Thread: i keep changing my mind now i love tribal!!!!

I think I have the tribal bug....w.:

I thought I wanted to concentrate on egyptian more but im a rock chick and a little goth at heart and I love the costumes in tribal and and and i can get lots of cool tattoos hehe. No seriously the dancing is amazing and I think I prefer tribal but those isolations sure look a killer and damn hard,m::

arghhhhhhhh I just dont know what dvds to buy now....how to do egyptian or tribal....or i could just buy both but i dunno.......

help...sell each to me girls...

I know what you mean. I came back from tribal revolution wanting to be a Tribal girl. My cabaret body keeps rejecting the movements though! I'll stick to being an admirer from afar!

Nilaja

i think thats what i will have to do...my body and movements are not tight enough to do this...im watching some vids now on youtube!!! It aint gonna happen me dancing like that!

I couldn't make up my mind either. I think I have tried every style there is but the more training I get, the more I think I fit better with egyptian.
Tribal is hard!! I admire those people who do it. I took a tribal seminar from moria(sp) and my arthritis and fibromylgia were killing me. I decided then that I would never be tribal. I love to watch it though!

Originally Posted by mrsnj20

I couldn't make up my mind either. I think I have tried every style there is but the more training I get, the more I think I fit better with egyptian.
Tribal is hard!! I admire those people who do it. I took a tribal seminar from moria(sp) and my arthritis and fibromylgia were killing me. I decided then that I would never be tribal. I love to watch it though!

Moria is an excellent teacher, but the seminar I went to was aimed at the very fit (as in, lots of strength, flexibility, and no joint problems), or very young (or both). I've had better luck "keeping up" in other tribal workshops.

Don't forget that a lot of the isolations etc that you see on people like RB etc are not in and of themselves "tribal" - you can do ATS or GC or whatever, and it will work your body hard, but not to that extent.

Oh, and? There really is no law that says you can't study more than one style of belly dance. And anyone who thinks oriental dance isn't suited to little goths and rock chicks doesn't know much about oriental dance.

Originally Posted by Fatinah_bellydance

I thought I wanted to concentrate on egyptian more but im a rock chick...
(Snip!)

Oh trust me, there are some rock chicks who do raqs sharqi and more Middle Eastern focused and influenced styles of belly dance. :)

Definitely try it all and find what works best for you. Who knows, it might be both! :)

you should try it all. no reason not to.

i do all kinds of styles and totally enjoy each one.

(OT...Sabrina, I saw your photo ad in the MECDA program this year and was blown away! who knew?? I guess you did.) ;)

exactly Zum, I love both Raks Sharki and my ATS because it gives me different opportunities.Personally I like to know that a tribal or tribal fusion dancer who calls herself a belly dancer has a grounding in Am Cab/ Turkish/ Egyptian. Tribal is a hybrid but to convince as a belly dancer, you need that root. All the good tribal dancers I know ARE belly dancers. One of the most innovative fusion dancers in this country who constantly pushed boundaries and who I have grown to admire as an entertainer, Dawn O'Brien is also a sound practitioner of raks sharki.
Of course costuming is important. After music and movement - in perfromance it's that next important layer. You aren't gong to convince as a performer without it. But I didn't have a costume as such until I had been dancing for a year. I had cobbled together a lacy body and made (yes you guessed it!) a panel skirt of glitter dot to go over a charity shop full length plain black skirt. The one and only hip scarf which I paid an arm and a leg for was my pride and joy. That had been good for group dancing.
Now the wardrobe bulges with lycra and sequins AND big skirts and bloomers! But that's after 10 and a half years of haflas, festivals and theatre...oh and turned down restaurant gigs offered by (probably desperate) Greeks,Turks and Lebanese gents..g.:

Rachel Brice started out Cab

Tempest (Goth) started out AmCab

Jamilla Soulampour started out Cab

Personally, I agree with Liz that having a grounding in both is good. Now, keep in mind that I have been known to do all kinds of fusion. . .

My only requirement is that the dancers be good in what ever they are fusing. And that there is enough belly dance in the dance to still justify the title.

But that is another thread. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

Carolena Nerriccio started out "ethnic", ie Am Cab with flat feet and assuit.

Originally Posted by Monica

Oh trust me, there are some rock chicks who do raqs sharqi and more Middle Eastern focused and influenced styles of belly dance. :)

<raises hand>

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Carolena Nerriccio started out "ethnic", ie Am Cab with flat feet and assuit.

