Joana Saahirah´s World Blog
A Collection of Articles, Videos, and Freebies on Egyptian Dance, Self-Discovery & Empowerment
Why I went to Egypt - A Soul Journey by Joana Saahirah
For a long time, I didn´t think about my journey.
The slogan I use - from Portugal to Egypt; from Egypt to the World - synthesized the path I´d already built but, to be honest, I hadn´t had the time to reflect upon it. So far.
It all happened fast. Abnormally fast; a thunderbolt, a weird time-travel adventure I didn´t dare to question. My life before and after (re)discovering Egyptian Dance is unrecognizable. Two completely different realities.
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Born this way (from lamb to lion)
I was once asked if I "was born this way" by a beautiful student who was participating in one of my workshops in Merano, Italy.
In fact, I was asked that question, in different disguises, on several occasions.
How did I get here - to this point of self-awareness and assurance, a place where I can be my full self, unapologetically, and claim the freedom of not bothering about what others think of me?
Self-Confidence may be a feature most will associate with me and I have, in fact,...
The Mystical (Sensual) Journey of the Baladi Awadi
For most dancers, Baladi is a style. If those dancers are informed, they´ll know Baladi is a dance, music, and lifestyle; it´s also the name of a rhythm and the term used to describe typically Egyptian people, things, and places.
Baladi comes from "balad", homeland/country.
Baladi = "My homeland/country".
Baladi bread - typical Egyptian bread.
Baladi coffeeshop - a typical Egyptian coffeeshop.
Baladi attitude - a typical Egyptian attitude that mixes groundedness,...
What teachers don´t tell you about Emotion in Egyptian Dance
Emotion and Egyptian Dance come in one single package.
I´d say there´s no Egyptian Dance without emotion. True, mask-free, raw, coming-from-within emotion.
As I work on a new Online Course for Joana Saahirah´s Online Dance School, focused on Love, I reflect on what it means to feel - in Egyptian Dance and in Life - and how we can express emotion in a clear, powerful, meaningful way.
There are techniques, tips, and tricks. Opening of chakras, postures,...
The Treasures hiding in Egyptian Dance
From the moment the Quarantine started, I asked myself "how can Egyptian Dance help me and the world move through this challenging time? "
Most people will not turn to Egyptian Dance for life advice/wisdom but I´m not most people. I´ve been digging deep into the ancient art of "Raks al Sharki" for what it feels like an eternity.
I know better. And, as Maya Angelou once put it, "when we know better, we do better."
Authentic Egyptian Dance, the one that...
What´s the true purpose of Egyptian Dance?
The purpose of Egyptian Dance has been forgotten, a long time ago.
Yet, forgotten doesn´t mean lost; it doesn´t mean erased. It just means "forgotten", something that has been buried under the sand and fallen upon collective amnesia.
When I think about the History of Egyptian Dance, its ancient roots and how many changes, limitations, and distortions it has endured, I´m not surprised that its essence has been left behind.
Egyptian Dance has...
How my BREAKDOWN turned into a BREAKTHROUGH (confession by Joana Saahirah)
See the smile in this photo? 
It took me a long time to get it - a relaxed, truly confident, natural smile coming from a sense of absolute self-acceptance. That smile speaks more than a thousand words, if you know what´s behind it. And I do.
For a long time, I drove the Masculine/Ego-oriented/Career oriented road...
Singing in the rain with the Master, Mahmoud Reda
That was our first work trip together outside of Egypt. In Brighton, the UK, a little, cozy, town with dollhouses.
I was assisting Mahmoud Reda, the Father of Egyptian Folklore and the genius behind the "Reda Troupe", in his workshops and I was also teaching mine.
Mahmoud and I, having lunch, during a break at the festival where we taught in Brighton (the beautiful and talented dancer, Orit Maftsir, is in the group ;) )
In the evening, there was a show. I performed, watching...
How to turn YOUR dreams into reality (Joana Saahirah´s Tool Kit)
Today, we have a New Moon in Aquarius, the symbol of innovation, out of the box thinking & doing; visions and dreams.
Every year, month, day are opportunities to DREAM and to TAKE ACTION towards our dreams. I believe in this - I´ve been living it since I can remember.
None of what I´ve done in my career and personal life would be possible if I wasn´t a PROFESSIONAL DREAM MAKER. I can only teach from experience - I teach what I am, do, live.
As we enter 2020, the...
Celebrate YOURSELF, your DANCE, your LIFE
I know the preparation for the NEW YEAR usually focuses on our DREAMS and, hopefully, in the STEPS we have to take in order to materialize them. That´s all good. Though not enough.
Experience has taught me there are too many plans for the future and too little APPRECIATION for the path already walked. We´ve all been the recipient of opportunities, blessings, lessons, hardships and victories; we´ve all been given the sweet and the sour. But few of us look back to
GIVE...
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