Belly Dancer Iana Komarnytska at the Beach Holding a Veil — Articles, podcasts and online classes to help you navigate your dance life.

WELCOME TO THE IANA DANCE BLOG

I’m Iana Komarnytska, a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer, as well as a travel and beauty blogger.

Originally from Ukraine, I have been on the road since 2019, vagabonding across the globe, after living in Canada for over 8 years. I’m a passionate content creator, helping belly dancers navigate their dance life, and inspiring the world to dance more. :)

I am a graduate from the professional dance program at York University (Canada), host of the Belly Dance Life podcast, creator of the Iana Dance Club, author of numerous articles, and winner of Star Bellydancer Canada 2014 among other international competitions. Along with belly dance, I teach Persian Classical and Turkish Romani dancing, and is the first choreographer to start using Triple Isis wings since 2012.

Join me on dance and travel adventures!

New Articles in the Blog:

Featured

December 26, 2024

Dance Training

Your Belly Dance Technique Scan

December 26, 2024

Dance Training

To celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the Iana Dance Club, I am hosting a FREE Zoom workshop to help you get ready for a kick-ass 2025 dance year!

December 26, 2024

Dance Training

Featured

Dance Training

Your Belly Dance Technique Scan

Dance Training

To celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the Iana Dance Club, I am hosting a FREE Zoom workshop to help you get ready for a kick-ass 2025 dance year!

Dance Training

Gift Costume Reveal for our Online Hafla

Dance Training

A few days ago I went to Yasso’s costume shop to find a new costume… But it wasn’t a costume for me. It was for our Hafla participants!

Dance Training

Tips on Memorizing New Choreographies Faster

Dance Training

Here are a couple of tips that I use in my own practice in order to fully remember a new choreo:

Dance Training

Feel Calm On Stage

Dance Training

when it comes to such a sensitive topic as conquering performance anxiety, there is definitely no such thing as ONE-ANSWER for all. Each person, each dancer will need their own tools.

Dance Training

Which Costume Did I Choose?

Dance Training

A few days ago I went to Yasso’s costume shop to find a new costume… But it wasn’t a costume for me. It was for our Hafla participants!

Dance Training

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Latest Episode on the Belly Dance Life Podcast:

Featured

Ep 379. Sahra Saeeda (Sahra C Kent): From Meeting Farida Fahmy as Her University Classmate to Creating the Iconic “Journey Through Egypt” Program

Sahra Saeeda (Sahra C Kent) is an internationally respected belly dancer, researcher, teacher, and choreographer whose career bridges performance, anthropology, and deep cultural study of Egyptian dance. Originally trained in Modern Dance, she later discovered Arabic music and belly dance, eventually building a successful career that included nearly six years performing six nights a week at the Meridian-Heliopolis Hotel in Cairo, completing over 1,600 performances. While pursuing a Master’s degree in Dance Ethnology, Sahra studied and worked closely with Farida Fahmy, whose mentorship deeply influenced her artistic path. She later founded the theatrical dance company Ya Amar! and created the acclaimed Journey Through Egypt program, an immersive educational experience exploring Egyptian dance, folklore, music, and culture through an anthropological lens. Today, Sahra continues to teach workshops, lectures, and Journey Through Egypt worldwide, sharing more than three decades of research and lived experience.

In this episode you will learn about:

What it was like to have Farida Fahmy as a university classmate at UCLA — and the emotional story of unexpectedly meeting an idol
How one “dream performance” in Cairo unexpectedly turned into a hotel contract
What zaffa really means in Egyptian culture — beyond the wedding performance dancers usually see
The hidden symbolic role of the dancer in Egyptian wedding rituals and feminine power
Why folklore research became a lifelong mission — and how it led to “Journey Through Egypt”

LISTEN TO ALL EPISODES

LEARN BELLY DANCE ONLINE WITH IANA

Images of the Iana Dance Club, an online belly dance learning platform.

The Iana Dance Club was created to help you navigate your dance life. Whether you are a dance enthusiast or dream about a professional career, you will find a training program to help you achieve your goals and nurture your dance soul.

LEARN MORE