Nope, flat footed dancing was not a requirement to be an "ethnic" dancer. I studied with Jamila back in the days before Carolena and we did everything up on the balls of the feet. Assiut and tassles and headpieces and dancing in outdoor festivals like Ren Fairs and such were the ticket to being "ethnic". And later on, tattoos a la FCBD.

I first heard of "flat-footed" dancing much later, in the context of Egyptian Baladi.

Some of the same dancers who were with Jamila by day at the Ren Faire doing "ethnic" were dancing at the Casbah at night in beads and chiffon. There wasn't such a split originally as people like to make out. There were regional differences between East & West Coast of the US, though. "Tribal" definitely got its start on the West Coast. But we were all a lot more isolated back then, we didn't have this worldwide community that we enjoy now.

For me, I started out studying with a "beads and chiffon" teacher, loved it. Then I saw the Bal Anat-style people and I loved that more. Nowadays I have no interest in performing "ATS tribal" or "tribal fusion" but I take classes in those styles just for fun. I give myself permission to wear any kind of costume I like, as long as it complements the music I am using and the venue where I am performing, and that it flatters me, of course. There doesn't have to be such an all-or-nothing choice between Egyptian glitz and Tribal Fusion Funk, there's lots in the middle. It's good to study everything and find your own style and perform what you love to do (if you're going to perform).

Originally Posted by nasila

(OT...Sabrina, I saw your photo ad in the MECDA program this year and was blown away! who knew?? I guess you did.) ;)

haha, thanks

back to topic:
i think its really important to have a sound technical foundation
so why not develop multiple types of technique

we were required to at the university. we had to be proficient in ballet, jazz and modern

so why not egyptian, am cab, ats, tribal, goth, fusion, etc. ? its good to cross train and keep the brain and body challenged

I studied with Jamila back in the days before Carolena and we did everything up on the balls of the feet.

Well, THAT clarifies a lot, not least the reason that "earthy" tribal is up on demi half the time. Thanks!

DVD wise I would thourougly recommend Ariellah's DVD, the conditioning will help regardless of style. [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Contemporary-Bellydance-Conditioning-Regions-REGION/dp/B000KZRP12/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1214562051&sr=8-1]Amazon.co.uk: Contemporary Bellydance and Yoga Conditioning (All Regions)(NTSC) [2007] (REGION 1) (NTSC): Ariellah: DVD[/ame]

You might also like to check out this [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gothic-Bellydance-All-Regions-NTSC/dp/B000E36TDK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1214562115&sr=1-2]Amazon.co.uk: Gothic Bellydance (All Regions)(NTSC): 11 notable performers, Neon: DVD[/ame] there are a lot of varied performances (some better than others) which will show you that you don't need to be tribal to be a goth bellydancer. Also check out the website for [ame=http://www.gothla.co.uk]Gothla.UK, gothic bellydance, hafla, club night and workshops in Leicester, 18th-20th July 2008[/ame] and have a look at what the teachers there are doing.

One of the most innovative fusion dancers in this country who constantly pushed boundaries and who I have grown to admire as an entertainer, Dawn O'Brien is also a sound practitioner of raks sharki.

I've never seen Dawn in action but I'd agree that a lot of the very best and most innovative dancers started off with a raks sharki discipline. I'm thinking for example, of Christine Emery who just stunned me the first time I saw her on stage. I think there is a certain advantage to learning the 'rules' (cue debate about what those are) before you break them. The tribal dancers who don't inspire me are the po-faced soloists who slavishly imitate MS Brice. ,s:: Whereas someone like Wendy Marlett who has a very diverse background projects much greater joy and innovation in her dance.

I also think that there are definite gains to be had from having a foot in both camps. I'd describe my (ahem) 'style' as old skool Egyptian with an interest in Turkish. However, I've benefited from attending several tribal workshops where I found the focus on music appreciation and upper body articulation very helpful.

Thanks for all this girls :) I made my husband laugh and laugh last night because i was messing about doing all the funky arms that rachel brice and co do when doing tribal and he said "You look like a ghost or a zombie or a tree!" hehehe
I will just carry on learning all my basics but it is nice to know what dvds i want to buy because i cant afford to get egyptian AND tribal ones at the mo until after my hols!!

