Dancing, and in particular belly dancing, is a gentle and low impact way of exercising, but many don’t realise just how much strength you actually need for it. Yes you can perform many of the moves with low intensity and relying on the benefit of moving, and therefore not having to hold a position for […]

By Ishtar Dance on Wednesday, October, 15th, 2025 in Dance Coaching, Dance Inspiration, Your Dance Body No Comments

Posture is the most important thing when dancing, yet many struggle to maintain it, not least when performing and the nerves or the pure joy of dancing starts kicking in! So how do you stay ‘zipped up’ as one dancer so appropriately called it. Well, it all starts with finding out and not least feeling […]

By Ishtar Dance on Wednesday, September, 10th, 2025 in Dance Coaching, Dance Inspiration, Learning, Your Dance Body 2 Comments

Whether your hips are tight from a lot of dancing, other exercise or even just sitting down, stretching the outer hip can be tricky without adding to much strain on other joints especially the knee. So today I want to share one of my favourite gentle outer hip stretches, which can be a great alternative […]

By Ishtar Dance on Thursday, July, 17th, 2025 in Learning, Your Dance Body 2 Comments

What does it take to loose yourself in the moment of a performance? To shine on stage and become one with your performance, without loosing the choreography or dance steps? What is that illusive knack that some just seem to have naturally, and how do you get it? As we’re all different individuals, there isn’t […]

By Ishtar Dance on Wednesday, April, 23rd, 2025 in Dance Coaching, Dance Inspiration, Learning, Your Dance Body No Comments

  You don’t need to be in the dance business for long before realising that it can be a somewhat cutthroat. The Belly Dance community is generally lovely, but as soon as it comes to the business of performing or running classes, I have seen dancers turn on one another, openly undercut other dancers to […]

By Ishtar Dance on Monday, March, 24th, 2025 in Dance Coaching, Dance Entrepreneur, Learning No Comments

Have you ever made plans for the year ahead, only to discover that a few months (or even weeks!) down the line you’ve started moving in a totally different direction than intended? “Begin like you mean to go on” is a mantra most entrepreneurs and business people know, but how do you actually manage to […]

By Ishtar Dance on Wednesday, January, 15th, 2025 in Dance Coaching, Dance Entrepreneur, Dance Inspiration, Learning, Your Dance Body 2 Comments

            Learning dance is a very personal journey and personality is therefore hugely important. You need to click with the person teaching you as that will ignite the fire in your belly to keep coming back, even when things might be difficult in your personal, work or even dance life. […]

By Ishtar Dance on Monday, January, 6th, 2025 in Dance Coaching, Dance Inspiration, Learning, Your Dance Body No Comments

As the New Year is just around the corner it’s time to review the one just gone, but before you enter planning mode take 5 minutes to complete this powerful exercise that will set you up for a great year ahead. It’s a very simple and you can use it, no matter whether you’re a dancer […]

By Ishtar Dance on Tuesday, November, 26th, 2024 in Dance Coaching, Dance Entrepreneur, Dance Inspiration, Learning No Comments

Good health requires more than a routine of exercises, stress  management and a good diet. None of these will be effective unless your mind and heart are in it too. It’s obvious to most that motivation is a key factor, but scientific studies also show that mindset is extremely important – and perhaps the most […]

By Ishtar Dance on Friday, July, 5th, 2024 in Dance Inspiration, Your Dance Body No Comments

Very few belly dancers have been elevated to national Egyptian treasures, but Samia Gamal, born Zaynab Khalil Ibrahim Mahfuz, was and probably still is one of Egypts most loved dancers. I’m sure you’ve already seen lots of video clips of her and if you’ve studied with me you’ll know that I adore her iconic moves and have […]

By Ishtar Dance on Saturday, February, 17th, 2024 in Dance Coaching, Dance Inspiration, Learning No Comments