She teaches and performs in the U.S. and overseas; and
educates hundreds of students in metro-Detroit - from those
wanting to have fun and get fit to more "serious" students who
take to the stage.

She performs authentic, elegant Middle Eastern belly dance at
weddings, nightclubs, restaurants, festivals, corporate and
non-profit events, anniversary and birthday parties, television
shows, concerts, bridal and baby showers and bachelorette
parties. (Sorry no bachelor parties!) Email

detroitbellydance@yahoo.com
 for booking information or
lessons.

Years ago, Lana and her two closest friends sought escape from
the heart-breaking volunteer world of animal rescue. With no
prior dance experience they walked into a belly dance class out
of pure curiosity. Together they felt the fire of this ancient dance
and her passion for Middle Eastern song was born.

Traveling, Lana enrolled in every instructional workshop she
could find and studied regularly in her hometown with some of
the world's best instructors. Her mentors are world-class dancers
Princess Madiha, of Syria, and Aida Al Adawi, of San Francisco --
both are the mothers of this dance in America (Aida is the direct
protégé of the legendary Jamila Salimpour).

Lana has studied with instructors from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq  
and Lebanon. And with inspiration such as Rachel Brice, Petite
Jamilla, and others.

Lana is in-demand dancer with a strong reputation as a
performer who BECOMES the music on stage. Known for her fiery
hip work, grace and triple layering,  she's a dancer whose style
brings warmth and joy into a room.

Today she  performs constantly - sometimes up to 4 shows in a
single day - and teaches multiple classes per week.
Quick Facts:

* Named one of the "Faces of
Detroit" by Channel 4 News.

* Voted
Best Dance Company in
Detroit by
Real Detroit Weekly

*Teaches both beginner and
advanced levels.

* Performed as a guest dancer with
the prestigious
Belly Dance Superstars.

* Has one of the highest student
bases in metro-Detroit -women of
every age and size can bellydance!

* Performs at weddings, nightclubs,
restaurants, parties and festivals
several times per week.

* Performed for mega-star, singer
Usher.  Worked with actors Patrick
Swayze, Kerry Washington, Kevin
Costner, Will Smith & others.

*Performed with superstar Persian
singer Houshman Aghili

* Performed at the premiere of the
documentary film:
American Bellydancer.

* Performed with respected world
musicians including Rachid Taha
and Oojami.

* Teaches & performs in both
Europe and throughout the U.S.

* Is known for her rapid hip work
and was told by her own instructor,
"No one shimmies better than you.
No one."

* Her classes are so popular they
have been promoted as some of the
best things to experience when
visiting Detroit by the national Travel
Channel's "We Live Here," plus
"Visit Detroit" magazine.

* Has been featured on CNN and
every major Detroit publication and
TV news show.

* Is repeatedly invited to dance at
weddings, Persian New Year
celebrations, Lebanese heritage
celebrations,  Chaldean and
Egyptian festivals and university
international programs.

* She's created an instructional belly
dance DVD,
Authentic Bellydance
with Lana, that beginner bellydance
and professional dancers are using!

* Lana Mini is also an award winning
print journalist. Her career in
newspapers is strong.

* Her televised performance at the
World International Festival was
viewed by more than 2O million
people on three continents.
HIGHLIGHTS & HISTORY
Fast Fact: Michigan is no easy audience! It has the largest
Middle Eastern population in the U.S. -   second in the world -  
only to the Mid East itself! Many people in this big city
understand bellydance - and hire Lana as their dancer. Those
who don't understand bellydance, but are curious, hire her as a
teacher.

Her dance style foundation is Egyptian with strong elements of
Lebanese, Iraqi, Turkish and Persian and Tribal style.

In 2004 Lana was invited to perform as a solo dancer with the
stunning Belly Dance Superstars, an L.A. production company
headed by Miles Copeland (former manager of The Police, Sting,
The Bangles and others). A year later she & the Detroit
Bellydance tribe performed at the premiere of the film
American
Bellydancer
. The film features musicians Jane's Addiction plus
dancers Ansuya, Rachel Brice, Jillina, and many others.

