How can I submit articles to Fanoos Magazine?

To submit articles to Fanoos Magazine, please visit our 'Submit an Article' page or email your materials to orianaredstar@gmail.com and follow the guidelines provided. Ensure your article aligns with our focus on bellydance and Middle Eastern culture. Once submitted, our editorial team will review your article and get back to you.

What kind of topics does Fanoos Magazine accept?

Fanoos Magazine accepts a wide range of topics related to bellydance and Middle Eastern culture. This includes performance insights, cultural perspectives, interviews, and educational articles. We encourage writers to submit unique and engaging content that resonates with our diverse readership.

What are the due dates for article submissions?

The due dates for article submissions vary depending on the issue but materials are always due 5 days before the listed due date. Please check our 'Submission Deadlines' page for the most up-to-date information on upcoming deadlines. We recommend submitting your final draft articles well in advance to ensure they are considered for the desired issue.

Is Fanoos Magazine available in print?

Currently, Fanoos Magazine is an online-only publication. We focus on providing digital content to reach a global audience and promote accessibility. However, we may consider print options in the future based on reader demand.

Welcome to Fanoos: Your Bellydance Magazine

Fanoos Magazine Sahra Saeeda August 2026.png

Cover Photo provided by Sahra /Created by Oriana/ August 2026

🌙 Fanoos Magazine – Middle Eastern Dance, Culture, and Expression
Fanoos Magazine is an international publication dedicated to Middle Eastern dance, culture, and creative voices. We feature in-depth articles, interviews, and photo essays exploring Egyptian dance, Raqs Sharqi, Raqs Baladi, and regional folkloric traditions across the Arab world.
Our mission is to preserve authentic heritage while highlighting modern artistry and diversity within the bellydance community. Fanoos amplifies voices that explore themes of body image, representation, costume design, and cultural storytelling, connecting dancers and readers from all over the world.
Writers, photographers, and researchers are invited to submit articles and essays to share their perspectives on Egyptian classical dance, music, and Middle Eastern arts. Each issue illuminates new insights into tradition, innovation, and identity through movement and meaning.

👉 Visit our Submit Page to join a global platform celebrating the beauty and evolution of Middle Eastern dance and culture.

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Loved in Egypt, but Thrown Away in America

Columbia Fawaala Ibrahim It needs to be said and said loudly: Folkloric dancers are not respected in America. The only people who respect them are people directly from the Middle East or researchers who understand the significance. The crux of American onlookers' disregards the artists as good dancers if they do not submit to Western standards. Most compare us to our Egyptian Cabaret counterparts. While Egyptian Cabaret is entertaining, it sadly submits to Orientalism and th

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

52 minutes ago7 min read

Spotlight On: Tay!

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago0 min read

Coin for Thought: The Coin Scarf Increases Interoception and Proprioception

by: Brittany Capozzi (“BellaBianca”) The Value of the Coins Most of us are familiar with the coin scarf as being part of the belly dance costume. What is not more widely known about the scarf is that it’s also a learning tool. The weight of the coins allows the dancer to build muscle while shimmying, kicking, and drawing shapes with the hips. I’ve always loved that the coins have another layer of value to them. As a lifelong learner, I explore different ways in which the sc

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago4 min read

Spotlight on: Annah of Sweden

Photo: Tunde Dora 1. Dancing Raqs in Sweden comes with a unique cultural backdrop. How has your environment shaped the way you interpret and embody this dance? When I discovered Raqs Sharqi in my 20’s, my view on dance in general was very much a ”Western” one. I had grown up dancing ballet & jazz/show dance, with focus on technical precision, defining & naming separate movements, counting to 8, and learning choreographies. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it! My dream as a child w

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago8 min read

Interview with Micheline!

Fanoos sat down with Orlando based dancer and therapist, Micheline Maalouf! We discussed poignant ideas of identity, lineage, heritage and of course, Habiby Fit!

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago1 min read

Spotlight On: Zoe Bedell

Studio Pixel Pop 1. How do you build a performance from concept to final polish? For me, every performance starts with the music. I spend a lot of time listening before I even think about choreography because I want to understand the emotion, the structure, and the story the song is telling. Once I feel connected to the music and have a clear sense of the emotion/story I want to convey, I always begin by improvising my first run-through. This allows me to move authentically t

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago3 min read

Spotlight On: Maqam for Dancers with Maya Youseff

Sign up for the Maqam for Dancers Intensive! Maqam for Dancers Keep up with all of Maya's offerings: Maya Youssef

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago1 min read

Spotlight on: Yaël Zarca of Paris

Your dancing is often described as a marriage of tradition and modernity. How do you honor the roots of Egyptian dance while continuing to evolve as an artist? Honoring the roots is all about education and respect for the culture. However, art is alive and must reflect the present. I let my personal experiences and modern influences guide my creativity, which naturally brings a contemporary touch to my performances without losing the essence of traditional Egyptian style. Mus

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago4 min read

Tribal Fusion Know What You Wear Part 1: The Miáo/

Columbia Fawaala Ibrahim When I was a teen and young adult, I was obsessed with Tribal Fusion and ATS® (American Tribal Style®). I shopped at many places, such as Red Camel and others that sold “tribal” wear. As Tribal Style dancers consume East Asian jewelry, many do not understand its history or its region. The Miáo are the original Hmong people of the Chinese mountains. The skits that are worn tell a story, and each skirt has many secret messages that were embroidered int

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago6 min read

Olha Shovkova: Bringing Ukrainian Culture to the World Through the Language of Dance

Ukrainian choreographer, performer, educator, and creator of the artistic direction Ukrainian Tribal Fusion, Olha Shovkova has dedicated her life to the development of dance as a form of cultural expression and international dialogue. By blending contemporary movement with Ukrainian traditions, folklore, symbolism, and ethnic aesthetics, she creates performances that introduce global audiences to the richness of Ukrainian culture through an art form that transcends language b

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago2 min read

Lineage & Legacy in Emirati Dance

Sultanette in conversation with Belly Art Dubai, United Arab Emirates Marilyn Barrios is an acclaimed international belly dance master teacher, choreographer, author and dance company director based in Dubai. 1. How did you start your belly dance journey and how was Belly Art Dubai born? I started belly dancing when I was very young, whilst living in Argentina, because I was looking for a way to reconnect with my femininity. The moment I discovered this art form, I knew I had

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago9 min read

Allah Bless The Queens: A Dive into Gender Bending & Survival of Orientale Danse

By Columbia Fawaala Ibrahim Did you know Female Impersonators and Drag Queens saved Orientale Danse from getting totally lost? Many do not realize this, but it is true. Men dressing up as women dancing is nothing new. When I do it, people think it is something modern, and I always explain that it is an old tradition that dates back centuries around the globe, including the Middle East. Homophobia and Transphobia never used to be an issue until Colonizers took over Egypt and

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago7 min read

Aleena Christina — Owner, Aleena Christina Travel : Gateway to Endless Adventure

Movement has shaped every chapter of Aleena’s life. She began dancing at three years old, training and competing across multiple styles before earning her dance minor from Florida Southern College — the place where her love for performance and artistry truly flourished. Among the many styles Aleena trained in throughout her life, belly dance is the one that stayed with her. It’s now her primary practice and artistic focus. The dance form she continues to study, perform, and

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago2 min read

Cover Story: Sahra Kent

Interview by Nizana El Rassan Nizana: I had the amazing opportunity of meeting Sahra at this year’s Cairo Shimmy Quake in Glendale, and she is as sweet as they say she is! I have longer admired her work, and am so honored that she agreed to interview for me for Fanoos. She has an academic background that resounds with me as I chaired a college department at one time. That approach, along with her detailed research and personal experience, makes Sahra who she is - an American

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago18 min read

Emerald Coast Bellydance

Co Support Emerald Coast Belly Dance and Help Preserve, Present and Celebrate Authentic Raqs Sharqi on Florida's Gulf Coast At Emerald Coast Belly Dance, we believe the performing arts have the power to educate, inspire, and connect communities across cultures and generations. Your support helps make possible: • Educational workshops with respected guest artists • Authentic cultural performances • Community arts programming • Live music collaborations • Opportunities for audi

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago1 min read

Eponymy and Embodied Citation in “Le Serpent Rouge”: How Fusion Belly Dancers Perform Nomenclature

Drake Von Trapp Introduction Belly dance’s naming conventions in the United States have been subject to analysis and criticism for decades. While some dancers fight over whose codification system is the “correct” one that everyone else should conform to, others believe that codifying the belly dance movement canon would extinguish something special about it. With the advent of systematized and cued improvisational forms of belly dance such as the Salimpour Formats, Fat Chanc

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

1 hour ago16 min read

Spotlight On: Jennifer of Orlando

Fanoos caught up with Jennifer Ordon to discuss all things event production, organization, planning tips and more! Connect with Jennifer O-Town Bellydance Intensive

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

Apr 101 min read

Spotlight On- Ada Bobola!

1. You’ve performed extensively in Cairo and now book talent in Orlando. How has your experience on stage shaped the way you curate performers for events? So…it’s a very Western mindset that when you perform, you are being viewed, and you are separate from the audience. I’ve noticed in Orlando/Florida, that a lot of the dancers don’t intuitively interact with the audience. To me it is very important that the performers for events know how to interact with the audience. And

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

Apr 109 min read

1001 Oriental Dance Moves- Practice Cards!

Are you a teacher looking for a fun way to help your students practice movements and piece together combinations? Or a student needing a fun challenge? Natasa Kocar has you covered! 1001 Oriental Dance Moves Didactical Cards These cards are a sort of an upgrade to my 1001 Oriental Dance Moves book, which was released in 2020. I created them as a sort of didactic support and help with learning and teaching basic Oriental Dance moves, dance steps, creating dance combinations

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

Apr 101 min read

From Paris 1889 to Ghent 2026:The Raqs Sharqi Museum Opens Its First MajorExhibition

Rare antiques, signed photographs, and newly acquired treasures go on public display at Leylet Raqs Heritage Festival in Ghent, Belgium — the first exhibition dedicated to the history of Raqs Sharqi. By Lenka Badriyah Imagine holding a photograph that is over a hundred years old. The paper is thick and slightly yellowed. The edges are soft from time. And there, looking back at you, is an Egyptian dancer — her pose confident, her costume catching the light of a long- gone st

Fanoos Magazine Oriana

Apr 107 min read

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