dancingleaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dancingleaf) wrote2008-02-27 06:16 pm
dancingleaf) wrote2008-02-27 06:16 pm
Modern styles of Bellydance.
Modern Styles of Bellydance
Did you know there were different styles of bellydance?
There are many similarities between the groups but the things that make them different from each other are:
Costume choices
Music Preferences
Solo vs. Troupe
Movements
History
Egyptian/Oriental
Egyptian dancers are usually soloists and have a preference for the subtle, demure, controlled. Music is usually 4/4 time. Costume choices in Egypt itself is strictly regulated. A dancer can be fined for wearing costuming style that is currently on the banned list. However, in venues where legislation does not regulate choices, their skirts are worn lower on the hips and focus of attention is usually the midsection. Performers usually choose to perform barefoot depending on the venue and skirt slits are modest. Lycra and Swarovski crystals are very popular. Egyptian dancers have often been the subject of political interference and this interest has had an effect on the development of the dance, their behaviour and their costuming choices.
Turkish
Turkish music usually has an off beat 9/8 timing called Karshilama. Turkish dancers have a more energetic, even acrobatic style, backbends, drops, splits and floor work are quite common. Costuming is generally designed to show off the legs, skirts have high slits and the belts sit higher on the waist. The dancer usually wears high heels - the higher the better. When I think of Turkish dancers, I think of chiffon petal skirts.
Folkloric
These dancers are concerned with authenticity, which doesn't mean that other dance styles might not incorporate elements but these dancers are concerned with getting everything right. The costuming, the music, the movements are researched and verified. A folkloric dancer would never do a Saidi step in a Ghawazee dress.
American Cabaret
This is what people think of when they think of a bellydancer. Here is the Hollywood image - a beaded bra and belt, full skirt, nightclub routine, zills. American Cabaret differs from Egyptian in use of veil as a full and separate section. An Egyptian dancer may use a veil for her entrance but quickly discards it. In American Cabaret - bellydancers often use veil to insert a slower piece of music into their sets.
American Tribal Style (Tribal, ATS)
Authentic? Who cares? These dancers throw it all together and if it looks funky and cool - so much the better. American Tribal Style originated in 1987 with Carolena Nericcio it spread rapidly through out the Western world and attracts dancers looking for something less sparkly and more earthy. Tribal is most usually troupe, with an improvised, spontaneous approach to choreography - the lead dancer gives signals to a tribe of dancers, and all dancers then do the same movements in concert. Skin is often tattooed or hennaed. The costuming is heavy ornamentation of camel tasseled belts or fringe belts, on top of full gypsy skirts and pantaloons. Tops are usually Indian choli style, sometimes with a coin bra over that. Afghani chain and coin jewelry are worn. Ornamented turbans are worn to further accentuate a look of universality to the group and reduce the appearance of individuality. Music can be anything from authentic to extremely nontraditional. Arms are generally held higher than in Oriental styles and movements are bold and proud.
Tribal Fusion.
Elements of Tribal carry into this style. Funky Afghani or Kuchi jewelry, coin bras & belts. Recently the wide legged pantaloons have been replaced by Melodias or Geisha Moth creations (think the widest, flared, split bell bottoms you ever saw!) But anything goes including music. Solo or troupe, either/or. You may also see fusions of other dance styles, bollywood, hip-hop, and more. Tribal fusion is often considered a splinter group of American Tribal.
Gothic
Can't give up your Doc Martins? Wouldn't be caught dead in a colour other than black? Love your industrial/punk/goth music? A flair for the theatric? This is the dance style for you. A sub-section of Tribal Fusion - Gothic bellydance has its own dedicated following.
Bellydance is infinitely adaptable - allowing you to choose whichever direction you want to take.
Did you know there were different styles of bellydance?
There are many similarities between the groups but the things that make them different from each other are:
Costume choices
Music Preferences
Solo vs. Troupe
Movements
History
Egyptian/Oriental
Egyptian dancers are usually soloists and have a preference for the subtle, demure, controlled. Music is usually 4/4 time. Costume choices in Egypt itself is strictly regulated. A dancer can be fined for wearing costuming style that is currently on the banned list. However, in venues where legislation does not regulate choices, their skirts are worn lower on the hips and focus of attention is usually the midsection. Performers usually choose to perform barefoot depending on the venue and skirt slits are modest. Lycra and Swarovski crystals are very popular. Egyptian dancers have often been the subject of political interference and this interest has had an effect on the development of the dance, their behaviour and their costuming choices.
Turkish
Turkish music usually has an off beat 9/8 timing called Karshilama. Turkish dancers have a more energetic, even acrobatic style, backbends, drops, splits and floor work are quite common. Costuming is generally designed to show off the legs, skirts have high slits and the belts sit higher on the waist. The dancer usually wears high heels - the higher the better. When I think of Turkish dancers, I think of chiffon petal skirts.
Folkloric
These dancers are concerned with authenticity, which doesn't mean that other dance styles might not incorporate elements but these dancers are concerned with getting everything right. The costuming, the music, the movements are researched and verified. A folkloric dancer would never do a Saidi step in a Ghawazee dress.
American Cabaret
This is what people think of when they think of a bellydancer. Here is the Hollywood image - a beaded bra and belt, full skirt, nightclub routine, zills. American Cabaret differs from Egyptian in use of veil as a full and separate section. An Egyptian dancer may use a veil for her entrance but quickly discards it. In American Cabaret - bellydancers often use veil to insert a slower piece of music into their sets.
American Tribal Style (Tribal, ATS)
Authentic? Who cares? These dancers throw it all together and if it looks funky and cool - so much the better. American Tribal Style originated in 1987 with Carolena Nericcio it spread rapidly through out the Western world and attracts dancers looking for something less sparkly and more earthy. Tribal is most usually troupe, with an improvised, spontaneous approach to choreography - the lead dancer gives signals to a tribe of dancers, and all dancers then do the same movements in concert. Skin is often tattooed or hennaed. The costuming is heavy ornamentation of camel tasseled belts or fringe belts, on top of full gypsy skirts and pantaloons. Tops are usually Indian choli style, sometimes with a coin bra over that. Afghani chain and coin jewelry are worn. Ornamented turbans are worn to further accentuate a look of universality to the group and reduce the appearance of individuality. Music can be anything from authentic to extremely nontraditional. Arms are generally held higher than in Oriental styles and movements are bold and proud.
Tribal Fusion.
Elements of Tribal carry into this style. Funky Afghani or Kuchi jewelry, coin bras & belts. Recently the wide legged pantaloons have been replaced by Melodias or Geisha Moth creations (think the widest, flared, split bell bottoms you ever saw!) But anything goes including music. Solo or troupe, either/or. You may also see fusions of other dance styles, bollywood, hip-hop, and more. Tribal fusion is often considered a splinter group of American Tribal.
Gothic
Can't give up your Doc Martins? Wouldn't be caught dead in a colour other than black? Love your industrial/punk/goth music? A flair for the theatric? This is the dance style for you. A sub-section of Tribal Fusion - Gothic bellydance has its own dedicated following.
Bellydance is infinitely adaptable - allowing you to choose whichever direction you want to take.
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See - I read goth and think cool. These 50+ yr old ladies come in and think - ick... that's not what I thought this would be.
I think I paraphrased some of it from Quizzilla or somewhere.
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