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Often unnoticed due to the elaborate

costumes, fancy steps and

exciting music, formations and cues

are the anchor

of Improvisational Choreography.

American Tribal Style bellydance (also known as ATS) is a modern ethnic fusion style of bellydance based on an adaptation of the folkloric dances and ancient dance techniques of North Africa, Spain, North India and the Middle East. It combines movement vocabularies and regional costuming to form one cohesive presentation.

The “American” part of the label acknowledges that the dancers are continents away from the culture that created the dance form and are taking artistic license with it.

ATS is unique and consists of a system of 70 plus fast steps, slow movements and complex steps that the group of dancers is able to cue to one another to create an unique performance that is solely improvised. The focus is on the group as they create beautiful dance pieces through non-verbal communication.

Tribal dancers often play finger cymbals to enchance the fast part of the dance. Sword and veil are other attributes.

The history of American Tribal Style starts with Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance, but the origins of the dance inspiration are ancient.

Its roots can be traced back to the rituals of past matriarchal cultures and to the secular entertainments that evolved as the itinerant performers traveled through India, Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Spain.

The general category Tribal Style is accredited to Jamila Salimpour. Utilizing traditional folkloric dance elements and costumes inspired by traditional and ethnographic traditions, she presented on stage through Bal Anat a colorful dance company which included musicians, singers and dancers to create a “souk”.

Masha Archer studied with Jamila Salimpour before she created her own troupe. In 1974 at age 14, Carolena Nericcio began studying with Masha and the San Francisco Dance Troupe. Masha’s style was an eclectic blend of classic Egyptian Cabaret, Folkloric and any other influence that she found enticing.

In 1987, after the SF Classic Dance Troupe had disbanded, Carolena began teaching and eventually developed the ATS system of cues and transitions and founded the accredited dance troupe FatChanceBellyDance.

Sources: fcbd.com, wikipedia.com

Photo: Jorunn Sjølli