Hello, this is
Nisreen! Welcome to the 20th episode of Season Two of my podcast! It’s lovely
to speak with you again.
The other day, I heard
some tragic news: legendary Turkish belly dancer Tanyeli had passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was
only 54. I have been performing and teaching belly dance for years now, and
Tanyeli has always been one of my dance icons.
Today, to celebrate
the memory of her legacy, I’d like to highlight three aspects of her style that
made her stage presence so unique. I hope this will help a broader audience
appreciate her artistry, beyond just the belly dance community.
The thumbnail of this episode is my pen drawing of Tanyeli. Please find the episode below.
Hello,
this is Nisreen. Welcome to the 19th episode of Season Two of my podcast! It’s
lovely to speak with you again.
The other
day, I finally finished reading Buddenbrooks!
This 1901 novel by the German writer Thomas Mann follows the decline of a
wealthy North German merchant family over four generations, from 1835 to 1877.
The story
is incredibly rich, layered with social commentary and beautiful visual
storytelling. In today’s episode, I’d like to share three reasons why this
classic family drama remains highly relevant today—especially for artists. No
spoilers, and I hope you enjoy it!
The thumbnail of this episode is my oil pastel piece about the story. Please find the episode below.
At first, I was a little nervous about the lower engagement and bookings in the event ads, to be honest. However, in the end, the event turned out to be a great success, with many participants and a fantastic audience for the gala show.
More than anything, it was incredibly rewarding to see people connect and support each other through their love for this beautiful and diverse dance form! All the board members, including our president April, have been nothing but excellent and hardworking.
This year’s workshop lineup was particularly unique, featuring multiple sessions by musicians. Our headliner, Istra, brought her strong theatre background into her teaching, providing warm and insightful guidance to her students. It was wonderful to witness their creativity flourish.
As for me, I ended up stepping in at the last minute to assist a musicality workshop run by musician Andy from a dancer's perspective and also performed a completely improvised piece to his original song, Khamsa, filling a last-minute spot in the gala show.
It was definitely a challenge but such a fun experience! Andy’s workshop was incredibly well-prepared and packed with information—I can't even imagine how he managed to do that alongside all the work he put in as an event coordinator!
Music: Khamsa performed by Indy Raqs composed by Andy Smith
Dance performance: Nisreen
Event: INBC Annual Bazaar (March 1st, 2025)
At the INBC Annual Bazaar on March 1st, I stepped in at the last minute to cover a spot and perform to an Andy Smith original, Khamsa! It was definitely a challenge to dance to a song I heard for the first time that day, but it was so much fun!
Videography: Playground Productions
Choreography (Partly Improvised): Nisreen
Music: Khatwet Samar by Ziad Rahbani
Dance performance: Nisreen
Event: Raqs Party (Sept 21st, 2024) hosted by Troupe Oasis and INBC
Videography: SJ Images
Choreography (Partly Improvised): Nisreen
Music: Laylat Hobb performed by Indy Raqs
Dance performance: Nisreen
Event: Raqs Party (Dec 7th, 2024) hosted by Donna B Carlton
The first song/
Based on choreography by: Athena Najat
Music: Para Bizde by Rumeli Orhan Kemal
Performance: Nisreen
The second song/
Choreography: Nisreen
Music: Shifting Sands by Nasir Eddin and The Pharaoahs
Performance: Nisreen
Music: 'Fire Dance, played by @indyraqs Venue: Indiana, United States Event: Mosey Improv Performed by: Nisreen
Music: 'Aziza' by Mohammed Abdel Wahhab, played by @indyraqs Venue: Indiana, United States Event: Mosey Improv Performed by: Nisreen
Music: 'Sendur' Venue: Indiana, United States Event: Mosey
Based on choreography by: Athena Najat Performed by: Nisreen
The first song/
Based on choreography by: Athena Najat
Music: Para Bizde by Rumeli Orhan Kemal
Performance: Nisreen
The second song/
Choreography: Nisreen
Music: Darbuka Solo Pt. 3 by Bünyamin Olguncan
Performance: Nisreen
Music: 'Tuta' by 'Farid al-Atrash', played by @indyraqs Venue: Indiana, United States Event: INBC Belly Dance Annual Bazaar Performed by: Nisreen Choreographed by: Nisreen (primarily improv)
Hello, this is Nisreen. Welcome to the 18th episode of Season Two of my podcast! It’s lovely to speak with you again.
In the US, and many other countries, March is a time to celebrate women’s achievements. In today’s episode, I’d like to introduce three works of art by female creators that you can explore during Women’s History Month—two films, and one painting. I hope you enjoy it!
The
thumbnail of this episode is my drawing of Shiori Itō in the film.
Hello, this is Nisreen. Welcome to the 17th episode of Season Two of my podcast! It’s lovely to speak with you again.
The other day, our pug boy, Nibbler, marked his 7th birthday! That got me reflecting on how much he has enriched not only my personal life, but also my artistic journey. Today, I’d love to talk about why he is my muse. I hope this resonates with you, especially if you love dogs, or any kind of animal!
The thumbnail is Nibbler's portrait I painted. Please find the episode below.
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