Bridging Worlds: Culture, Raqs Sharqi and Science with Lenka Badriyah

This was one of the most fun and creative interviews we've had yet!

Valerick and Alexandra sit with the amazing Lenka and have a very fascinating conversation about dance and science and how the creative process overlaps.

🌟Lenka, also known as Badriyah, is a professional Raqs Sharqi dancer and instructor based in Belgium. She is the founder and director of the online Raqs Sharqi Museum where she aims to hold space for the voices of the past to be heard, promoting cultural awareness and preservation. Lenka travels, teaches and performs internationally, and is currently focusing her work on the rich styles and historical treasures of the 19th and 20th century world of belly dance.

🌟 Fun fact! Lenka is a space weather physicist focusing and her work in the sciences influence the way she studies the creative and cultural arts.

For more about ‪@Badriyah_bellydance‬ and the Raqs Sharqi Museum, visit www.badriyahbellydance.com
www.instagram.com/lenka_badriyah

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0:00 – Introduction to Lenka Badriyah
3:48 – Lenka’s journey into belly dance and cultural connection
7:14 – Combatting stereotypes and honoring the dance’s cultural roots
11:14 – The creation of the Raqs Sharqi Museum
15:02 – The Golden Era of belly dance and its influence on modern performances
24:04 – Lenka’s scientific approach to studying dance movement
33:11 – Storytelling through dance: Choreography and multimedia
41:00 – The emotional impact of performances like Naima Akef’s tribute
51:13 – Embracing failure and feedback in the artistic process
57:22 – The vision for the Raqs Sharqi Museum and future dreams
1:02:02 – How the belly dance community can support and collaborate with the museum
1:07:10 – Evolving dance styles: Nostalgia for the Golden Era and modern shifts