Ep 342. Payal Gupta: Teaching as an Act of Nurturing, Not Just Training

Payal Gupta is one of India’s most sought-after master teachers of belly dance, celebrated for her structured classes, private lessons, workshops, performances, and intensives. Since 2008, she has trained over 10,000 students from all walks of life, earning recognition as a leading figure in the field. Coming from a culturally rich background where the performing arts hold deep value, Payal has been passionate about dance since the age of seven, exploring a wide range of styles before finding her true calling in belly dance. An Electrical Engineering graduate and lifelong dance enthusiast, she eventually chose to leave her corporate path to pursue dance as a career, sharing her love for belly dance with students across India and beyond.In this episode you will learn about:- Overcoming shyness and stage fright, and later guiding her own students through performance anxiety.- The role geography played in Payal’s early success as one of the leading local teachers in her area.- The difficulty of leaving behind her 15-year dance “empire” in Bangalore and starting over in Mumbai.- Lessons that motherhood taught Payal, and the concept of nurturing students instead of just teaching them.- Comparing dance life and opportunities in Mumbai and Bangalore.Show Notes to this episode:Find Payal Gupta on Instagram, YouTube and website.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Rachel Brice is an internationally renowned dancer, teacher, and choreographer recognized as one of the key figures in the evolution of tribal fusion belly dance. A former member of the Bellydance Superstars and artistic director of The Indigo Belly Dance Company, she blends decades of experience in American cabaret, FatChanceBellyDance Style, and world dance traditions with her own distinctive artistry. Based in Portland, Oregon, she founded Studio Datura, created the 8 Elements of Belly Dance training, and continues to share her work worldwide through Datura Online and international tours.In this episode you will learn about:- Rachel’s first spark for belly dance and the role of goth culture and live music in eventually shaping her unique dance style.- The downside of early success: why it can make you afraid to risk and try new ideas.- Behind-the-scenes lessons from her Bellydance Superstars experience on leadership, rehearsal discipline, and handling pressure on tour.- Why she believes “do what you love and you’ll never work a day” is a myth — and what actually happens instead.- Rachel’s plan to partially retire in 2029 so she can return to more play, creativity, and collaboration.Show Notes to this episode:Find Rachel Brice on Instagram, and website; Datura Online: website, Instagram and YouTube.Visit StackableDrills.com to sign up or try one of their free drill practices.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Murat Tekbilek is a Turkish percussionist celebrated for his dynamic artistry and deep roots in Middle Eastern music. Growing up in a family of renowned musicians, he has performed since childhood and spent over a decade as the lead percussionist in his father Omar Faruk Tekbilek’s ensembles. Specializing in darbuka, def, and bendir, Murat has appeared on stages worldwide, from intimate belly dance shows and weddings to international concerts and festivals. His career bridges Arabic and Turkish musical traditions, blending classical rhythms, Sufi influences, and contemporary collaborations, while carrying forward the vibrant legacy of his family’s music into a new generation.In this episode you will learn about:- Early inspiration from Murat’s father and uncle, who played in the legendary band The Sultans.- How being a Middle Eastern musician in the U.S. meant playing for diverse cultural communities.- Why eye contact and nonverbal communication are the secret to magical dancer–musician connection.- Differences between Arabic and Turkish music cultures in how percussion is treated.- Learning complex odd-meter rhythms in Turkish classical music and how they reshaped Murat’s playing.Show Notes to this episode:Find Murat Tekbilek on Instagram, FB, and Youtube.Visit StackableDrills.com to sign up or try one of their free drill practices.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Alex DeLora is an internationally acclaimed belly dance performer, teacher, and choreographer who has been sharing her art worldwide since 2012. Invited to more than 50 countries to teach, perform, and judge competitions, she is especially recognized for her unique technique and charisma in drum solo style. In 2020 she launched her first online program, Drum-Matic BellyDance, followed by the creation of her fashion brand, Alex Delora Design, which has since expanded into handmade and ready-to-wear collections. Today, Alex focuses on teaching at international festivals, offering private coaching, and developing new online courses, while continuing to inspire over a million followers through her vibrant social media presence.In this episode you will learn about:- Performing more with live orchestras and how to establish connection with musicians.- High-heels training: a different movement system, lyrics-led listening, and amplified emotions.