åHAPPY NEW YEAR 2026
The zodiac sign for 2026 is the Year of the Horse!
Horses have long been considered messengers of the gods, and are said to be animals that bring good fortune and are associated with various auspicious occasions. Let us start this year full of hope with a dynamic and dignified appearance, like a horse galloping across the new year's earth!
May the Year of the Horse, a symbol of passion and drive,
be a fruitful one for everyone!
I pray for you with all my heart.
Our first event of 2026, "The ONE," was held on Saturday, January 10th at Nippori Sunny Hall in Tokyo, and we got off to an auspicious start.
Based on the concept of "discovering the next generation of stars in Japan's belly dance world and connecting them to the future",
"The ONE" was a one-of-a-kind festival with a very clear and meaningful goal, worth participating in. It brought together enthusiastic young dancers and the legendary Japanese dancers and teachers who led them, making everyone feel "united" and "one of a kind." That's what I felt.
Nadia, who has only ever been involved in festivals overseas, participated in a Japanese festival for the first time as a judge & guest performer, and felt that this event, unlike any other overseas festival, evoked a uniquely Japanese sense of modesty, dignity, and "homey warmth."
It was amazing that all 400 seats filled up so quickly, and it was a miracle that almost all the audience members were belly dancers and their associates. It was a truly happy and luxurious space.
It felt as if the emotions of everyone involved in the event (stage director, cameraman, lighting and sound, organizing team, judges, show performers, etc.), including the competition contestants (the top six dancers who passed the rigorous preliminary rounds) who were all working hard towards this goal, were all concentrated in the center of the circular stage. Just being in that space sent shivers down my spine, filled me with emotion that I felt in every cell of my body.
For the gala show, I was entrusted with supervising a project called "Zipang-TheONE," which has become a signature feature of the festival. The auditions, held in the summer of 2025, attracted the largest number of applicants ever, and from those, 17 young dancers were selected. Over the course of six months, they choreographed and directed a "Japanese belly dance piece," supervised by NADIA. This was also a huge hit, with many people sending me direct messages with their thoughts. There are so many thoughts about the work that I can't write them all here, so once I receive the photos and videos, I'd like to start uploading them little by little on Instagram and other platforms.
Please be sure to check it out!
The first piece we'll dance in 2026 is NADIA's new Japanese Oriental Fusion piece, 「CURFEW」 which was featured in "ZipangTheONE 2026" and received a great response when I performed it at the opening of "TOKYO HAFLA" at the end of the year as well. I'll dance it based on the theme of "wabi-sabi," an important Japanese aesthetic.
I'll say this in advance: this is not an easy piece. I'd like to take up this song this time, deepen our understanding of it together with everyone, and study it further for ourself.
Nadia completely improvised her dances in "ZipangTheONE" and "TOKYO HAFLA," but I'd like to choreograph this piece and share it with you all.
If "SAKURA SAKURA" is spring and "STORM" is winter, then the new piece, "CURFEW," is inspired by early summer to autumn. That said, I hope to incorporate different emotions depending on the event and season, and to expand your worldview by imagining dancing amid flurries of snow and flurries of autumn leaves.
This time, as a special New Year's project, we'll be presenting a workshop completed in four sessions. And when I say four sessions, I don't mean it's all over in four days! Instead, we'll teach the same content repeatedly over WEEK 1 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday), five times a week. Friday and Saturday will be in the studio, and the rest of the time will be online. It's one class per week for four weeks, meaning that if you can attend once a week, you can complete it with four sessions of once a week. If you want to attend every day, that's fine too. Come however you like, as often as you like!
Also, as a bonus, we have our ever-popular yoga classes, which include basic classes and yoga before and after each choreography class, so feel free to take as many of these as you like.
What I'm particularly focused on in this piece is
Slowly and elegantly layering movements in a tranquil atmosphere, including the toes, walking style, center of gravity, shoulder position, facial expression, and how to hold and move the umbrella. This is impossible to achieve without paying close attention to every detail of the body. Therefore, if you're serious about mastering this piece, I recommend taking both the yoga and foundation of basic classes as a set.
However, I understand that everyone is busy, and it may be difficult for some of you to attend classes at the same time every week.
I will send you four videos explaining the choreography for each of the four sessions, so you can study through them even if you miss a week.
Please take this opportunity to dance this "Japanese Belly Dance Piece" with Nadia.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Umbrellas (either Japanese or Asian) and silk veils will be used.
\ The new term starts on Wednesday, January 21st /
Please DM me for lesson reservations and inquiries!
Instagram : @nadia_sueoka
Email : suenadia@gmail.com
The workshop package includes a yoga foundation class, but you are also welcome to take yoga only.
(If it's been a while since you last exercised, why not start with yoga?)
This is the sixth Japanese fusion belly dance piece choreographed by NADIA.
■ 2012 - Matsuri (Feast), music by Kitaro
■ 2015 - Gafuu (Gafu), music by Hiromitsu Agatsuma
■ 2018 - Sakura (Sakura), music by Rin'
■ 2021 - Ranka (Ranka), music by Rin'
■ 2025 - Storm (Arashi), music by Yoshida Brothers
■ 2026 - Curfew (Curfew), music by Hiromitsu Agatsuma
One of my goals this year is to launch an event in Singapore tentatively titled "Beyond the Silkroad." Perhaps around September?
