Joana Saahirah´s World Blog
A Collection of Articles, Videos, and Freebies on Egyptian Dance, Self-Discovery & Empowerment
She showed me what was possible🌟
Once upon a time, a time that seems distant and yet so close, I had an awakening.
A Tunisian artist called Leila Haddad was going to present an Oriental Dance performance at "Culturgest", one of the most prestigious theatres in Lisbon, Portugal.
Leila dragged a fascinating culture behind her. Her photo on the poster of the performance smelled of cumin and "bokhour" (incense); her ellusive presence promised a magic I´d never witnessed.
At the time, I knew...
I don´t know who needs to read this but...
I don´t know who needs to read this but...
In our dance journey, and in our life, we´ll face opposition. Inner and outer opposition.
That opposition comes in the shape of personal insecurities, self-sabotage, trauma, a belief system that brings us down - that´s our inner opposition.
That opposition also comes in the shape of naysayers, critics, haters, and folks who are so frustrated with themselves and their life, they simply cannot accept that someone else -...
The Courage to be Disliked
A dear friend once told me, after a backlash from an old friend who´d turn her back on me for no apparent reason:
-You´re inflammable, Joana. Your presence triggers people - not always in a good way.
I´d just decided to move to Egypt, leaving family, the beginning of a successful career already established, boyfriend, and everything that I knew behind. My then friend decided that was unacceptable.
-Who do you think you are? -...
Myth #6 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)
The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)
Myth #6 - Egyptian Dance is about Moving your Belly.
I mean, it´s been called "belly dance", whatever that means, for a while. Then, there´s a surprise: people believe that Egyptian Oriental Dance - aka "Raks al Sharki" - is about moving the belly.
Let´s clean this mess, shall we?
First, the term "belly dance" is a foreign addition/distortion to the real name of the dance which is "Raks el Sharki",...
Myth #2 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)
The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)
Myth #2 - Egyptian Dance is Exotic and made for a few.
How to keep the Warmth of your Heart
- Foreign dancers may be better, technically, and more beautiful and professional than Egyptians, but they´re cold. This is where they lose the game.
First, let´s hit pause. There´s nothing to lose or gain because, let me repeat this till exhaustion, we don´t have to live and dance in competition mode. Let whoever wants to compete with you, compete. Let them burn in that fire if that´s their wish - you don´t have to participate in...
"Alhamdulillah" - Motivational Message by Joana Saahirah
Having lived and performed in Egypt for almost a decade meant three things:
1. The beginning of my international career in Egyptian Oriental and Folkloric Dance;
2. An in-depth knowledge and love for Egyptian Dance, Music, and Culture;
3. A deep, often dramatic, shift in the way I saw myself, the world, and life.
One of the most challenging aspects of living and working, as a foreigner, in a different culture, is the shock between the values we carry within and the values that...
Why do we block our Sensuality?
Sensuality. Seduction. Odalisques and sultans. An exotic dance form both ancient and deliciously naughty; forbidden; even sinful.
This is how most of us see Egyptian Dance (erroneously called "belly dance").
In the middle of that melting pot of myths, prejudices, and distortions, it´s hard to organize the house and know, with absolute clarity, what are we talking about when we talk about Egyptian Oriental Dance.
Thankfully, there are facts. History. Reality....
The Maa´lema´s Confidence
Om Mohamed was a regular Egyptian woman.
Or so it seemed.
She wore the "hijab", like a good Muslim woman does, so says the crowd; obeyed her husband, accepted the existence of another woman in her conjugal life - her husband´s second wife -; worked at home and outside of her home, the worst of her sins, only forgiven because the family needed the money.
The neighbors spoke highly of her. Her husband´s second wife, a much appreciated help in the...
What kind of Egyptian Dance Student are you?
What kind of Egyptian Dance student are you? I mean, for real.
Also, does it matter? (spoiler alert #1: it does)
In all these years of career in Egyptian Dance - more than 20 years of non-stop performing, teaching, lecturing, judging, and learning from every front, first in Egypt and then around the World - I´ve noticed there are different kinds of students.
I´ve also noticed how those different kinds of students behave and how their attitude...
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