Interviewed by/ Editor in a chief Dr. Sam Nan
In the mesmerizing world of belly dance, where every movement tells a story and every sway captivates the soul, one artist stands out, weaving her heritage into every graceful step.
Meet Eleni, the Australian-born belly dance sensation of Greek descent, whose ancestral rhythms flow through her veins, guiding her on a captivating journey of self-discovery and artistic expression.
In an exclusive interview with Anoujoum Magazine, Eleni unveils the secrets behind her enchanting performances, sharing insights into her inherited talent, self-taught mastery, and the profound cultural connection that fuels her passion for this ancient art form.
In this interview, we delve into the vibrant world of Eleni, where tradition meets innovation, and every dance is a celebration of life and legacy.
Tell me about yourself?
I’m a professional full time belly dance artist and Instructor in Sydney.
I perform at restaurants, nightclubs and special occasions. I’ve performed on many stages including theatre shows and have made TV appearances.
My teaching is mostly focused on private classes for aspiring performers. I have travelled abroad to Egypt and Spain to learn from Egyptian master teachers as well as teaching and dancing in Greece. From an early age i attended jazz, ballet, tap and traditional Greek dance classes but my attention was quickly drawn to bellydancing, even though it isn’t the only style of dance I do professionally. I am also a trained samba dancer and teacher at Escola De Samba Sydney (samba school), and travel to Brazil every year to train and dance in Rio Carnaval with one of the most prestigious schools in Brazil, as well as being a dancer in a world renowned Brazilian performing arts company in Australia called Rio Projekt, where we do live theatre shows and event entertainment.
When did you learn the belly dancing?
My auntie was a bellydancer and the women in my family knew how to dance. I would watch them and dance with them so I don’t really remember being introduced to bellydancing, it was something that I just always did.
I do remember being introduced to the famous Egyptian and Lebanese legends by my auntie such as Fifi Abdo, Suhair Zaki, Nagwa Fouad, Samia Gamal, Amani and many others.
I officially started bellydance classes at 13 years of age.
Who encouraged you to dance?
My first teacher Vera used to encourage me, but I always knew i would end up being a professional dancer.
What’s your greatest strength as a dancer?
I think I am known for my powerful movements, presence and connection to the music and matching the expectations of the audience. I stay very connected to the evolving artistry and culture overseas and I incorporate that into my shows here, making my shows both current and nostalgic.
Where did you dance in Australia or out Australia?
Some of the venues I dance at regularly are Cityview, Wadi El Arayesh, Summerland, Persian Basement, Persian Rose and Hannibal. Some less frequent shows include Alex & Co, Golden Cherry, King of the Knight, The Middle Feast, Raman and Tayim. My schedule may vary from week to week with new venues being added regularly.
Which place is your favorite place you like to dance in?
I don’t have one favourite place to dance, I love them all. Every place has a different atmosphere so I can’t compare.
What’s your greatest weakness as a dancer?
My greatest weakness is that I’m very critical of myself but I think that is common for most performers.
What do you like to do when you’re not dancing?
If I’m not belly dancing I’m teaching or dancing samba, seeing friends and family, and sewing new costumes when I have the time.
When did you decide to make dance your professional career?
I always knew this was what I wanted but my first professional performance was at the age of 19.
What initially drew you to belly dancing?
Greek tsifteteli and Arabic music was what drew me to dance and how happy it made me feel dancing to it, as well as watching the women in my family dance and how beautiful they looked.
Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?
Hopefully still dancing! But each day as it comes.
Describe the feeling you get when you’re on stage.
When I’m on stage I feel pure joy, it’s a feeling that makes all the pre-performance nerves worth it.
How do you prepare mentally and physically before a performance?
On the days I’m dancing I make sure I drink a lot of water, eat healthy food and get a good amount of sleep because my nights are very long. There’s no time to focus on anything else other than my shows. I need a few hours to prepare for a busy night, everything from downloading and editing music for each show, to hair and makeup.
Tell me about a memorable performance experience.
I don’t really have one memorable experience, there are so many. But all the memorable moments are moments of joy. For example, walking in with the bride and groom for an Egyptian zaffe, moments like those make wonderful memories.
What challenges have you faced as a belly dancer, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge would be the stigma that comes with being a dancer. In my culture it is also a stigmatised profession. It was something that I was told I shouldn’t do but I loved it so I pursued it anyway. One of my goals as a dancer has been to educate people about the common misconceptions and to show it’s an art form which i think i have achieved thus far. Another challenge has been that I am representing a culture that isn’t mine, so I feel it’s important to stay as connected to the culture as I possibly can to represent it with respect and integrity.
Do you have a favorite costume or prop that you love to use during performances?
I don’t have one favourite costume i love them all! I love new costumes and experimenting with different styles. As for props I usually use wings, veil, cane, assaya, sword and shamadan but not all in one show of course. The props i use depends on the cultural background of the guests or their requests. My favourite props if I had to choose would be veil and cane.
How do you fuse traditional belly dance with modern influences?
I fuse traditional bellydance with modern influences mainly through music and costume choice. Generally,
I find combining old famous songs that everyone knows
with modern songs in each show is a good way to create something that a mixed audience can enjoy.
Share a funny or unexpected backstage moment from your dance career.
The funniest story that i can think of is starting a performance at the wrong party with my dance partner when we wanted to surprise our friend for her birthday. It was the function next door but the waiter made a mistake and took us to the wrong room. So we started dancing and people were cheering then we realised our friend wasn’t there and we were dancing for the wrong people. We just said sorry and left, it was embarrassing and hilarious at the same time!
What advice would you give to aspiring belly dancers?
The advice I would give aspiring dancers is that it’s important to watch and train with dancers of the culture as much as possible. Learning the do’ s and don’ts of entertaining well before entering the industry and investing in private lessons to gain enough all-round knowledge of performing.
Describe the music that resonates with you the most when you dance. .
I love all genres of Arabic music, I feel connected to everything I dance to. One of the things I love the most is dancing to live music, there’s a certain magic to it.
21. What is the last thing you want to say?
The final sentiment I’d like to convey is my sincere appreciation to you and Anoujoum Magazine for offering me the opportunity to partake in this interview.