Joana Saahirah´s World Blog
A Collection of Articles, Videos, and Freebies on Egyptian Dance, Self-Discovery & Empowerment
Here´s what I do in times of crisis
From my window, I see the Atlantic ocean. It´s beautiful.
I can also see the emptiness of the street, the cars that stopped passing by, the neighbors who refrain from leaving the house. Just like I do, just like most people in Europe do, right now.
The Corona Virus hit the world and with it comes a series of QUESTIONS we never dared asking. I´m a firm believer in the flipside of the coin. Meaning: every challenge carries an opportunity and every crisis has its perks if...
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...
The biggest GIFT any teacher can give you
Have you ever met a Teacher who changed you or/and the course of your life?
They say the teacher appears when the student´s ready. I´ve always been ready to learn; always curious, thriving for more, deeper, better.
I´m many things - a Teacher, a Dancer, a Choreographer, an Author and - but, mostly, I´m an Eternal Student. Understandably, loads of powerful teachers have popped, from time to time, into my life.
From all the amazing teachers I...
The Lesson from Mahmoud Reda that changed my Life
- Beauty can be found in the ugliest places
You´ll not hear me using the expression “Master” or “Master Teacher” frequently. I rarely use that title, one of deep respect and admiration, the kind of recognition that cannot be bought or marketing-made.
For me, a Master Teacher isn´t only someone who has a deep and wide dominion over their craft. In the case of Mahmoud Reda, that´s Egyptian Dance (Oriental &...
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...
What the last decade - of DANCE & LIFE - taught me
Looking back has never been "my thing" unless I do it as a student. A student of life.
We may live, or survive, without gathering our bearings; we may also grow older without growing up - ever. I choose to gather my bearings and to grow up. Annualy, weekly, I´d say daily.
As we enter 2020, I stop, breathe, and look back in search of answers, guidelines, lessons learned, jewels I can take with me on my upcoming Life Chapter.
We´re starting a new decade, one I believe will be a...
My Secret Christmas Ritual (which has improved my life immensely)
Tradition is a big part of Christmas. I´d say, for most of us, tradition defines Christmas.
I believe in Traditions that bring out the best in us; I also believe in creating NEW traditions that add peace, beauty, love, and evolution to our lives.
- For that reason, and because I like to start each new year with a light heart, this is what I started doing, each Christmas (my Secret Christmas Ritual):
1. I look around, at my life, and see whom have I wronged. Have I hurt someone,...
What happens - in your dance & in your life - when your heart is closed?
Egyptian Dance has become a competition, an endless marathon, a game of divas, lobbies, and marketing-made stars. I´m not complaining, just stating. Knowing where we are helps us define where we want to go.
Within this trend, there´s no space for EMOTION, SOUL, PRESENCE, LIFE.
The Egyptian Dance scene has become an extension of the world we´re currently living in, one that´s obsessed with EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY, GOAL ACHIEVEMENT, MACHINE-LIKE SPEED &...
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