Tribal Fusion Bellydance is an exciting "new" dance form that fuses world dances such as Flamenco, Indian and the folkloric dances of the near and Middle-East with a modern aesthetic. Tribal Fusion is an amazing body conditioning workout through which every dancer can express her own style.
What makes Tribal bellydance different from traditional bellydance?
Traditional belly dance is usually divided into "Western" and "Arabic."
"Western" obviously denotes the dance style that has developed in the western world and areas of the world that are becoming increasingly westernized.
Arabic belly dance refers to the style of dance usually considered the most authentic. It is done by people whose culture, heritage and/or training has been steeped in the aesthetic and movement vocabulary of the dance form's original ethnic or regional style. Arabic bellydance has a very different flavor than Western bellydance.
Both forms are considered the "norm" in bellydance circles, despite the fact that western bellydance has only been around for about a century or so, and Arabic bellydance's roots are obscured by millennia.
Tribal, on the other hand, is an entirely new animal. Its origins can actually be traced back to the 1970's, when America had just begun to discover bellydance in earnest. Dancers who actually knew how to dance authentically were rare, so many Americans learned a hybrid version of dance that evolved and came to be called American Cabaret. But another style also developed that was earthier and more powerful, and this dance style, under the leadership of dance pioneers such as Masha Archer, Jamila Salimpour and Carolena Nericcio eventually came to be recognized as a separate style called “tribal.”
Carolena Nericcio used this dance form as a platform to craft "American Tribal Style" (ATS for short.) ATS fuses Near and Mid-eastern folkdances, Romani (gypsy), Egyptian bellydance, Flamenco, Indian and various other world dances with an American sensibility.
ATS is most easily recognized by its costuming, but what really sets it apart from traditional bellydance is that it has a set movement vocabulary with cues that decide which move will come next in a group improvisation. ATS dancers belong to a group called a “tribe,” and trust each other to communicate and deliver a great improvisational performance.
Tribal fusion builds on this base of ATS and continues to evolve by fusing (hence the name) with just about anything: electronica, steampunk, goth, industrial, heavy metal, hip-hop, jazz, African, ballet- you name it! The music and costuming can differ greatly from or mirror other styles, it can be improvisational or choreographed, done as a solo or in a group, can be fast or slow, and pretty much defies definition!
The one element essential to tribal bellydance, ATS and traditional bellydance is a strong, centered, beautiful person, moving to the music.
Come and experience this dance phenomenon.. and maybe find YOUR tribe!!

$15 pre-registration/$20 at the door

About the Instructor:
Sarah al Nour is an Orange County based dancer who relishes all forms of dance. She has been studying and performing Oriental and Tribal Fusion styles throughout Orange County and LA for nearly a decade. Sarah studied Oriental dance primarily with the renowned Angelika Nemeth (concurrently performing in the Angelika Nemeth Dance Ensemble). Sarah al Nour has been privileged to study with other excellent local teachers and takes workshops every chance she gets!!! She also danced for two years as one half of a dynamic tribal fusion duo with Laulin, who recently moved to San Francisco.

Sarah al Nour began dancing with the amazing and fun tribal fusion troupe Ban-dal two years ago, and has been performing with them at premiere tribal events and belly dance events since then. Ban-dal won the Hips of Fury competition in 2007, and will be performing at several major upcoming tribal events. (See calendar) Ban-dal's performance at Gothla was featured in Bellydance Magazine's August 2008 edition. Sarah al Nour recently began studying FatChanceBellyDance ATS Format with SOOZ.
Sarah al Nour has performed in numerous venues throughout Orange County, from theatrical dance shows and festivals to coffee houses and has danced in Angelika's "Oasis at the Races," show and video, and in the dance instruction video recently released by world-famous percussionist Souhail Kaspar.

PS from Sarah: As a"Starving artist," I completely understand the financial challenges we are all facing. I would love to teach for free (and eat for free...), but since that's not possible, I must charge. BUT IF ANYONE needs a little assistance, try to convince 3 friends to come along! Fit4U has a policy that if you bring 3 referrals, you get your class for free!! (And if they each bring 3 friends, they will get it for free, etc!)That is pretty awesome! Even if you can just bring 1 friend, and she buys a Studio package, you will earn a free class!