Knowing Our Roots

During class on Monday, a few of my students got into a discussion about where Tribal Fusion Belly Dance came from. At the time, I could not answer the question fully, so I decided to post a blog about it. But first let's start at the begining with a bit about where American Tribal Style came from.

American Tribal Style
Adapted from Wikipedia:

Tribal Style Belly Dance or American Tribal Style Belly Dance (also known as ATS or Tribal) is a modern style of bellydance created by FatChanceBellyDance director, Carolena Nericcio.

The general category Tribal Style is accredited to Jamila Salimpour who fostered a fusion of costumes and folkloric dances styles from the Banjara gypsies of Rajasthan and began teaching what she knew and performing all over California and the West Coast. 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" or almost circus feel. Taking what she herself had learned from native dancers from Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon who were dancing in the United States, she began to catalogue "belly dance movement" and began creating a basic repertoire terminology which is still the basis for Tribal Style and American Tribal Style repertoire.

Another key person in the ATS lineage is Masha Archer. Masha was a student of Jamila Salimpour's for two and a half years. She went on to found the Classic San Fransisco Dance Troupe. She took what she learned from Jamila, and mixed it with her own ideas and influences to create a new style. Masha’s style was an eclectic blend of classic Egyptian Cabaret, Folkloric and any other influence that she found enticing. Being a trained painter and sculptor, Masha taught her dancers to create art through dance.

In 1974, Carolena Nericcio began belly dancing with Masha Archer and the San Francisco Dance Troupe. Carolena studied with Masha for over seven years. In 1987, after the SF Classic Dance Troupe had disbanded, Carolena began teaching in a small studio in the Noe Valley Ministry.


Tribal Fusion
Also adapted from Wikipedia:

The roots of tribal fusion lie in American Tribal Style, also referred to as ATS, created in San Francisco by Carolena Nericcio and her dance company FatChance Bellydance. The ATS dance is based on improvisation as a group through the use of hand cues and movements. One of the founding members of FCBD in 1989, Jill Parker, can be regarded as starting tribal fusion. After leaving FCBD, she formed Ultra Gypsy Dance Theatre in 1996. Under Jill Parker’s direction, UG expanded on the ATS movement repertoire, using choreography and incorporating elements of burlesque, cabaret, and 1920’s. The group also progressively deconstructed the classic ATS costume (choli, coin bra, turban, tassel belt, skirt, harem pants).

Another early pioneer in tribal fusion is Heather Stants, who formed Urban Tribal Dance in San Diego in 1999. Initially, Urban Tribal was heavily influenced by hip hop and street dance styles, though their current style borrows many elements from modern dance. They are also known for their minimalist costuming, in contrast with many other tribal fusion performers. Their costuming effectively complements their sleek lines and smooth style. Mardi Love was an early member of UT, who later joined the Indigo and became one of their major choreographic and costuming influences.

Tribal Fusion was largely popularized by Rachel Brice and the Indigo (formed in 2003), who became internationally renowned as they toured with the Bellydance Superstars. Rachel Brice describes her dancing as a combination of Suhaila Salimpour technique and FCBD style, along with a heavy dose of Mardi Love. She also popularized the use of movements similar to “popping,” though she credits Ariellah as the source. Initial members of The Indigo were Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Michelle Campbell, Sharon Kihara, Janice Solimeno, and Ariellah Aflalo. Both Rachel and Sharon were members of Ultra Gypsy and credit Jill Parker as a major inspiration. Currently, the Indigo is composed of Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, and Zoe Jakes, who have been touring their own show “Le Serpent Rouge” since 2007.