She's performed for U.S., Middle Eastern and Indian Dignitaries;
has been featured in every major Detroit media publication and
on CNN,  Detroit's Channel 7, 4 and Fox2 television news and
on television programs in the Middle East. She's performed for
singer/dancer Usher;
turned down an invitation to perform for
the President of the United States in 2004; has taught &
performed in the Caribbean Islands and in Europe and recently
helped choreograph dances for Miss Black Michigan in the Black
Miss U.S.A. Pageant.

She's also performed with some of the Middle East's best
musicians including Persian singer Houshman Aghili, Algerian
singer Rachid Taha, plus Oojami, Raquy & The Cavemen and the
Russian rock & rollers The Red Elvises, just to name a few.

Finally....Even though she performs at large events, Lana
embraces the intimacy that Middle Eastern belly dance (raqs
sharqi) was founded on: which means dancing at  smaller
intimate functions.

From the residential parties in Wayne County to the mid-size
restaurants in Oakland, to banquet halls throughout Macomb
County, resort hotels in the Caribbean and tucked away
restaurants in Europe....she's realized this dance can be
performed anywhere and enjoyed  by small or big groups...all to
celebrate life.

Lana also dances at the city of Dearborn's most prestigious
Middle Eastern nightclubs and believes dance and music can
help bridge cultural differences.

The most passionate dancer studies hard and understands that
bellydance was created by women for women. As an educator
and performer Lana works hard to break the
Hollywood-stereotype of the Belly Dance Harem girl.
TEACHING
Today some classes have waiting
lists, but to make room for all, she
happily teaches up to six classes per
week plus individual private lessons.

Lana's studies of Middle Eastern
dance is lifelong because she holds
the philosophy "when you think you
know it all is when you stop growing."

Her speciality is
improvisation...meaning dance that is
not choreographed, but rather
created while performing live on
stage...the way belly dance was
originally intended.  While her style
focuses on traditional westernized
cabaret - the type of "belly" dance
performed at today's Middle Eastern
nightclubs and restaurants -- Lana
also studies and teaches elements of
American Tribal Fusion.

Whether it's with a sword, zils (finger
cymbals), a cane, Shamadan with
fire, Isis wings, veil or her hips; she
understands that  a strong,
disciplined dancer helps her audience
see the music they hear; as the
dance is an interpretation of song.

Lana's goal as a teacher is to provide
students with a friendly, fun,
non-competitive supportive
classroom setting, and through
dance, help improve confidence &
health in women - building
sisterhood is good for everyone.

Finally, she feels everyone can dance
if you have a teacher willing to share
the secrets of belly dance...it makes
life a bit more fun!
Photo courtesy of the Raging Grannies
Above: A performance at Detroit's
Dally in the Alley Festival with Ara
Topouzian's Eastern Winds
Ensemble, a band that creates
authentic Armenian music.
-- special thanks to Detroit Bellydance
writers who contributed to this page.
copyright Lana Chownyk Bellydance
At Congress
restaurant in
Detroit.
Performer & Instructor
Lana Mini is an international performer & instructor
based in Detroit, Michigan. She's also director of
Detroit Bellydance - a Michigan belly dance tribe that
provides students opportunities to perform.
Lana also produces authentic instructional dance
dvds available worldwide & on this site.
Lana of
"A good instructor not only
teaches dance & helps each
student
develop their own style, but also
helps women realize their own
beauty, and gain confidence in a
world that is much too hard on
them."
-
Lana during an interview with CNN
Headline News.
Call 586. 242.9425 or email
detroitbellydance@yahoo.com
ABOUT LANA
UPDATE:
The international release of  Lana's  instructional
bellydance DVD, Authentic Bellydance.
Click here.
LATEST NEWS
Voted 2009 Best
Dance Company
in Detroit
by
Real Detroit
Weekly