"The Oriental Café Podcast"

With five decades of work in the field of "Belly Dance", Mesmera Merkaba shares the essentials of her craft, what she values in dance - and life -, and why longevity doesn´t have to be boring or scary. A provocative and deeply stimulating conversation with one of the first oriental dancers I ever studied with (in the time of VHS tapes); an inspiration; and an artist of extreme elegance. That´s wha...

Welcome to episode #25 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast, by Joana Saahirah. 🎤🎧✨This episode, the first in the second season of the podcast, revolves around what I´ve learned from my dance career in Egypt. 🎁To claim the Gift offered in this episode - the Free Ebook "3 Rules for Success" (for oriental dancers who want to shine) - follow this link: https://www.joanasaahirah.com/claim-your-free-eboo...

Welcome to episode #24 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast, by Joana Saahirah, on 8 steps to a better life. 🎤🎧✨In this episode, the last in the 1st season of our podcast, I share 8 steps - or awareness points - that´ll make you happier. 🎁To claim the Gift offered in this episode - a Free Egyptian Dance Class to boost your happiness - subscribe to our Podcast Newsletter. To subscribe and be the...

I cried and laughed hard when I revised this episode for publication. Eduardo Barreto, a Portuguese-born artist who´s been living and creating in London for more than 30 years, sat with me and reminded me why it´s worth remaining human. He´s a theater and cinema director, screenwriter; initiator of grand things, and my guest in an episode that is going to blow your mind. In this episode, we talk a...

In episode #22 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast, by yours truly, Joana Saahirah, I share what we´ve gained and lost in the field of Egyptian Dance - aka "belly dance" - in the last decades. 🎤🎧✨I draw from my in-depth experience as a professional dancer and teacher - in Egypt and around the world - to share my observations of what has improved in our beloved art form and what we´ve lost along the...

The magic of Egyptian Music and Dance, Tarab, living between the East and the West; how to deal with tricky musicians, the books that feed our soul, and more. That´s what you´ll find in episode #21 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast with our special guest, Mr. George Sawa . George Sawa is an Egyptian-born musician, teacher, author, and researcher; he´s also one of the most beloved collaborators in Joa...

Welcome to Episode #20 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast by Joana Saahirah about 5 steps you can use to become a more creative dancer 🎉 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I share 5 keys to unlock your Creativity and I also answer questions from our podcast community. 🎁To claim your Bonus Sheet with the list of My Favorite Books on Creativity, follow this link:  https://www.joanasaahirah.com/claim-you...

Welcome to Episode #19 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast with Hend Elbalouty (by Joana Saahirah). 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Hend Elbalouty, the author of the book "Mahraghanat Dance in Egypt: Between Acceptance and Rejection" to discuss "Mahraghanat" Music and Dance, Patriarchy, what it´s like to live between East and West, and the power of female fierceness. 🎤🎧✨To listen to our Podcast on t...

Welcome to episode #18 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast , hosted by Joana Saahirah, on what it takes to become a professional Oriental Dancer. In this episode, I´m drawing from a successful 20+ year career in the field of Egyptian Oriental & Folkloric Dance - in Egypt and in the International Circuit - to share some of the most important skills and insights you need to master if you dream about...

Welcome to episode #17 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast about the Art of Being a Multi-Passionate and Ageless Goddess, an episode featuring one of the dearest members of our global dance community, Jian Sakakeeny . 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Jian Sakakeeny, Miss Senior Universe, to talk about her many jobs and passions, her late start in Egyptian Dance and how this art form has led her into the...

Welcome to Episode #16 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast by Joana Saahirah about the Self-Empowerment Lessons I´ve learned from Egyptian Dance. 🎉 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I reveal a few of the life-changing lessons I learned from my practice of Egyptian Dance - as a performer, teacher, researcher, and choreographer - in terms of Self-Empowerment. 🎤🎧✨To listen to our Podcast on the usual audio platf...

Welcome to episode #15 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast dedicated to Life in Luxor, Sacred Art, Sufism, and hopping off the Mouse Wheel , with my guest, the Painter Brian Flynn , a long-time resident in Egypt, a Sufi, and a Seeker. 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Brian Flynn, who has been living and creating in Egypt for decades, for a soulful conversation on his life in the West Bank, in Luxor; his...

