Irina Akulenko is a belly dancer and dance instructor based in New York City. She was born in the former Soviet Union and grew up in Russia, where she began her dance training at the age of six. She studied a variety of dance styles, including ballet, modern dance, and traditional folk dances from the regions of Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.
Irina discovered belly dance in the late 1990s, and was immediately captivated by its beauty and expressiveness. She began studying and performing belly dance, eventually developing her own unique style that blends traditional Middle Eastern dance with elements of contemporary dance and other dance styles.
She is particularly known for her innovative approach to teaching, which emphasizes body awareness, musicality, and emotional expression in dance. Irina has also appeared in numerous belly dance DVDs, including the popular instructional series “Bellydance Evolution,” and has collaborated with a wide range of artists and musicians from around the world.