I have wanted to write this article for years but hesitated. Jealousy IS NOT AN EASY TOPIC TO TALK OR READ ABOUT. It is a complex emotion that can be so strong and hard to control. Factors causing it are mixed up with other emotions, as well as personal and social issues. It is hard to know where to even begin but I am just going to do my best even if it is just an article that can act as a platform for sharing experiences, I will be happy. What makes me qualified to write t

Just a suggestion…. Though based in Cairo now, I still travel to many a hafla in the UK and over the years I have definitely been to what is close to, or even over, 100 haflas. At some points I would go to at least 3 a month. And I have seen my fair share of what is passed off as bellydance. Now, I’m not here to preach (well, not tooo much) just to lend a suggestion. You can take it or leave it. I know women all over the country bellydance for different reasons. Being authent

Note ALL NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED IN THESE BLOGS for what I think are obvious reasons. Also I am not allowed to take photos or videos of me dancing in most Cabaret clubs so all I have is bathroom selfies ... enjoy “Be careful!” “Please - Take care!” “Is it safe?” Before I set off to Cairo to be a dancer, this was basically all that was said to me by anyone I told. I’ve also been warned by current and past dancers and have read blogs about how dangerous it is to work as a dance

I remember it clearly. I was a first year PhD physics student, at the time seriously struggling to be somehow accepted in my otherwise all male lab. Anyway, there I was sitting in the pub at a social drinks event organised by the department – I put the effort in and went along because at the time, I wanted to be accepted by the group, to fit in. There is a loud call from across the table and a silence falls in the hustling, bustling conversations of all the surrounding PhD st

There is something about belly dancing in Africa that can’t be beat. It is the home land of dance, the homeland of man! And East Africa just has an excitement in the air and I love it. In the past i have worked as a bellydancer in Kenya: Nairobi and Mombasa, and Tanzania: Dar el Salaam and Zanzibar at the beginning of this year and loved every second. When I was invited by Zenix-Lounge (Z-Lounge) in Mombassa to dance for their 1st year anniversary … I didn't hesitate to accep

I just love being a belly dancer in London. I have been a bellydancer in London for years now and I never tier of it. It is just so full of life. The thing that makes belly dancing in London that is so exciting, is the VARIITY. I love the diversity of people and places. The hustle and bustle of getting from one gig to another also keeps you on your toes and life exciting. With in a typical busy night I can dance at 4 or 5 gigs in different areas of London and for a variety of

I have officially been single for a year ( I even had a party to celebrate lol) I have enjoyed the year sooooooooooo much - The dating game is one I had missed. However, I have to say GUYS COME ON are you for real - so entertainingly BAD have some of my dates gone that I have decided to give you lads a much needed hand on HOW TO DATE A PRO BELLYDANCER. WARNING SOME RUDE LANGUAGE (all in jest) KEEP YOUR COOL and LOOSE YOUR ARROGANCE ! Ok so you are dating a bellydancer - first

So last year I was at a hafla with another dancer and drummers - all of Middle Eastern heritage. We hadn’t seen each other in ages and the conversation was in full flow. It was bliss, great music, lovely dancers performing and our friendships were flowing and growing. Hey, we could have even been in the Middle East…. but not for long !!! We were asked, by the organiser, to keep it down; essentially to shut up. Why? Well as I said the conversation was flowing, we were laughin

So it is Valentine’s Day and no matter how much I insist to any restaurants owner that a bellydancer may not be the most appropriate form of entertainment to put on for loving couples the gigs roll in – but hey they know best! And I get paid regardless WOOP WOOP. So how better to get me through dancing for romantic couples, where the men have to ensure the look only at their date and dinner and the women keep a watchful eye on them to make sure they don’t check out the belly

My mobile phone rings. It’s my cousin from Egypt. I hesitate to answer as they usually only send messages on the internet or short missed calls to say they are thinking of me – Calls are too expensive. The call ends… but then it starts again. Hesitantly, I answered – either this is going to be very, very, bad news or very, very, good news. “Zara, I am getting married! You must come to Egypt!” This is followed by squeals of excitement and joy from the both of us. Asmaat is my

My weekend at JoY. I have never taught at a festival before so this event was going to be a learning adventure for me to say the least: and that it was. In true Zara form I had to do everything: I taught three workshops, performed in the Saturday night show and I also travelled down with the Zara’s Zouk stall – thank god I had my lovely mum to help! When I returned to London on Sunday night – the word exhaustion would be an understatement, but in a strange way that tiredness