Ep 353. Snigdha Sachdev: What Makes an Effective Belly Dance Class

Snigdha Sachdev is a Delhi-based fusion belly dance artist and dedicated yoga enthusiast. A Biotechnology graduate with a master’s degree in Stem Cell Technology, she discovered her pull toward belly dance at a very young age. Her dance journey began with extensive training in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, and Kathak—foundations she later blended to deepen her belly dance technique and develop her own distinctive movement style. In 2019, Snigdha co-founded The Dance District, a studio that has since expanded to multiple locations across Delhi NCR. Today, the studio offers a range of dance forms, and Snigdha leads the belly dance division, where she continues to share her passion, discipline, and unique fusion approach with dancers across the region.In this episode you will learn about:- The secret to creating choreography that actually feels alive: improv first, structure later- Her class-building process: 90 minutes of prep for every hour of teaching- The “punishments,” the homework, and the tough-love philosophy her students know well- Why collaboration thrives in India’s tiny but fiercely supportive belly dance community- The ethics of taking inspiration vs. copying—and how she credits her teachers with integrityShow Notes to this episode:Find Snigdha Sachdev on Instagram.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