Dance History
Belly Dance: ATS vs ITS vs FUSION
Have you ever been confused by the newer styles of belly dance? Let’s clear things up a bit, shall we? 4dancers contributor, Piper, is back again to sort things out by sharing information about some of the styles that are out there today. But first, some definitions:
ATS = American Tribal Style
ITS = Improvisational Tribal Style
Fusion = blend of various styles of dance
Now, let’s hear from Karen:
I teach/perform my own tribal fusion style of dance, but I came out of a class that originally was American Tribal Style. What exactly is ATS? Long story short, ATS is a modern style of belly dance that was created by Carolena Nericcio, who formed Fat Chance Belly Dance in 1987 in the San Franciso Bay area.
It needs to be said that this category of belly dance should be credited to Jamila Salimpour. She utulized her knowledge of traditional folkloric dance and belly dance by presenting the now infamous Bal Anat production. It showcased dances from Algeria, Morroco, Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. Thus – tribal style belly dance was born.
From Fat Chance and Carolena, many troupes have descended and created their own style.
Some of todays tribal troupes who have roots within ATS have now become what is known as Improvisational Tribal Style. ATS & ITS tend to be strictly performed by 2 or more dancers – thus, a troupe.
Both are done with cues from the arms or hands, so both are presented in an improvisational style. And there is something to be said about watching either style of troupes perform – the energy that is shared by the troupe is like no other.
And now, for fusion. Now personally, fusion is my favorite. Fusion is brought about by individuals pulling in their own unique style. Usually, this style is based on the other forms of dance the performer has studied. Fusion can be influenced by hip hop, African, modern, ballet, as well as traditional belly dance. But the key is always to respect the dance.
As with any dancer, it took me a while to find my own voice within tribal fusion. I felt in the beginning ‘oh – if I’m tribal, then I can’t do ‘X’; but the more I understood what fusion really was, the more I found myself. I study Egyptian style now, as well as going back to ballet. I take workshops with some of the best dancers (at least I feel are the best) – famous as well as the unknowns – and I walk away with more knowledge every time. I’m constantly trying to improve, and will always do so.
Men In Ballet
Just a quick note to point out a guest post I did for My Son Can Dance, a blog written by recent guest poster Nina Amir. It is about gender stereotypes and ballet. If you get a chance, drop by and check out her blog–it’s quite interesting!
How To Moonwalk
Time Magazine ran this piece which I came across and I thought I’d share it with 4dancers readers today. It breaks down the “moonwalk,” the famous dance step that Michael Jackson became known for.
I can still remember watching him in the 80′s and trying to mimic his dance steps. Coming from a strong ballet background, this was always a struggle for me.
I have to admit that I never mastered the moonwalk, but it doesn’t mean that I will stop trying. If you haven’t given it a go yet, now’s your chance.
5National Museum Of Dance
The National Museum of Dance opened in 1986 in Saratoga Springs, New York. Here you will find things such as videos, photographs, costumes–as well as a “Hall of Fame,” which is the only permanent exhibit at the facility. In the hall, you will find names such as Fred Astaire, Paul Taylor and George Balanchine. Bob Fosse and Bill T. Jones were some of the more recent additions to the 36 members who are honored there.
Introducing…Karen Hersh
In 2010 4dancers readers will hear from a range of guest contributors here and there, talking about different styles of dance, or just sharing thoughts about the dance world. Today I would like to introduce Karen Hersh, a teacher and performer in the American Tribal Belly Dance style. I’ve asked Karen to share some information about how she became involved in dance so that you can get to know her a little bit…
My name is Karen, but I dance under and answer to the name of Piper. I began dancing close to 20 yrs ago in California when I decided to get in shape. I signed up for a what I thought was a ‘ballet’ workout class but in reality, it was a ballet floor bar class that was taught by a woman who studied and performed in Russia.
After a few years of that, I moved back to the Chicago area and started taking modern dance classes in Oak Park and in Chicago, and eventually had the privilege to study for a few years under the direction of the dance company Deeply Rooted. While I loved dancing with Deeply Rooted, I felt I needed to leave and focus on my personal life (as I just moved in with my now husband Brian). After about a year being away from dance, he suggested I find something to do. And so I did: belly dance.
