Ep 383. Ruxandra: Shocking Stories About Belly Dance Realities in Romania

Ruxandra is a Romanian Oriental dance instructor, performer, choreographer, promoter, and storyteller. A graduate of the Floria Capsalli Choreography High School in Bucharest and the Performing Arts Department of Gheorghe Cristea University of Sciences and Arts, she has a strong foundation in ballet and has also studied contemporary, modern, folk, Latin, flamenco, African, and Oriental dance. After living for two years in Egypt and three years in Benin, Africa, Ruxandra came to believe that she did not choose Oriental dance—it chose her. For almost two decades, she has worked to challenge stereotypes surrounding belly dance in Romania, becoming the only teacher in Bucharest to establish dedicated Oriental dance classes for children and creating welcoming spaces where women of all ages can reconnect with their bodies, confidence, femininity, emotions, and joy. **In this episode you will learn about:** \- Why many women still feel ashamed to admit they take belly dance classes in Romania \- The harassment and safety risks belly dancers face while performing \- Why teaching belly dance to children remains deeply controversial in Romania \- The ways movement can reconnect women with emotions held in the body \- Why she created a women’s dabke group as an artistic voice of solidarity **Show Notes to this episode:** Follow Ruxandra on Instagram, FB, and TikTok. Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.com 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