- Learning to remove mental blocks around sensuality in dance.- Seeing dance styles as different roles or characters to embody.- The effect of gym training on the belly dance technique.Show Notes to this episode:Find Alex DeLora on Instagram, FB, Youtube and websites: HipNotica Course, and Alex DeLora Design.Previous interview with Alex: Ep 146. Alex DeLora: You Just Need to StartEp 21. Alex DeLora: Every Drum Solo Has Its Own MoodCheck Earn What You Deserve Training for belly dance teachers at www.sharqui.com/social.Visit StackableDrills.com to sign up or try one of their free drill practices.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Sonia Ochoa is a versatile dancer, choreographer, and teacher with over 25 years of experience on international stages. Rising to prominence as a principal dancer with the Bellydance Superstars (2002–2010), she toured the world performing in renowned theaters and television shows under the direction of Miles Copeland. A lifelong student of movement, Sonia has traveled extensively through India, Egypt, and Spain to study Odissi, Egyptian folk dances, flamenco, and classical Spanish dance, weaving these traditions into her own signature style. Based in Los Angeles, she directs the Sonia Ochoa Dance Co., leads workshops, judges competitions, and collaborates with artists locally and abroad. With her deep passion for music and dance, Sonia continues to bridge cultures and inspire global audiences through the beauty and diversity of artistic expression.In this episode you will learn about:- The importance of understanding goals when studying multiple dance forms.- Similarities and differences between Polynesian, ballet, flamenco, and belly dance.- How joining the Bellydance Superstars shifted Sonia’s career path.- Sonia’s perspective on fusion—valuing both creativity and cultural respect.- How flamenco and belly dance share both strong/masculine and soft/feminine qualities.Show Notes to this episode:Find Sonia Ochoa on Instagram, Fb, and website.Check Earn What You Deserve Training for belly dance teachers at www.sharqui.com/social.Visit StackableDrills.com to sign up or try one of their free drill practices.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Amera Eid is one of the leading figures who brought belly dance to Sydney and helped it grow across Australia. For more than 40 years, she has performed and taught around the world, sharing her love for the dance with students and audiences everywhere. She is also a talented fashion designer who created the first belly dance boutique in the Southern Hemisphere in 1987, creating stunning costumes for performers, fashion shows, and films — from Moulin Rouge to Kylie Minogue’s Sydney 2000 Olympic outfit. Beyond dance, Amera is deeply committed to foster care. As a foster carer and adoptive mum, she works to recruit, train, and support others in giving safe and loving homes to children in need.In this episode you will learn about:- The challenge of pursuing belly dance with no family support and almost no local training opportunities in the 1980s.- Founding one of Sydney’s first belly dance schools and a boutique that became a hub for dance community.- Working as a professional dancer across the Middle East, preferring Lebanon over Egypt for contracts.- Returning to Australia due to industry age bias and shifting focus to teaching.- How Australia’s belly dance scene differs from Europe in competitions and festivals.Show Notes to this episode:Find Amera Eid on Instagram, Fb, YouTube, and website.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck Earn What You Deserve Training for belly dance teachers at www.sharqui.com/social.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Shahdana is an international belly dancer from Argentina whose artistic journey began not with dance, but with music—studying piano and musical composition for nearly two decades, including performing in a tango orchestra. Her deep connection to music later found a new expression in belly dance, where Arabic rhythms became her primary focus. But it was a moment of emotional clarity—dancing to Piazzolla’s tango and breaking into tears—that reminded her to honor her roots. That decision to merge tango with belly dance not only defined her unique style but opened international doors, beginning with her first overseas performance in Korea. Today, Shahdana is celebrated for her emotional depth, musicality, and distinctive fusion of tango and belly dance, teaching and performing around the world.In this episode you will learn about:- Late start is not a barrier to build a belly dance career- How setting a 7-year goal helped Shahdana stay focused through years of rejection.- The role of intuition and networking in building a dance career.- Why she emphasizes interpreting tango with authenticity rather than mimicking tango dancers.- How to develop a unique style through consistent improvisation and personal storytelling.Show Notes to this episode:Find Shahdana on Instagram, and YouTube.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comCheck Earn What You Deserve Training for belly dance teachers at www.sharqui.com/social.