Art Chowder September | October 2016, Issue 5 | Page 25

T

his change paved the way
for what we now call Tribal Fusion. The style that we practice
and teach centers on community, and on sisterhood (and the
occasional dance “brother,” as
we are wholly open and comfortable with men choosing to
join our classes.) A large part
of “elevating” what is essentially
a folk style has been driving a
focus on technical precision
and excellence, and we strive to
offer classes where students can
grow a wide technical skillset.
We also continue educating ourselves by travelling to learn from
some of the best teachers in the
world. We balance technical
precision with creative freedom,
mixing drills and conditioning
with more abstract exercises
meant to enhance non-structured thinking and push dancers
to find their individual voice
within the belly dance framework - both so that a dancer can
offer ideas and support to her
troupe mates, as well as become
a creative artist in her own right
when it comes time to perform
a solo.
We incorporate many different styles into our foundation,
hence the name “Tribal Fusion.”
The foundation is a blend of
ATS® and American Cabaret
belly dance, but there are elements of Spanish Flamenco, Indian Odissi Temple and Kathak
dance, and Balinese dance, as
well as Modern Jazz, Hip Hop,
and even Ballet in some of our
pieces. What we do is wholly new and modern, and very
American; a fusion of multiple
origins, much like many ethnic
makeups we see in America
today.

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