Hello and Welcome!
Xi'Balba
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term "belly dance"? Is it sparkly dresses, fringe out the wazoo, and a charming smile? How about those coin scarves and coin bras you see that are labeled with the "belly dance" themed items at stores?
Belly dance is more than just sparkles and frills.
It's also leather and metal.
As you can see through the gallery, we have no sparkles and frills here! We are all about the coins, giant pendants, and chains. Why is this belly dance different than the belly dance that everyone is used to?
Our belly dance is called "Tribal" for the tribal feel and the connection to the Earth. Tribal style is an Americanized version of the classical Egyptian, Turkish, or Lebanese styles. Tribal comes from the American Tribal Style (or ATS) created by Fat Chance Belly Dance, which is a group improvisational dance. Every woman (and man!) relies on a leader to cue them into the next move, transition to a new leader, and keep tempo. They follow a set of movements that have their own cues and transitions that the leader signals with a simple wrist flick, head turn, voice command, or body positioning. Everything looks choreographed, until you learn that it's not choreographed at all!
With that comes the Tribal Fusion area, where Tribalists become solo dancers with choreography, but take elements from Tribal and more than likely classical styles in dance vocabulary and aesthetics. But it's not just limited to the classical genre. There are hip hop fusionists, ballet, contemporary, flamenco, tango, even martial arts!
While Tribal fusion was being created and everyone wanted to put something new with belly dance, Industrial dance fused with belly dance and became known as "Dark Fusion". It was more of 80% belly dance, 20% Industrial. Then came Gothic Fusion which is the experimental area with belly dance and Industrial. This picked up more force in this fusion style creating a balance of belly dance and Industrial.
There are different styles for just about anyone! Every style is derived from the basic movements and are built on for stylization and personal choice.
I provide the basics! Will you provide the stylization and choice?
Come join us for a class! Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm at the Garden-Arts Center on 44th and University.
Belly dance is more than just sparkles and frills.
It's also leather and metal.
As you can see through the gallery, we have no sparkles and frills here! We are all about the coins, giant pendants, and chains. Why is this belly dance different than the belly dance that everyone is used to?
Our belly dance is called "Tribal" for the tribal feel and the connection to the Earth. Tribal style is an Americanized version of the classical Egyptian, Turkish, or Lebanese styles. Tribal comes from the American Tribal Style (or ATS) created by Fat Chance Belly Dance, which is a group improvisational dance. Every woman (and man!) relies on a leader to cue them into the next move, transition to a new leader, and keep tempo. They follow a set of movements that have their own cues and transitions that the leader signals with a simple wrist flick, head turn, voice command, or body positioning. Everything looks choreographed, until you learn that it's not choreographed at all!
With that comes the Tribal Fusion area, where Tribalists become solo dancers with choreography, but take elements from Tribal and more than likely classical styles in dance vocabulary and aesthetics. But it's not just limited to the classical genre. There are hip hop fusionists, ballet, contemporary, flamenco, tango, even martial arts!
While Tribal fusion was being created and everyone wanted to put something new with belly dance, Industrial dance fused with belly dance and became known as "Dark Fusion". It was more of 80% belly dance, 20% Industrial. Then came Gothic Fusion which is the experimental area with belly dance and Industrial. This picked up more force in this fusion style creating a balance of belly dance and Industrial.
There are different styles for just about anyone! Every style is derived from the basic movements and are built on for stylization and personal choice.
I provide the basics! Will you provide the stylization and choice?
Come join us for a class! Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm at the Garden-Arts Center on 44th and University.
