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 374. Süreya: The Fine Line Between Being Passionate & Pushing Too Hard in Belly Dance

Süreya is a London-based, internationally recognized Turkish belly dancer, choreographer, and instructor known for her dynamic stage presence, strong musicality, and versatility across multiple Middle Eastern dance styles. Deeply connected to her Turkish cultural roots, she has trained extensively in Turkish, Egyptian, Lebanese, Iraqi, and Khaleegy dance, as well as ballet and theatrical fusion. A multi-award-winning performer, Süreya has taught and competed in over 10 countries, including Turkey and Egypt, earning recognition at major international festivals and competitions such as Rakkas Istanbul, the International Belly Dance Battle, and Dum Tak Festival. Alongside performing at prestigious venues and events across the UK and internationally, she is also known for her passionate teaching style, commitment to continuous learning, and dedication to sharing authentic oriental dance with new generations of dancers.

In this episode you will learn about:

Growing up loving belly dance in Turkish culture while feeling pressured to hide it
How burnout affects dancers mentally more than physically—and ways to recover from it
Why nutrition, fitness, and structure become essential for sustaining a dance career
The importance of lifelong learning and studying with many different teachers
Competing in nine categories while unknowingly dancing with pneumonia—and the reality behind pushing too hard

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