I took my first class at Belle Plaine studios with a woman named Taj. I had no idea that I was at the beginning of my tribal fusion dance career. After Taj, I moved onto taking American Tribal Style (ATS) with Gabrielle Deschaine in Berwyn/Forest Park. And the rest, they say, is history.
Since that little beginning with Taj, I’ve taken as many classes as possible to improve on my own unique style of tribal fusion. I’ve been blessed to have been invited to teach overseas in the UK at Tribal Ford in England, (which is a weekend long group of workshops held in the Ford Castle located in Northumberland, England), and then 2 different workshops in Dublin and Glasgow. I am currently teaching my style of tribal fusion at Pineapple Dance Studio in Forest Park.
From PBS: Lesson Plan Help For The Dance Classroom
I found this while searching for lesson plan help…figured that classroom teachers could use another resource, and this one is a good one, depending on the age group you teach. PBS has put together a comprehensive plan for introducing students to the roots of Modern Dance in America.
There is a radio story to listen to as well as plenty of ideas for discussion, and you will even find activity sheets that you can print out. Use everything they have provided–or customize your own lesson plan based on some of the ideas from here.
The Arangetram
Copyright 2005, Catherine L. Tully
If you have never heard of an Arangetram, get ready to be amazed…
(I am going to break it down here into only the very basics, but there are many layers that I won’t cover, so know that there is a good deal more to this than meets the eye.)
Basically an Arangetram is a sort of “graduation” performance that is undertaken by a student of Bharata Natyam. This classical Indian dance form is a combination of complex movements that are expressive, along with a spiritual component. Dancers prepare for this for a long time, and the final performance is typically a large-scale event. Some families even have musicians flown in from India to play for the dancer. Many times an auditorium or stage is rented out for the performance, and friends and family attend to watch the graduation dance.
I have attended several Arangetram performances, and they are actually quite an emotional experience. The dancers (and their family) put their entire soul into this one day, and it is a very long series of demanding movements that they must undertake. Most Arangetram will last between two and three hours, and it is almost continuous dancing. The teacher is called the “Guru” and they are also present for the performance. If you ever have the chance to experience an Arangetram, I would highly recommend it. You will get to see something truly unique.
The Ballerina Gallery
The Ballerina Gallery is a really interesting site that features a great collection of photos and information about famous ladies in dance. Names here range from Tanaquil Le Clercq to Patricia McBride, and there is a lot here to browse through.
The author of the site also has a section titled, “memorabilia” where she shares some of her collection with viewers. There are some great pieces here, including a signed photograph of Maya Plisetskaya and a signed copy of a Margot Fonteyn Autobiography.
I really enjoyed browsing around on this Website, and I hope you will too!
History Of Pointe Shoes
Have you ever wondered about the history of pointe shoes?
It is interesting to see how they evolved into what we use today. Modern pointe shoes are a very far cry from what they were many years ago. It’s fascinating to think about what they will be like in the future…
When I was actively dancing, I used lamb’s wool to wrap my toes when I first started out on pointe. I found it to be miserable–it shifted around like mad, and wadded up in all the wrong places inside my shoe. As soon as my feet toughened up I switched to paper towel. A rather unorthodox substance, but it worked well for me. Some dancers I know used nothing, or toe pads…
0Nijinsky: Men In Ballet
Nijinsky. Even the name has a sort of mystical, dramatic feel to it. He is one of a handful of men who have received the spotlight in ballet. I think that more should share in that honor. Men are as vital to ballet as an art form as women are–yet women get the bulk of the attention. George Balanchine once remarked, “Ballet is woman,” and although I totally get where he is coming from, it should not negate the value of men.
Where there is no man…no ballerina floats. For the yin of the delicate solos of women in pointe shoes and pink tutus, there really needs to be the yang of men leaping powerfully across the stage without reserve. It is in the contrast of these two that the magic of the danse really shines through. It represents the forces within us all. The softness and the hardness. The subtle and the forceful.
I’m sure this has been remarked on before, but today I just wanted to highlight it again and send out a thank you to all the men in ballet. Without you…it just wouldn’t be magical.