Regarding DVDs and cheapness, I would thoroughly recommend using Amazon marketplace or ebay, where you can pick up for £5-10, new DVDs that cost £25 from specialist shops. I actually just bought a bundle of DVDs on ebay from a US seller (all ones that are unavailiable or really expensive over here) because when shipping from over there it makes sense to save up for 4 or 5.

You might notice actually that the Gothic Bellydance DVD is £15-99 through Amazon, but if you click on "buy used or new" you can get new copies for £4.44 (I have used that seller "moviemars" before and they are great.)

I second the recommendation for ariellah's dvd - I like it a lot - even though I take amcab style classes, doing that dvd regularly has really helped me a lot ... and my inner rocker/goth girl appreciates the departure ... though I wouldn't leave my current amcab classes for the world at this point ... but if there were any ATS classes around here I might take them in ADDITION ..g.:

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

haha, thanks

back to topic:
i think its really important to have a sound technical foundation
so why not develop multiple types of technique

we were required to at the university. we had to be proficient in ballet, jazz and modern

so why not egyptian, am cab, ats, tribal, goth, fusion, etc. ? its good to cross train and keep the brain and body challenged

I just got back from Suhaila's Choreography Collective and that's exactly what we did! Every morning was technique with Suhaila, and every afternoon was a different choreography stylization from a different instructor (Rachel George, Vashti Gitana, Amy Sigil from Unmata, Rashid, Michelle Joyce, and Paulette Rees-Denis from Gypsy Caravan.) It was awesome.

Originally Posted by ReneeD

I just got back from Suhaila's Choreography Collective and that's exactly what we did! Every morning was technique with Suhaila, and every afternoon was a different choreography stylization from a different instructor (Rachel George, Vashti Gitana, Amy Sigil from Unmata, Rashid, Michelle Joyce, and Paulette Rees-Denis from Gypsy Caravan.) It was awesome.

where's the emoticon for "you are so luck and i'm trying not to be jealous"? :)

Am I awful for not being interested in tribal, fusion, goth, et al? I don't even really enjoy watching them, but that may be due to not having watched enough *good* dancing in those genres. Still, acknowledging that there are masters of those forms out there, I just do not care to study them. There seems to be so much to learn in ME dance that I kind of feel like I don't have time to dabble in the rest of it.

Why awful???? Stick to what you love............there are enough others out there to ensure that fusion doesn't die out...............isn't it interesting how D seems to be the only dance that attracts SO MUCH fusion!!!!!!

Originally Posted by jencUK

Why awful???? Stick to what you love............there are enough others out there to ensure that fusion doesn't die out...............isn't it interesting how D seems to be the only dance that attracts SO MUCH fusion!!!!!!

The more you explore the more you'll find that each style of the dance has a history of fusion, changing roots, unclear parentage....some bastards.

I see a lot of tribal fusion costumes around Tokyo, but many of the dance styles I see being fused here are American Cabaret or Turkish Rom as a base.

Dig deeper, you'll find fusion, and confusion, in every branch.

Originally Posted by Taj

Am I awful for not being interested in tribal, fusion, goth, et al? I don't even really enjoy watching them, but that may be due to not having watched enough *good* dancing in those genres. Still, acknowledging that there are masters of those forms out there, I just do not care to study them. There seems to be so much to learn in ME dance that I kind of feel like I don't have time to dabble in the rest of it.

If those forms don't contain the specific core elements that made you fall for ME (be it the music, a certain interpretation of the music, moves, costumes...) then you don't have to love them or pursue them

Old school Tribal is amazing. I don't have a lot of tribal videos but the ones I own, I love. I like the Gypsy Caravan instructionals as well as Sahira's Arabian Spices. And check out Fatchance Bellydance Live! for a good performance video.

However, I have to agree that those "tribal" fusion/faerie/indian goddess/celtic warrior mishmashes bore me.

Originally Posted by Monica

Oh trust me, there are some rock chicks who do raqs sharqi and more Middle Eastern focused and influenced styles of belly dance. :)

not to mention some rock chicks with a lot of goth at heart

Seriously, do what you love. And don't forget there's always YouTube for getting a feel for different styles--it's not like having your own DVDs, but it's better than nothing especially when you're broke ,r:;

I think tribal is beautiful. The movements are so fluid. I just love belly dance in general. I think women look so beautiful dancing in that form.