Jolanda | Raniya
My name is Jolanda. For many years, I performed as a belly dancer under the stage name Raniya, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Since 2003, I have been teaching at my own dance studio, specialising in Belly Dance. Over the years, I have had the privilege of guiding many students as they discover this rich, expressive and deeply connecting dance form.
As a child, I saw the belly dancer Yonina on television and immediately knew: that is how I want to dance. At the time, there were no belly dance classes nearby, so my dance journey began somewhere else: at the ballet barre. But the seed had been planted. During my teenage years, Belly Dance came into my life again, and I began to explore this beautiful dance form more deeply.
I took my first classes in the Netherlands with Suhayla and Rana Miras. Later, I travelled around the world to train with leading teachers, dancers and choreographers. My journey took me to places including Cairo, Istanbul and Paris. In Egypt, I studied with Nagwa Fouad, Mahmoud Reda, Soheir Zaki, Raqia Hassan, Randa Kamel and Dina.
In Istanbul, I found a very special mentor in Sema Yildiz. Ever since, she has remained an important presence in my life as a dancer, both as a guide and as a dance mother. I invited her to the Netherlands several times for performances and workshops, and I also travelled to Istanbul on various occasions to study with her and perform there.
As a dancer, I worked with live musicians and performed in theatres, at festivals, cultural events and celebrations. At one of those performances, Yonina, the dancer I had seen on television as a child, was sitting in the audience. Afterwards, she came to speak to me. We stayed in touch and even danced together on stage in Cairo. Sometimes a dance path comes full circle in an almost fairy-tale way.
Over the years, I enjoyed creating many performances and full-length productions with students from my dance studio. These shared projects are always very special to me, not only because of the performance itself, but above all because of the connection that develops along the way: working towards something together, seeing one another grow, sharing the stage and celebrating the final result.
What continues to move me about Belly Dance is its combination of technique, musicality, expression and feeling. The dance can be powerful and refined, earthy and elegant, personal and festive, all at the same time. In my classes, I love passing on this richness in a way that is accessible and respectful, rooted in tradition while also feeling alive. You will learn not only movements and techniques, but also how to trust your body and dance with greater freedom, softness and joy. Whether you are a complete beginner or already have experience, you are welcome exactly as you are.