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Jill Collins is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, and educator whose versatile career spans contemporary, theatrical, and Middle Eastern dance. She began performing professionally as a teenager and later earned her BFA in Dance Education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2007, she joined Jillina’s Sahlala Dancers, eventually becoming Artistic Director and owner in 2021. Jill has toured internationally for over a decade with Bellydance Evolution, serving as both featured dancer and rehearsal director, as well as co-director of the company’s training branch, BDEx. In 2015, she founded Cathartic Art, a collective dedicated to advocating for mental health through creative performance. In addition to her work with Sahlala, she performs with LA Choreographers & Dancers and holds teaching credentials from Dance Masters of America and SharQuí: The Bellydance Workout.In this episode you will learn about:- How a Craigslist audition unexpectedly launched Jill’s journey into belly dance with Jillina’s Sahlala Dancers.- The challenges of transitioning from ballet to belly dance—especially shifting posture and grounding.- How the gig and performance landscape changed after the pandemic, including shifts in audience attention and show structure.- The ups and downs of taking over Sahlala Dancers during the pandemic and rebuilding it from near scratch.- Her current focus on work-life balance, adding Zoom rehearsals, and developing educational outreach performances.Show Notes to this episode:Find Jill Collins on Instagram, FB, and Sahlala Dancers website. Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFind out what’s missing in your musicality and connection to Arabic music in 60 seconds. Take the quiz: www.maqamquiz.com Created by Maya Youssef.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Shreeprada (Shree) is a captivating Indian Tribal Fusion dance teacher known for her layered style, artistic depth, and commitment to creativity. With a background in Bharatanatyam and a Master’s degree in Textile Design from the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, she brings a unique fusion of movement and visual artistry to her work. Trained in printing, embroidery, weaving, dyeing, and knotting, Shree has an exceptional ability to conceptualize and design textured surfaces—skills that mirror her intricate dance style as well. Passionate about sharing the magic of Tribal Fusion, she inspires dancers worldwide through her recorded courses and online classes.In this episode you will learn about:- The impact of colonization and media on Indian clothing norms and perceptions of dance.- How Shree discovered belly dance through television and dealing with cultural taboos in India.- The strong visual and cultural parallels between Tribal Fusion and Indian folk aesthetics.- The creation of "Tribal Fusion India" to showcase diverse Indian voices in the style.- How she uses social media strategically to attract aligned students rather than just followers.Show Notes to this episode:Find Shree on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website. Here is also Tribal Fusion India Instagram.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFind out what’s missing in your musicality and connection to Arabic music in 60 seconds. Take the quiz: www.maqamquiz.com Created by Maya Youssef.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Melli Sarina is a pioneer in the Tribal Fusion and Fusion Belly Dance scene with over 26 years of dance experience. Based in Augsburg, Germany, she discovered her passion for Tribal Fusion at sixteen after a transformative workshop with Sharon Kihara. Her signature style—known as “Liquid Fusion”—blends Zoe Jakes' DanceCraft-inspired technique with the fluid artistry of urban waving, creating a powerful fusion of isolations, body control, and expressive flow. With intensive training from masters like Zoe Jakes, Kami Liddle, Mira Betz, and Jill Parker, including 49 hours at The Tribal Massive in Las Vegas, Melli has become known for her precision, biomechanics focus, and deep muscle awareness. She teaches online classes and leads her own Liquid Fusion intensives designed around body awareness, mobility, and personal movement needs. A celebrated performer and educator, she has graced stages across Europe and the U.S., earned titles like 2011 Tribal Star Award winner and 2010 Vice Tribal Bellydancer of the World, and continues to shape the next generation of fusion dancers with her technique-driven, heart-centered approach.In this episode you will learn about:- The influence of urban dance styles—especially waving—on Melli’s movement vocabulary.- The creation and meaning behind the term “Liquid Fusion Belly Dance.”- How discovering pelvic floor awareness transformed her understanding of belly rolls.- The value of working with a somatic therapist rather than just dance teachers for deeper growth.- Her thoughtful approach to teaching levels in Liquid Fusion Belly Dance.Show Notes to this episode:Find Melli Sarina on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.Find out what’s missing in your musicality and connection to Arabic music in 60 seconds. Take the quiz: www.maqamquiz.com Created by Maya YoussefDetails and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast