Performing with Olga Meos

Held in Astana, Kazakhstan, Tribal KZ is the biggest Tribal Fusion Belly Dance event in Asia: a seven-day celebration where dancers from across the world come together to learn, collaborate, and create.

I had the opportunity to learn from and perform alongside Olga Meos, a pioneer of the isolation style in TFBD. Sharing the stage and training space with her was a dream come true.

Olga Meos and the group performing at Tribal Kazakhstan

Satavisha in costume at Tribal Kazakhstan

Throughout the festival, I also learned from influential artists in the global TFBD community:

• Milana introduced us to archetypes in dance and how personality and narrative can be embodied through movement.
• Deepika Vijay demonstrated layering and isolations with grace and precision.
• Illan Rivière, known as the king of movement, taught us how fluidity and geometry can merge.
• Nivetha illustrated how mind, body, and music intertwine in performance.
• Alina showed a fusion of ballet and TFBD, a style I had not witnessed before.

Those seven days in Astana were magical. Being around such phenomenal dancers, absorbing their wisdom, and watching them perform was overwhelmingly joyful. The highlight was performing on stage with Olga Meos herself.

I returned with a deeper understanding of the dance form, its roots in nature, and how closely it mirrors life — along with a heart full of gratitude and inspiration.