EPISODE · Jun 16, 2026 · 1H 49M
Ep 379. Sahra Saeeda (Sahra C Kent): From Meeting Farida Fahmy as Her University Classmate to Creating the Iconic “Journey Through Egypt” Program
from Belly Dance Life · host Iana Komarnytska
Sahra Saeeda (Sahra C Kent) is an internationally respected belly dancer, researcher, teacher, and choreographer whose career bridges performance, anthropology, and deep cultural study of Egyptian dance. Originally trained in Modern Dance, she later discovered Arabic music and belly dance, eventually building a successful career that included nearly six years performing six nights a week at the Meridian-Heliopolis Hotel in Cairo, completing over 1,600 performances. While pursuing a Master’s degree in Dance Ethnology, Sahra studied and worked closely with Farida Fahmy, whose mentorship deeply influenced her artistic path. She later founded the theatrical dance company Ya Amar! and created the acclaimed Journey Through Egypt program, an immersive educational experience exploring Egyptian dance, folklore, music, and culture through an anthropological lens. Today, Sahra continues to teach workshops, lectures, and Journey Through Egypt worldwide, sharing more than three decades of research and lived experience.In this episode you will learn about:- What it was like to have Farida Fahmy as a university classmate at UCLA — and the emotional story of unexpectedly meeting an idol- How one “dream performance” in Cairo unexpectedly turned into a hotel contract- What zaffa really means in Egyptian culture — beyond the wedding performance dancers usually see- The hidden symbolic role of the dancer in Egyptian wedding rituals and feminine power- Why folklore research became a lifelong mission — and how it led to “Journey Through Egypt”Show Notes to this episode:Find Sahra Saeeda on Instagram, FB, and website.Details the BDE shows and training programs 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
Embed this episode
What this episode covers
Sahra Saeeda (Sahra C Kent) is an internationally respected belly dancer, researcher, teacher, and choreographer whose career bridges performance, anthropology, and deep cultural study of Egyptian dance. Originally trained in Modern Dance, she later discovered Arabic music and belly dance, eventually building a successful career that included nearly six years performing six nights a week at the Meridian-Heliopolis Hotel in Cairo, completing over 1,600 performances. While pursuing a Master’s degree in Dance Ethnology, Sahra studied and worked closely with Farida Fahmy, whose mentorship deeply influenced her artistic path. She later founded the theatrical dance company Ya Amar! and created the acclaimed Journey Through Egypt program, an immersive educational experience exploring Egyptian dance, folklore, music, and culture through an anthropological lens. Today, Sahra continues to teach workshops, lectures, and Journey Through Egypt worldwide, sharing more than three decades of research and lived experience.
NOW PLAYING
Ep 379. Sahra Saeeda (Sahra C Kent): From Meeting Farida Fahmy as Her University Classmate to Creating the Iconic “Journey Through Egypt” Program
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.