2026-2027 is the year of Marta Korzun at Sahara Dance.
2026 to 2027 is our year featuring Marta Korzun at Sahara Dance! We were grateful to first meet her for an intensive at the end of February 2026 and are looking forward to our second set of workshops at our Washington, DC studio this August 2026. In addition Marta is headlining our Heart and Belly Dance Retreat in Costa Rica in May.
As our Artist in Residence, internationally acclaimed performer, educator, and coach Marta Korzun will lead workshops, mentor dancers, and headline the 2027 Heart of Belly Dance Retreat in Costa Rica.
Known for her deep expertise in musicality, emotional expression, and improvisation, Marta has helped dancers around the world move beyond choreography and into true artistic expression.
Throughout the coming year, dancers will have multiple opportunities to study with Marta – from her August workshops at Sahara Dance in Washington D.C. to the 2027 Heart of Belly Dance Retreat in Costa Rica.
We sat down with Marta to explore what makes a dancer truly memorable, why musicality and emotion matter as much as technique, and how improvisation can transform the way dancers connect with both music and audience.
Before diving into our conversation, here’s a look at the three workshops Marta will be teaching this August.
Monday, August 24th | 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Arabic Rhythms in Belly Dance: Learn how rhythm forms the foundation of musicality, confidence, and authentic expression. Through ear training, movement exploration, and practical application, dancers will deepen their understanding of Arabic music and strengthen their connection to the rhythms that drive belly dance.
Tuesday, August 25 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Lyrical Song: Dancing with Emotion: Explore how dancers translate emotion, lyrics, and musical nuance into movement. This workshop focuses on artistry, interpretation, and developing a deeper emotional connection to performance.
Wednesday, August 26 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Mastering Improvisation: Develop practical tools for spontaneity, creativity, confidence, and artistic freedom. Through structured exercises and guided exploration, dancers will learn to trust themselves and respond naturally to music in the moment.
Workshop One: Why Musicality Matters
For Marta, rhythm is the foundation upon which everything else is built.
“Without rhythm, choreography just falls apart.”
Understanding music goes beyond counting beats or memorizing combinations. Marta believes dancers become more expressive when they understand what they are hearing and why movement choices connect to the music.
Through rhythm training, dancers learn to recognize musical patterns, respond naturally to changes in the music, and create performances that feel intentional rather than mechanical.
Musicality transforms movement from a sequence of steps into an artistic conversation with the music.
Workshop Two: Why Emotion Matters
Technical accuracy alone is not enough to create a memorable performance.
For Marta, emotion is the language dancers use to communicate with their audience.
“Technique without emotion is just a bunch of random moves. It’s emotion that turns you from a dancer who gets all the steps right into a true artist.”
By learning how to interpret lyrics, melodies, and musical mood, dancers create performances that resonate beyond technique.
It’s what allows an audience to laugh, cry, smile, or hold their breath during a performance.
In Marta’s approach, emotional expression isn’t an optional layer added after technique. It’s an essential part of dance itself.
Workshop Three: Why Improvisation Matters
Improvisation plays an equally important role in artistic growth.
Unlike choreography that has been rehearsed countless times, improvisation asks dancers to trust their training, instincts, and connection to the music.
“Improv forces your brain and body to work right here, in the moment.”
Many dancers find improvisation intimidating at first. Marta’s approach breaks the process down into practical, accessible tools that help dancers build confidence step by step.
She believes improvisation helps dancers discover their authentic artistic voice while developing greater freedom and presence on stage.
“When you mix rhythm, emotion, and improvisation together, it literally takes your dancing to a whole new level.”
What Makes a Dancer Truly Memorable?
Many dancers spend years building technical skill.
But according to Marta, technical excellence alone isn’t what audiences remember.
What stays with people long after a performance ends is how it made them feel.
“Technique is great, but without soul, it’s just steps.”
For Marta, memorable performers create connection:
- Connection to the music.
- Connection to themselves.
- Connection to the audience.
When those elements align, dance becomes more than movement – it becomes an experience people carry with them long after the performance ends.
“When you bring that raw emotion and really live the music, you give the audience an experience they’ll keep thinking about long after you leave the stage.”
Looking Ahead: Costa Rica 2027
Dancers who connect with Marta’s philosophy will have an opportunity to continue that journey at the 2027 Heart of Belly Dance Retreat in Costa Rica.
The retreat theme, Technique & Transformation, reflects many of the same ideas Marta discussed throughout our conversation.
Participants will strengthen their technical foundation while exploring how technique supports musicality, emotional expression, confidence, creativity, and personal growth.
Beyond workshops, the retreat creates space for connection, reflection, community, and inspiration.
Returning to the Sahara Dance Community
For Marta, returning to Sahara Dance is about more than teaching workshops.
It’s about reconnecting with a community she describes as passionate, dedicated, and deeply invested in growth.
“The people there have this incredible passion for learning and they truly give 100% every single time.”
Reflecting on her previous visit, Marta shared that what stands out most is the warmth of the Sahara Dance community and the opportunity to connect with dancers who share a common vision.
“It feels like coming back to your people.”
As she prepares for her August return, she’s looking forward to seeing familiar faces, meeting new dancers, sharing ideas, and creating meaningful experiences together once again.
Join Marta at Sahara Dance in Washington D.C. and Costa Rica
Great dance isn’t just about executing choreography – it’s about creating moments people remember.
Throughout our conversation, Marta returned again and again to the same themes: musicality, emotion, connection, and the courage to trust yourself as an artist.
Whether you’re joining her this August in D.C. or next spring in Costa Rica, you’ll have the opportunity to study with a teacher whose approach continues to inspire dancers around the world.
As many of us discovered during Marta’s March visit, Marta brings extraordinary expertise to her teaching, but also warmth, humor, and generosity. She’s uplifting, light-hearted, and has a contagious sense of humor that makes learning both challenging and fun.
Join Marta this August in Washington D.C. or next spring in Costa Rica to explore the ideas at the heart of her teaching: musicality, emotion, improvisation, and meaningful connection – and discover how those elements transform both the dancer and the audience.
We hope you’ll join us.
Register for Marta’s 3-day DC August Intensive here
Sign up for the Costa Rica Heart of Belly Danc e Retreat with Marta here