My Fiery Interview with an Exotic Heavy Metal Belly Dancer
Inside the world of Mahafsoun: gothic metal muse, Persian belly dancer, and dreamer in motion
Some time ago, I crossed paths with Mahafsoun, a trailblazing belly dancer and metal singer. She describes herself in a rather intriguing way:
“Persian belly dancer and artist, with drops of Azerbaijani and Egyptian in my blood. Besides many other reasons, this combination makes me passionate about some of the world's most beautiful dance forms— oriental dances. Out of all the Middle East's magickal dances, at the age of 15, I fell eternally in love with the spiritual, ancient, and immortal art of belly dance. To this day, that undying desire is growing.”
Since 2017, Mahafsoun has also been the vocalist of the progressive metal band AKHETH.
First of all, on behalf of Rock n’Heavy and myself, I would like to thank you for this exceptional interview, and I dare say I’m thrilled with your breathtaking talent.
— Thank you so much! It is a pleasure doing this interview.
How did Belly dance come into your life? And do you have any artists who inspired you to dance?
— I was (and still am) very much moved and inspired by Ancient Egyptian spirituality ever since I was little. During mid-2007, I fell in love with belly dancing, as I noticed how spiritual it could be. During that time, I also fell in love with metal music and naturally fused it.
Belly dance is quite an ancient form of art, deeply connected with traditional music, but by hook or by crook, your performances have taken you over the rainbow, combining it with metal. How did that happen?
— I began dancing traditionally as most people and started by learning the traditional moves, as I believe it is the best approach towards belly dance fusion. It’s important to know and be comfortable with the traditional style before deciding to fuse it with moves/music of another genre. I am more inspired by metal music than I am by traditional Middle Eastern music, even though I listened to both and was actually raised listening to Traditional Persian music. I decided to go with the music that inspires me the most.
Have you ever felt any form of criticism from the traditional belly dance community?
— Of course. There is always criticism. Especially in a field run mostly by women… They criticize me daily; it wouldn’t be a surprise that they would criticize a Middle Eastern dancer who takes her culture and art to mix it with metal music. Haha, Oh well, it’s a part of the experience. It would feel strange if everyone agreed with what I’m doing. It would make what I’m doing feel “normal,” and I think it is “special.”
From all the music styles around, do you agree metal has that special spiritual connection that takes belly dancing, if not to a higher, at least to a different level? Do you agree with that statement, and how would you describe the magic that happens when you mix metal and dancing?
— I don’t know if I can say that metal is the only spiritual music and the only one for my dancing. As I said, I grew up with traditional Persian, Azerbaijani, and Egyptian music in my house. The spiritual power behind some of these old styles of music is very touching. However, metal has power, which is something that I don’t feel from traditional music. Traditional music may have emotions, spirituality, and grace… but they lack that power for the most part.
Recently, on your Facebook, you stated your excitement about seeing Moonspell perform in Vancouver during their current tour, and you said, and I quote: “It would be a pleasure to perform with one of my favorite bands.” And what if that desire came true? Have you something special in mind if that happens?
— The desire did come true! You already know, since this interview was written days before, I confirmed the performance with Moonspell. The experience with Moonspell was everything I imagined and more. It puts me in a state of high inspiration when I not only get the opportunity to perform with amazing artists who truly inspire me but artists who are also kind people, with great energies behind them and their work. Moonspell was my first performance of 2013, and the experience left me inspired like never before. I take it as a sign that this year will be a good year.
Have you done any other live acts with metal bands recently? I know one of your dreams came true when you danced with Epica. Would you please share your emotions and deepest feelings with us when you go on stage with a metal band? Do you plan your performance, or there’s a lot of improvisation on stage?
— For weeks building up to the performance night, I’m excited but not quite nervous yet. I finish the costume and get in touch with people who will be a part of it with me (photographers, videographers) since, without them, there would be no way to share the memories and performance with people worldwide. When the nerves begin, I believe, is the night before and hours before I meet the band. Even then, I appear very calm. There is also that 30 seconds when I am finally on stage, where the crowd is wondering what I’m doing up there, which I admit is a little uncomfortable, though exciting… I take my time to prove them wrong and give them a performance that they hopefully enjoy and remember.
