A 34-year-old woman from Cape Town explains how belly dancing has "saved her life" after being raped in 2007.

Nina Hangone used the expressive dance to deal with the trauma after being raped by multiple men in 2007.

Hangone now teaches other women who have suffered from gender-based violence and explains the impact it has had on her: "If it wasn't for belly dancing I don't think I'd love my body, be confident within myself or be able to express myself as easily as I am."

South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape, femicide and gender-based violence in the world.

During September, 2019, after a series of women were violently murdered and raped, thousands of people took to the streets in the #AmINext protests.

As a result of the protests, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of emergency to address the issue of gender-based violence in the country.

This footage was filmed on November 28.

Nina Hangone, a 34 year old Cape Town based attorney, uses the ancient art of belly dancing to assist victims of gender based violence. She has run a small belly dancing outfit called the Rhea Dance Collective for the past for years.

In 2007 Hangone and two friends were accosted by men after stopping on a highway in Cape Town. The men took the the three women to an isolated location where Hangone was brutally raped and assaulted.

After her rape and in order to deal with the trauma, Hangone started embracing the art of belly dancing. She has used the belly dancing culture to heal herself and others.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape, femicide and gender based violence in the world. During September 2019, after a series of women were violently murdered and raped, thousands of people took to the streets in the #AmINext protests. As a result of the protests, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of emergency to address the issue of gender based violence in the country.