musical instruments fully five hundred years before the former was even constructed. The longstanding associations between belly dance and certain Cairene spaces demand a more in-depth investigation into the nature of this historical interconnection. Nisaa’s latest book examines this issue in detail, relying on a theoretical framework informed by Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice, Michel Foucault’s concept of heterotopia, and Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of the carnivalesque. In this presentation, Nisaa presents a snapshot of her analysis, revealing the mutually constituting relationship between dance, dancers, and the Cairene landscape, and explaining why and how certain Cairo spaces have retained their centuries-long historical associations with belly dance and its professional practitioners.

#BellyDanceHistory #MuhammadAliStreet #Azbakiyah #Imadal-DinStreet

by CHRISTINE ‘SHIRAZ’ SAHIN

Core Connections: Cairo Belly Dance in the Revolution’s Aftermath explores the intricate networks of belly dance in Cairo, Egypt following the turbulent aftermath of the January 25, 2011 revolution. This comprehensive ethnography takes readers on a captivating journey through the city’s diverse dance landscapes spanning from Nile cruising tourist boats and decadent five-star hotels to smoky late-night discos and Pyramid Street cabarets. While mapping the multiple maneuverings of Cairene dancers and viewers alike, author Christine Şahin centralizes the dancers’ embodied political insight while fleshing out nuanced portraits of their lives and stories amidst ongoing political precarity. Bridging the realms of Dance and Middle Eastern Gender Studies, this groundbreaking book not only analyses but embodies ethnography.

This book’s ethnographic approach mirrors the core of Cairo belly dance itself via attending to dual meanings of moving; centralizing mobility and movement as sites of power and knowledge, but also in researching and writing in ways that stir up poignant emotions that lead to physical reactions, change, and connection. In essence, the book captures the same aesthetics and values of Cairo belly dancing: to ‘move’ with greater feeling and to cultivate richer core connections within ourselves, between one another, and within our city-spaces. In doing so, it advocates for a heightened awareness of the intricate nuances present in otherwise marginalized bodily interaction and exchange, recognizing their potential to inspire into more revolutionary realities and relationships.

#NewBook #NewResearch #DanceEthnography #CairoBellyDance #ClassPolitics

hosted by LENKA BADRIYAH

guests: Nisaa, Christine Sahin

by MAJDA ANWAR

How can we meaningfully connect general audiences—those with little or no exposure to belly dance—to the richness of the art form? This session explores strategies for presenting belly dance in ways that are accessible, respectful, and engaging for newcomers. We’ll discuss how to frame performances, curate context, and foster genuine interest—transforming passive viewers into curious learners, enthusiastic supporters, and even future students.

#BellyDanceOutreach #CulturalConnection #EngagingNewAudiences

by AMANDA PB

Regardless of the style of bellydance you do, we all dance to songs. But, do you know what you are dancing to? It’s important not only for raqs sharqi dancers, but for any dancer to understand their song, what it means, if it has any specific cultural significance, or could cause backlash if used.

The funny thing is, it doesn’t take long to get started with researching your track. This session will give you practical suggestions on where to start, what to look for and why it’s important – not just for your own integrity, but also for how belly dance is presented.

#Music #Integrity #Research #Performance

hosted by AUBRE HILL

guests Viola Shafik, Chrystelle, Badriyah, Nisaa

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by MAYA YOUSSEF

Have you ever danced to a song like Leylet Hobb and felt deeply moved… but couldn’t explain why?

Or heard the word Maqam and thought, “I’m not even sure what that is”?

In this eye-opening lecture, world-leading Maqam mentor Maya Youssef will take you on a guided tour through the emotional DNA of one of the most iconic Arabic dance songs of all time. Dancers will receive clear, grounded explanations — no musical background needed — to finally understand the structure, emotion, and flow behind the melodies they’ve danced to for years.

You’ll discover:

• A dancer-friendly breakdown of what a Maqam is — finally demystified
• How Maqam shapes emotional arcs and is the key to understanding Tarab
• The structure and behavior of Maqam in real musical context
• Essential ear training tools to begin recognizing Maqam by ear
• A second-by-second analysis of a famous Arabic dance tune — so you know what to listen for, what shifts to anticipate, and how Tarab is created

This isn’t about theory. It’s about helping dancers open their ears, bodies, and hearts to the emotional logic of Arabic music — and giving them practical tools to connect with it like never before.

You’ll walk away with more clarity, more confidence, and the ability to hear the music in a way that will transform how you move to it.

If you’ve ever felt like you were dancing next to the music instead of with it — this lecture will change everything.

#ArabicMusic #MiddleEasternMusic #Maqamat #Tarab

by SHAHRZAD

In this lecture Shahrzad will be sharing her experiences, insights, and advice when it comes to working with MENA musicians. Learn about the must-know musical knowledge it takes to hold your own in a space with professional musicians, how to prepare for a show with a live band, and tips for collaborating with musicians to create unique shows and music.

Shahrzad has been working with live music for nearly 20 years from her early night club career dancing at live music venues in the United States to moving to Egypt where she worked with her own orchestra for several years. In her career she had directed multiple music groups, produced 5 albums, and still regularly collaborates with musicians for speciality workshops and performances.

by CRYSTAL SILMI

Rooted in deep cultural traditions and shaped by generations of dancers across the Middle East and beyond, belly dance is more than an expressive art—it is a form of embodied resistance. This lecture explores how belly dancers have used their craft to challenge stereotypes, reclaim narratives, honor heritage, and speak out against injustice. We’ll examine the intersections of culture, gender, identity, and power in the dance world, and how belly dance can serve as a platform for activism—from stage performances to social media campaigns to grassroots community work. Participants will leave with inspiration and practical ideas for weaving advocacy into their dance practice while honoring the complex history and evolution of this dynamic art form.

#Activism #Resistance #BeTheChange #ArtistsForPeace

by NADA AL BASHA

it wants to be a reflection on dance as a political act of resistance and of identity reclamation. not only dabke and folk dances but also baladi and shaabi: dance is often the means through which disadvantaged social classes or individual people who live suffering from gender inequality are able to proudly claim their place in the world.

#DanceAsResistance #DancingIsPolitical #BodiesInMotion #EmbodiedResistance 

by ARIELLE OF CAIRO

Egyptians are a beautifully expressive people, especially with their hands! Come learn all of the common gestures in every day life that carry over to dance. Knowing how to talk with your hands in an Egyptian way can help dancers to embellish their own dancing with authenticity and meaning. This will also help dancers communicate with Egyptian people and musicians, as well as better understand things they observe on stages and in the real world. This class aims to bridge the gap between how Egyptians express themselves and how the bellydance world communicates through dance.

#EgyptianStyle #EgyptianGestures #TalkWithYourHands

by ZARA

Come and learn about the Classism and elitism that happens both in Egypt and by extension in the belly dance community and also most importantly how it is directly damaging to us all and full of miss information!! Are people really trying to RAISE the art or are they denying its essence.

#EgyptianBellydance #Classism #Elitism #ShaabiMahraganat

hosted by AUBRE HILL

guests: Zara, Mamdouh, Crystal, Nada