We had the good fortune of connecting with Nailah Noor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nailah, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I worked as an architect for six years right out of school, but the corporate structure didn’t suit my personality. After being laid off in November 2023, I decided to fully commit to belly dance, which I had been pursuing as a side hustle. I started gigging purely out of passion, not realizing it would evolve into my full-time career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I didn’t feel like a natural dancer, so I worked incredibly hard at it. When the pandemic hit, I had access to some of the best teachers in the world through Zoom, so I intensified my efforts, sometimes taking classes almost every day. There were many moments when I wanted to quit because I felt unskilled, but I held on to the belief that I could be good someday. It’s really been grit and determination that got me here. I’ve learned that success comes from true, pure-hearted engagement with your clients or students, and from showing the world that artists deserve respect by demonstrating professionalism and high standards.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shout-out to my mom, who has endlessly supported me and was actually the first belly dancer in our family.

Website: https://nailahnoorbellydance.com

Instagram: nailahnoorbellydance

Youtube: nailahnoorbellydance

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.