Dana - I Participated in Big Championships of Europe and Asia Through the Best World Belly dancers (Bellydancer from Egypt)

Advice which I can give to my colleagues: Love yourself, Do what you love, Don't do what you don't want to do, Say no when you don't agree, And open your personality as you are to the world.

1. Tell us about your background and journey?

I was born in a family of lawyers and all my childhood started from 3 years was full of different classes like piano, languages, ballet and like this was till my 16 years. 

During this time I tried many kinds of dancing from ballet and ballroom, hip hop and modern and in the end I tried belly dancing and totally fell in love with this style at age of 10 and from there, my biggest journey in a world of oriental dance started. 

2. When and how did you decide to pursue dancing?

I was learning everything on youtube and was attending different festivals in Europe and Egypt to get knowledge from the best teachers of eastern dance. Also, I participated in big championships of Europe and Asia through the best world bellydancers. 

And became champion of Ukraine in 2013, champion of Europe and Asia in 2014, and champion of the world in 2016, and after my life totally changed coz organizers from different parts started to invite me as a teacher and judge and I started to gain money and name in our community.

3. What are your tips to stay fit and healthy?

The right diet, the only diabetologist can find the right way to lose weight, coz it's a very personal thing. Good sleeping and self-love.

4. Describe the most challenging part of your career?

It was a time when I decided to move to Egypt. On one hand, I was heartbroken after divorce in another hand  I had a big dream from childhood to dance on the Cairo stage. I forgot about my broken heart very quickly coz I met difficulties to understand and survive in the oriental world coz it's totally different from Ukrainian.

5. What do you think it is about dancing that makes people so happy?

Only passion can make people happy. Technique and look can bring exiting but you can push the audience to enjoy it only if you have this fire in your heart. How I say to my students: you can share flue only if you are really sick. We have to share art to make people love it.

6. Which artist do you admire the most? Why?

Hard to say. I love talented people at all. I feel them and see from the first meeting. I don't create idols for a long time and just trying to do myself better and these people just give me the inspiration to go on.

7. What message would you give to aspiring dancers?

Advice which I can give to my colleagues: Love yourself, Do what you love, Don't do what you don't want to do, Say no when you don't agree, And open your personality as you are to the world.

 

8. Which is your favorite book and why?

I love many but my top it's O.henry and many of his novellas are full of kindness and unexpected endings 

And Henrich Maria Remark it's full of tragedy and darkness and shows the reality of life. But who understands they will survive. And I love books which push you to think and change your view of life.

Dana

Interviewed By - Anshika Maurya