We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Iona Wilson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Iona below.

Iona, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started taking belly dance classes with an instructor in the city. She was a great instructor who planted the seeds for further growth in my dance. While I did practice almost daily, feedback would have likely sped up the process for me. Admittedly, I was nervous to hear feedback because no one wants to hear negative information about something they are enjoying. I later learned from another instructor that feedback is a gift and taught us ways to accept is as just feedback while not assigning it to our character. This has definitely helped increase my speed in learning and mastery of movement.

Iona, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started my belly dance journey in 2002 when I saw a flyer in the break room at my job. I was curious to do it to surprise my now husband, but I’ve stayed in it for so much more. I performed with the Magic Hips Dancers under the direction of Yasmine until 2006.

In 2007 I opened Lotus Dance Studio (Lotus Belly Dance) in Charlotte, NC. We teach traditional and fusion styles of belly dance. In 2016 I earned my teaching certificate for Datura Style through the 8 Elements of Belly Dance Approach, a program created by Rachel Brice. Lotus is one of the first official Datura Style Belly Dance Schools in the world.

We invite all levels of students to take weekly classes (in person or live online) with us, offering annual recitals and performance opportunities for our students and various workshops and sessions by associate instructors. Our goal is to drive unity in our belly dance community, embrace and model the positive aspects of belly dance, and provide an amazing learning experience to anyone who joins us!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

We had just opened our doors unaware of the 2007 recession that was heading our way. I realized immediately that for most, dance was a luxury and non a necessity. Our student base dropped almost instantly due to loss of employment and needing to adjust their own personal funding. I had to figure out a way to remain afloat through this storm. It was a tremendous practice in agility, but with a lot of help from those remaining students, we were able to partner with other remaining studios to remain afloat while adjusting our own business expenses. Eventually we were running again, but definitely different from where we started.

COVID felt like a repeat performance, only worse. This time ALL in person classes were canceled. Thanks to my experience in technology, I was able to convert all of our classes to an online format. Students were able to dance from the comfort of their own safe space. This time instead of thinking of this as a challenge, I decided to look for the opportunity. I partnered with a business coach and made an investment into how we can grow from this space. Now that classes are back in person, we have continued our online presence and have grown tremendously in our student base as a result.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Every time I step into class as a student or a teacher, or onto a stage as a performer, there is an opportunity to learn. I have fully embraced the learn-it-all mantra. I realize that learning doesn’t have a formal process and that all learning is cumulative. I love seeing my students get the idea when I’m teaching, but my greatest reward is if I’ve learned something new as well. As long as I’m learning, I’ll keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lotus-studios.com
• Instagram: @lotusbellydancenc
• Facebook: facebook.com/lotusbellydancenc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC78tdSsKvGQvTHvZtoh03Yw
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Jane Wiley Photography Robert Schade