I'm currently researching great venues in Singapore and artists to perform there. The concept is to bring belly dance from Asia (Singapore) to the world of fusion beyond. We are usually drawn to the other side of the Silk Road through belly dancing, but we also find the world of Far East Asia, seen from the other side, mysterious and wonderful. Now, tell me. What kind of piece would you all perform?
We would like to come up with an idea and present it by spring. If you are thinking of coming to Singapore this year, try to plan your visit with September in mind.
I want to continue dancing with a Japanese theme. As a belly dancer, I hope to dance with the soul of the Japanese people, and this will surely be a lifelong desire. To that end, I hone my body every day, maintaining a strong mentality and a sense of beauty that will allow me to perform on stage. My humble dream is to still be dancing at 70. Even with wrinkles and gray hair, the soul never ages.
Furthermore, there is only truth in expression, and I dance with that feeling in mind. This time's "CURFEW" is the epitome of simplicity. Why not dive into the emotions that well up from deep within and think together about the meaning of dancing a "fusion" piece with your identity.
\ New term starts on Wednesday, January 21st /
For lesson applications and inquiries, please DM me!
Instagram : @nadia_sueoka
Email : suenadia@gmail.com
Nadia's highly acclaimed studio lessons are available.
The studio is just one bus stop away from Orchard Road in the heart of Singapore. Despite being located in the city, our beautiful studio with pool views and surrounded by greenery makes you feel as if you've stepped into a tranquil forest. We offer beautiful inspiration and a happy time of belly dancing.
Children are welcome to attend.
Reservations are required, women only, and classes are limited to small groups of around 10 people.
Trial classes and drop-ins are also available.
Two classes, Friday and Saturday, starting at 11am.
60 minutes of basic instruction and 60 minutes of choreography.
This term, we're running a New Year's workshop, so $250 for the 4 weeks course, you can come as many times of studio & online classes as you like.
Studio students can also take online classes (basics, choreography, and yoga). This means that if you can't make it to the studio that week, you can catch up on the choreography online or via videos, so you don't have to worry.
Trial lessons and drop-ins are available for $35 for a 60-minute class.
Please feel free to contact us.
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January-February 2026 New Year's Special Workshop:
JAPANESE ORIENTAL FUSION "CURFEW"
Date: Starts January 21st (Wed) - Ends February 16th (Mon)
Choreography and basics will be the same as the online classes.
Studio lessons: 2 times a week (Fri.-Sat.)
Online lessons: 3 times a week (Thurs.-Sun.-Mon.)
Nadia will repeatedly teach the same choreography (and basics) for a total of 5 days a week. You can attend as many times as you like, on any day you like. However, studio lessons are by reservation only, and reservations are accepted via group chat. No reservations are required for online lessons.
Even if you miss a class, you will receive a video, so you can still learn the choreography for the entire song.
→ Complete one choreography song in 4 weeks / Includes audio and 4 choreography videos
[Price]
■ Studio: $250 (4 weeks) Unlimited lessons
✴︎ Included: Choreography, Basics, Yoga, Unlimited studio & online lessons, choreography videos, and more
■ Trial/Drop-in: $35 (60 minutes)
There's no teacher nearby you want to learn from... There are no belly dance classes in the first place... Even if there are, the barrier to entry is so high you're afraid to get started... Have you given up on starting for reasons like these?
"NADIA ONLINE on ZOOM" is a popular lesson that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. You are free to turn your screen on or off, and join or leave at any time, so if you're embarrassed to be seen dancing, you can choose to do it with your screen off, or if you want to improve by dancing with your screen on, you can participate in lessons at your own pace and in a way that suits you.
Nadia is a professional dancer with 20 years of experience, over 500 performances in Singapore and throughout Asia, and a proven track record of teaching over 1,000 people of all nationalities. She offers bilingual lessons in Japanese and English. She also has ample experience as a judge at international competitions, so please feel free to ask her any questions you may have. We can provide a wide range of instruction for everyone from beginners to professionals, from competition preparation to health management, teacher training, and teaching consulting. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
[NADIA ONLINE LESSON Fees & Contents]
■ Monthly Fee: $150 (1 month)
■ Trial/Drop-in: $35 (60 minutes) / Payment due the day before
■ Dates: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
■ Contents: Belly dance basics, choreography, and yoga
■ What to bring: Yoga mat, water, towel / umbrella and silk veil used in choreography
■ Clothing: Comfortable clothing (stretch pants, camisole, T-shirt, etc.)
→ A scarf around your waist will enhance visibility of your movements.
[STUDIO LESSON Fees & Contents]
■ Monthly Fee: $250 (1 month) Unlimited lessons (includes audio, online lessons, and video streaming)
■ Trial/Drop-in: $35 (60 minutes) / Payment due the day before
■ Dates: Every Friday & Saturday
BASIC 1100-1200 / CHOREO 1200-1300
■ Content: Belly dance basics and choreography
■ Items to bring: Yoga mat, water, towel / umbrella used in choreography, silk veil
■ Attire: Comfortable clothing, yoga wear acceptable, waist scarf, barefoot dancing
■ Venue: Studio near Orchard Road (address will be sent after registration)
[Application & Inquiry]
■ Simply send a quick message to Nadia via social media such as Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Messenger!
■ Payment: Bank transfer, PEATIX, and PAYNOW accepted
■ How to Participate: After registering, you will be invited to a WhatsApp group. You will receive the Zoom link, lesson information, audio files, videos, and more within the group.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
We look forward to seeing you there! :)
Nadia
