Estelle Zaghloul Ramia is a Lebanese-born, Costa Rica-based belly dancer, choreographer, and cultural ambassador who rose to fame after winning the first season of Hezzi Ya Nawaeem on Lebanese TV and later became the first belly dancer to perform on the national stages of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In recognition of her artistic and community impact, she was honored in 2017 as one of Costa Rica’s Women’s Empowerment Icons. Her most recent project, Modern Organic Dance and Sacred Arts, is a creative and spiritual collective she co-founded, combining dance, music, videography, ritual, and energy work to create immersive, transformative experiences rooted in sisterhood and sacred expression. She shares her work through performances, teachings, and online platforms. In this episode you will learn about: - Oriental dance as a vessel for ancestral memory and feminine empowerment - What it means to dance with the elements and how fire, water, air, and earth can shape your movement practice - The role of ritual in Estelle’s classes, from altars and candles to setting intentions before movement - What blocked shimmies can reveal about your deeper energetic or emotional patterns - How Egyptian mythology holds simple truths about energy, healing, and feminine power Show Notes to this episode: Find Estelle Zaghloul on Facebook , YouTube, Instagram , and her website . Our previ ous inte r view wi th Estelle Zaghloul : Ep 126. Estelle Zaghloul: Why Has This Dance Entered Your Life? Books recommended by Estelle in this episode: Sacred woman, sacred dance: Awakening spirituality through movement and ritual, by Iris J. Stewart Grandmother's secrets : the ancient rituals and healing power of belly dancing, by Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia B The Secret Language of Your Body: The Essential Guide to Health and Wellness, by Inna Segal Visit Bellydance.com today: you’ll always find something fresh, whether you’re looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music. Follow 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
