Ep 236. Nisaa (Heather D. Ward): Detaching Opinions From Historical Realities

Belly Dance Life

Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) is a Middle Eastern dance instructor, performer, and researcher based in St. Louis, Missouri. Nisaa’s mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the complexity, diversity, and beauty of Middle Eastern dance forms. As a researcher, Nisaa focuses on the history of Egyptian dance and its professional practitioners. Her investigations into the transition from awalim and ghawazi dance styles to classical raqs sharqi at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries led to the publication of her first book, Egyptian Belly Dance in Transition: The Raqs Sharqi Revolution, 1890-1930, in 2018.

In this episode you will learn about:

- Sensuality, sexuality and eroticism in belly dance

- How Nisaa got involved into researching belly dance

- What is the difference between awalim and ghawazee

- Did Badia Masabni invent raqs sharki?

- The term ‘raqs sharqi’

Show Notes to this episode:

Find Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.

Check out the next SharQui Instructor Academy beginning April 3rd. Apply at sharqui.com/teach

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