All of my live performances are improvised. I have an idea of the style/emotion/moves I hope to do but never choreograph anything. I like to have full freedom to change whatever I want on the spot because you never know what happens, and you never know where the band members will be standing and moving to. I’ve trained myself to improvise because I believe that it gives me more flexibility and shows my natural/true emotions and moves at that very moment. It is more real; the dance is more natural because I am making the moves that I, at that exact moment, feel like doing. For me, improvisation in dance is like reading out a love poem. It is more natural and real to speak it as I’m thinking about it and feeling the words on the spot, rather than if I sat for hours, wrote it down, and decided to speak it out later. When I improvise, people get to see my raw emotions.
So, what would be the next best thing? What band would nowadays really give you that special rush if they invited you on stage, and why?
— I would love to perform with the beautiful band that is Orphaned Land someday. I love their music and the message behind their music. Bringing people together from all backgrounds despite religion, race, and anything else that tries to separate us. Also, my experience performing with Ex Deo and Moonspell was so inspiring and memorable that I would love to always perform with them when they are in the city that I am in.
You have a video improvising to Moonspell’s “Vampiria.” Why did you choose that song?
— It’s one of my favorite songs by Moonspell. It is a theatrical song. Allows for a more dramatic performance.
Are there any other Portuguese bands you know, and have you considered improvising to any of their songs? For instance, I’m imagining you dancing to a couple of songs from Ava Inferi.
— I’m afraid that I haven’t looked into other Portuguese bands. There is just another Portuguese band that I have danced to the music of, named GODOG.
What’s your favorite metal song for belly dancing? And have you considered improvising to any new songs and releasing some new videos shortly?
— I’m always planning out my upcoming studio sessions to keep my YouTube active and my motivation growing. I feel somewhat empty when I stop “creating.” I always have to be doing something, creating something.
I don’t have one favorite song to dance to. However, my most recent video, dancing to Moonspell’s “Night Eternal,” has to be my new favorite video.
I also know that you have plans to put together a program of gothic/metal fusion belly dance lessons in Vancouver, BC. Do you think such an avant-garde mixture of traditional and modern art forms can really inspire people and give the public a different vision of metal and dancing?
— I believe so. I have a few girls already from different styles and backgrounds who wish to attend the classes. The greater number of women who wish to attend my classes are unfortunately not from my area. The approach I wish to have with my classes will allow the girls to take what they have learned and apply it to any music they wish to belly dance to. I won’t instantly explain how they can hear a metal song and dance to it. We will have to go over the basics, the traditional moves, and steps, and get them comfortable with those before we move on to learning about the fusion. I want the classes to be beneficial and enjoyable for all women, not only women like metal/goth. Eventually, I will develop different programs and courses to open up the door for women who are less interested in fusion and have different goals in what they want to learn.
You’re very young, but your professional and personal achievements expand to a wide range of the artistic spectrum. What about the future? What lies ahead?
— Thank you very much! Well, at the beginning of this year, I decided to take a more professional and determined approach toward my passion as an artist, not only as a dancer but as a “creator.” When I first started the whole “Mahafsoun” thing publicly, back in 2010, I had no professional approach. I created and aimed to make them appear as professional as possible. As time passed, I slowly began taking it more seriously and determining more of myself to Mahafsoun. This year I aim to perform with more bands that I love and to start teaching in a studio. Most of all, I aim to be happy doing all of this.
Any special thoughts or words of encouragement to our readers that may inspire anyone interested in following your footsteps?
— It sounds so repetitive and unoriginal, but it is the most honest thing I can say: Don’t give up. Keep your focus where it matters — on your passion for what it is that you love to do. It’s easy to get distracted by things that don’t matter.
You seem to have a special connection with Portugal, Am I, right? And if so, how did that happen?
— I’m not sure if that question is about my artistic connection or romantic connection. Haha, Though I have no problem with answering both. As far as artistic connection goes, I get a lot of love and support from Portugal. I’m humbled to have some of the warmest people supporting what I am so passionate about. And on a romantic note, the love of my life is Portuguese. How it happened, I am not really sure, but I couldn’t be more complete.
Thank you so much for this interview, Mahafsoun; keep dancing and offering your astonishing beauty and exhilarating artistic performances to the extreme seduction of metal.
— It’s been a pleasure having this talk. Thank you very much for this interview and your support!
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Rui Alves is a musician and digital publisher. He runs Alchemy Publications and serves as editor-in-chief for Engage on Substack, Life Unscripted, Musicverse, Writelicious, The Academic, Portugal Calling, Engage on Medium, Rock n’ Heavy, Beloved, Zenite, Poetaph, and Babel.
It would be quite understated to say women who are traditional belly dancers would find dancing to metal music something to criticize. But I like Mahfsoun's creativity while taking the criticism in stride.