Today we’d like to introduce you to Alia Mohamed.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My father is a jazz musician from Lebanon, so I was exposed to a wide variety of musical styles from a young age. I played several instruments growing up but never stuck with one. When I got to college, I became really interested in belly dance. I always felt a deep connection to Arabic music and taking lessons allowed me to immerse myself in the rhythms that I missed hearing at home. I was grateful to learn from a Syrian woman who encouraged an organic, improvisational approach to the dance which I really connected with. I eventually joined her dance troupe and began performing publicly.
I moved back to Dallas after college and in time, performing became my main source of income. It’s rare for a dancer to be able to make a living off of their art alone, so I was very lucky. Creatively, however, I felt stagnant and longed for more, so I decided to move to Los Angeles.
Since moving to LA a couple of years ago, I’ve been fortunate to connect and collaborate with many creatives who truly inspire me. My dance has evolved and I’ve performed in many exciting events including several shows with Dita Von Teese, Low End Theory with Shiva, and the monthly variety show Tarantina. I’ve also been inspired to take up playing music again and picked myself up a theremin about six months ago. It’s an exciting new venture and creative outlet and I’ve already had a few opportunities to perform with it.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have definitely been struggles along the way. Financially, it’s tough to make it as an artist. Especially here in LA where rent is expensive and there’s so much competition. Living off of gigs means rarely having steady, dependable income and experiencing seemingly endless peaks and valleys.
I’ve always felt like dance is one of the hardest art forms to profit from and also one of the least respected. Even more so with female-centric dance forms such as belly dance or burlesque. Often, when something is seen as “sexy,” it is taken out of the category of art and placed somewhere else. The patriarchy has conditioned us to believe that if a woman shows her body, she must only be doing so for the attention of men. I am happy to see that these problematic societal attitudes are slowly changing, but I’ve definitely dealt with many negative opinions and judgments along the way – even from my own family. When I first started dancing, I even felt a bit of shame myself and didn’t know why. It took me some time to recognize and grow out of the beliefs that I’d subconsciously adopted.
My advice to other women would be to follow what excites you the most and don’t let other people’s opinions or fear of the unknown hold you back. I left my corporate job back in 2014 and was scared to try dancing full-time because I didn’t want to have a gap on my resumé. It’s been six years and I’ve never looked back. Know that as long as you are being true to yourself and have trust, the universe will have your back. Oh, and it’s never too late to change your path!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a professional dancer of over 15 years specializing in belly dance. What most sets me apart is my style. I fuse elements from my many influences such as the dancers of the “Golden Era” of Egypt, the psychedelic sounds of the 60s, and the bold fashion of the 70s, creating my own unique style that is exciting and new while simultaneously evoking nostalgia. In my shows, I tend to incorporate details that stimulate multiple senses through sound, scent, and visuals. My intention is to bring the audience with me as I connect with spirit through music, invoking beauty and mystery through the ritual of dance.
In addition to dance, I make music and create new works using video and graphic design.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
Women are naturally very powerful, creative and intuitive and this is why our voices have been stifled throughout history. I think that as we come into our own personal power, we’re better able to carve out our own lanes and create opportunities for ourselves. Although so much gender inequality still exists, it’s exciting to see more and more empowered women entering leadership positions, closing the gap and inspiring younger generations.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliamo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mohalia
Image Credit:
Lichiban
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