Welcome to Episode #14 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast about "What makes Egyptian Dance a Magical Art Form" 🎉   In this episode, I draw from my experience as a professional oriental dancer, in this field, at the highest level, for more than 20 years, and I share the keys to the magic of Egyptian Dance.   🎤Subscribe to our Podcast Newsletter and be the first to know about our upcoming ep...

Welcome to episode #13 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast dedicated to the Power of the Feminine, Persian Roots, and Sufi Magic with our guest, Schirin Chams-Diba     🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Schirin Chams-Diba, a multi-passionate and gorgeous dancer, teacher, and searcher, for a deep and vulnerable conversation about the power of the Feminine - and why we need it so desperately -, he...

Welcome to Episode #12 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast by Joana Saahirah about the Egyptian Dancers and Teachers who shaped my vision of dance and life 🎉 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I celebrate iconic dancers and teachers like Souhair Zaki, Mona el Said, Mahmoud Reda, and more, who educated, inspired, and empowered me; the ones who made the biggest impact on my dance and life path. 🎤🎧✨To listen to o...

Welcome to episode #11 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast dedicated to Personal Freedom, Astrology, Friendship (and more), with one of my best friends, Susana Vitorino. 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Susana Vitorino, a professional actress, author, shaman, astrologer, soul whisperer, teacher, and more; also, one of my best life-long friends, to embark on a vulnerable conversation about subjects dear...

Welcome to  Episode #10 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast  by Joana Saahirah about essential self-care rituals for juicy dancers🎉     🎤🎧✨In this episode,  I share the Self-Care Rituals I swear by . The rituals that keep me healthy, full of vitality, youthfulness, and passion for life. In this episode of "The Oriental Café" Podcast, I share these self-care strategies...

Welcome to episode #9 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast dedicated to Womanhood & the Ancient Wisdom of Egypt, with our guest, Leslie Zehr. 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Leslie Zehr, an author, mentor, and teacher who has developed the concept of "The Sacred Dance" and lived in Egypt, guiding women´s circles and other magical journeys, for decades.  🎤🎧✨To listen to our Podcast on th...

Welcome to Episode #8 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast by Joana Saahirah about the art of becoming the best "bellydancer" in the world. Or not. You´ll have to find out🎉     🎤🎧✨In this episode, I share knowledge and experience gathered in more than 20 years of a career in Egyptian Dance, first in Egypt and then around the World. In it, dancers will discover where to focus if they want t...

Welcome to episode #7 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast dedicated to Popular Dance & Music in Modern Egypt, with our guest, Sherifa Zuhur.   🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Sherifa Zuhur, one of the best well-known authors and researchers in the field of Arabic Dance, Music, and Culture, and a dancer in her own right.     We go deep into polemic, dynamic, and deep conversation abou...

Welcome to Episode #6 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast by Joana Saahirah about the biggest tabus surrounding Egyptian Dance and how it´s so easy to destroy them 🎉 🎤🎧✨In this episode, I "spill the beans" and tell it like it is in regards to the biggest tabus, or prejudices, in regards to Egyptian Dance. I expose those nonsensical ideas and destroy them. In a wink. 🎤🎧✨To listen to our Podcast o...

Welcome to  Episode #5 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast  by Joana Saahirah with our guest,  Perla Elias Nemer 🎉     🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Perla Elias Nemer , a talented and out-of-the-box dancer, choreographer, teacher, musician (and more). We go deep into a fascinating, cozy, and fun conversation about personal freedom, the renaissance of the "Awalim", the relati...

In this episode, I reveal my dream-making formula, the one I´ve been using since I can remember to turn my dreams into reality. Even the ones the world claimed were "impossible".   👉To claim your Free Ebook "My Dream-Making Framework", follow this link: click here to claim your free ebook   👉 To subscribe to "The Oriental Café" Podcast Newsletter, receive our news and exclusive content...

Welcome to  Episode #3 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast  by Joana Saahirah with our guest, Leila Haddad 🎉     🎤🎧✨In this episode, I invite Leila Haddad, an icon in the field of "Raks el Sharki" - Oriental Dance - and an inspiration of mine. We talk about the definition of "Raks el Sharki", or the lack of one; the changes our dance has gone through; creative freedom; the socia...

Welcome to  Episode #2 of "The Oriental Café" Podcast  by Joana Saahirah🎉     🎤🎧✨In this episode, I´ll tell you how Egyptian Dance changed my life. I mean, drastically. As I usually say, there´s Joana before this dance and Joana after it. In this episode, you´ll discover how that radical transformation happened. Far away from the prejudices and the clichés, there´s a real a...