Joana Saahirah´s World Blog
A Collection of Articles, Videos, and Freebies on Egyptian Dance, Self-Discovery & Empowerment
3 Gifts Egyptian Folklore has offered me
When most of us think about Egyptian Folklore, we don´t think about Personal Growth. Or a life-changing transformation.
In fact, we think of nothing. Of nonsense, frequently.
Egyptian Folklore has been the "poor sister" of "Raks el Sharki" ("Dance of the East"/Oriental Dance) since I can remember.
It seems to be less cool.
Less glamorous.
Less important.
Yet, having performed, taught, and choreographed Egyptian Folklore for such a long time - first, in Egypt; then, around th...
Simple Things that bring Joy to your Dance
Let me ask you something:
When you think about Egyptian Dance, what are the first words that pop into your head?
For most of us, Egyptian Dance comes with baggage. Heavy Baggage.
My man was once asked, in an ushered, almost forbidden manner, if what "I did" was allowed for children.
I was often asked, at the beginning of my career, if what I did was a dance of seduction and whom, if I didn´t mind answering it, I was seducing.
When "Egyptian Dance" comes to the table, it usually show...
A Dancer in Ramadan (Lessons from the Holy Month)
First, I studied in Egypt.
Then, I moved there to launch my career, develop myself as an Oriental Dancer, go deep into the ancient veins of Egypt, break my bones, and grow my wings. That´s when I fell in love with Ramadan, the main festivity in the Islamic calendar.
No, I´m not a Muslim.
Yes, I´m weary of organized Religions and aware of the gap between spirituality and institutions; although I respect the creed of every individual, for as long as that creed does not validate killing,...
How to Become a Peaceful Dancer (7-Day Challenge)
I was sitting on our backyard, during my morning meditation, when a voice whispered in my ear:
- Emanate peace at all times and see what happens.
-Who the hell whispered that in my ear? - I thought, abruptly opening my eyes, looking over my shoulder, in search of a ghost, like a mad woman. - Who said that? - I talked with the air.
It took me a second to realize that the message was the interesting part of this story, not the messenger.
-Emanate peace at all times and see what happens. - I r...
How to Elevate your Energetic Vibration
Energy is real. And it shapes who we are, our reality, our lives.
In this 3rd dimensional world we live in, we´ve been taught to care for the physical, the things we can see and touch. The invisible has been, until recently, a subject for witches, wizards, and lunatics.
When, on my first work visit to Ireland, I had a one-on-one meeting with spirits - the souls of deceased people who decided they wanted me to see them, touch them and talk to them - at the (in)famous Charleville castle, in...
Three shocking lessons 2021 has taught me
I´m not going to lie:
The year of 2021 has knocked me down. Not out, but down.
Down is the opposite of up, down and up being the two faces of the same coin, and we can only go up when we´re down. So, I´m fine. The Wheel is turning for all of us, independently of our awareness of it, and I dance upon mine with champagne, strawberries, and laughter on the side.
In this post, something I wrote primarily for myself and then, for you, I´m sharing 3 shocking lessons 2021 has taught me. I hope th...
What knives and dust can do to a person
In Egypt, there are worlds beneath the worlds tourists can see.
There´s the layer of tourists and occasional visitors; the layer of expatriates who live aside/protected from the real country; the layer of the ones who dig deep into Egypt´s bones.
I´ve always belonged to the last layer - there were no buffers, no protection, no intermediary between me and the reality of Egypt. The best and the worst - I saw it, ate it, drank it, breathed it.
One night, I went to a Shaabi Party...
Why I hated Shaabi & why I fell in love with it
I´ve already told you about my hate-love relationship with Modern Shaabi.
I told you I´d built a wall between my work and this style, my world and the world of Shaabi but I hadn´t told you why I´d built those walls.
In this blog post, I´m sharing the real story behind my resistance towards Shaabi and why I - perhaps shockingly - fell in love with it.
- Listen to the Blog/Podcast Episode and check join our NEW "Modern Shaabi" Course happening this October/November at our School.
...
My aunt & me at a Shaabi Party
A sizzling hot Summer night in Cairo.
3 a.m.
Me and my auntie, a long-term visitor whom I lead by hand, hidden somewhere in "Shobra", one of the "shaabi-est"-"baladi-est"-roughest & most authentic neighborhoods of Egypt.
A broken promise. Hashish. Knives. And Joy.
A new king of Joy.
- Listen to the real-life story in this blog post in the shape of a podcast episode.
I´ll take you by the hand - we´ll take a walk in the wild side.
- If you wish to go deeper into the fasci ...
Co-Creation Tools to Manifest your Dreams
Turning dreams into reality has always been my thing.
And because I love to teach what I´ve learned through study but, mostly, through experience, I have a gift for you.
Here are a few Co-Creation Tools I´ve been using since I can remember. They help me to be, dance, and live from my heart; they have allowed me to create the realities I dream for myself.
I hope they help you on your path, as well.
First, let´s remember a few basics truths:
1. We´re more powerful than we ...
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