Thread: Advice please...much appreciated...what style??

Hi Girls,

I am in the process of showing some clips to my friend as she has shown an interest in bellydance. I was on her laptop having a flick around and found this clip:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XQ1c8u_n1Q"]YouTube - Zafira @ Tribal Fest - Part 1[/ame]

Now this clip only applies up to3.00 out of the whole thing but how do you explain this is bellydance. I know it is...I know its fusion..I recognise belly rolls, chest lifts, undulations, hip circles n stuff but my friend said "I thought belly dancers shake their hips...meaning hip drops n lifts" How do I explain what style this is and how it is fused...Im having trouble explaining and I want to get this correct...
Only up to 3.00...I know what comes after with the other girls shows more.
Thanks

That's Zafira - they do a lot of theatrical tribal fusion and use music that is more balkan or eastern european in flavor at times. This is their website - Meet Zafira

It is not traditional belly dance, but it is a fusion based on their vision. You may want to email them about it for more details - they are really sweethearts and would probably be happy to break down the influences they are using.

Clips of The Indigo (Rachel Brice, Mardi Love) show a similar style of dance.

My opinion for what it's worth is that this is influenced by jazz/ modern and Cirque du Soleil. While I recognise the basic moves as bellydance, the posture and use of the limbs seem very western.

I have checked out the website thanks mahsati!!

Thanks for posting that clip! it made my bad day into a great one!! I'd say that looks like some good modern dance background fusion...the arms are screaming modern and ballet, the footwork screams "modern" as well. dare i say, lyrical, because they're doing an awesome job speaking the music, though there are no actual lyrics. I hope this helps a little bit.

Zafira is a troupe with a very strong technical background (including some very impressive hipwork) who create their own, unique style of tribal fusion, which is quite different from traditional oriental-style bellydance. See Zafira Dance Company

The second part of the clip linked above is Christine Andrews, who has studied Rajasthani dance in India with Gulabi Sapera (one of the best dancers in Rajasthan). Refering back to a previous discussion on fusion: Christine's performance is one of the great examples of how beautiful fusion can be if a dancer thoroughly studies the dance forms she fuses!