Jillina Carlano ’ s Life Story
Interview by Ma * Shuqa Mira Murjan
A life story of Jillina – a dancer , choreographer , producer . It ’ s an inside view of what ’ s important to her , who she is as a person , how she became who she is , who she is now – and what she has and continues to contribute to oriental dance around the world .
Your life story - what ’ s important to you , who you are as a person , how you became who you are , who you are now ?
Family Roots , Dance Passion and Connections
To me , I see my life story as all about connections . I have had a strong connection since the beginning with my family and my roots which has influenced how I connect with my team , my students , and my audience . My mom , in particular , has been a role model to me as she is the most generous giver of love and support and I hope to follow in her footsteps . I find we both hold an eternal curiosity that leads us to be forever students - always learning , growing , and searching for more connections .
What I also learned is to always keep moving . It is important at any age . I have been so grateful that I found dance early and that my love has only grown over time . I ’ m so lucky that my mom shares this passion for fitness and movement as well . We found a way to move together to stay healthy yet socially distanced in the wake of the Global Pandemic . It has brought us closer than ever and acts as a physical and mental therapy to deal with the present situation . Plus , I had no idea how many people would reach out after seeing our weekly posts of my mom and I dancing together in her driveway ! This was part of the inspiration behind the # 2getherWeMove program that helps studios transition online .
October 2020 � The Belly Dance Chronicles 11