Origins

American Tribal Style (ATS) was created in 1987 by founder and director of FatChance Bellydance,Carolena Nericcio in SanFrancisco, CA. This dance is originally American and is by no means classic bellydance. It is also tribal, meaning the style of clothing and adornment is borrowed from ancient tribal styles and it is practiced in a group or ‘tribe’. The dance is done by women forwomen to perpetuate life and teach of the natural processes of the world such as birth, death, growth, the Earth, tides, happiness, sexuality, and more. This style is never in any way meant to provoke hostile sexual attention. In fact, the name ‘Fat Chance’ originated as the common response of dancers when asked to perform a ‘private’ show.

Vocabulary

This style allows a group of dancers to perform improvisationally by using a set of ques and a vocabulary of about 70 dance moves. The moves can be broken down into different styles including Arabic, Ghawazee, Egyptian, Turkish, and Tunisian. Ques typically occur in the hands, head, or by vocal or visual calls as they are the simplest to use without breaking the ‘school of fish’ look. Often the audience does not see the ques due to the fancy dress, the excited music, and the beauty of women dancing in sync. Ques are made possible only by the specific formation of the group and their connection to each other. Members may only lead when they are in the proper location, allowing for maximum visual exposure to following dancers. Choreography may be loosely utilized but the style is always open to changes during performance. There are new moves being added today by troupes across the US, Australia, England, and Taiwan, all countries where this dance style is very popular.

Formations

The dance is performed to a live band in groups of two or more, with no more than 4-5 women in a chorus. When performed, the audience is captivated by the fluid motions of the group and often entranced by its slow repetitive motions. ATS is a modern dance style that combines ancient dance moves as a nomadic culture may have done thousands of years ago. Since most steps begin with a gesture to the right, the dancers tend to be angled to the left so that they can see the leader and the moves are displayed to the audience. Duets, trios, and quartets have a specific formation, allowing the leader to change depending on which way the group was facing and the location of their audience.

Costume

Attire typically includes a turban or hair garden, an open-back choli top, coin bra, full-tiered skirt, harem pants, a hip scarf, and a tassel and/or coin belt. Authentic antique textiles from India, Northern Africa, and the Middle East may be worn to accentuate the style. Arm bangles, bracelets, jewelry, and rings from this period are also common. Dancers typically wear khol or black liner around their eyes, on chin, forehead, cheekbones, or nose. A bindi is placed between the eyebrows as a spiritual mark. Cowry shells from Africa are also commonly worn in hair and on costume pieces.

Modern Primitive Movement

Since this style is deeply earthy, many dancers choose to get permanent tattoos or semi-permanent henna tattoos connecting their spirits to the flesh. Many dancers prefer to dance barefoot to increase their connectivity to the earth. The ‘Modern Primitive’ movement is popular with ATS and dancers may choose to wear dreadlocks and practice body modifications such as piercing and stretching the flesh. As a result of prolonged connection, some dancers choose to be vegan or vegetarian as it is more conducive to a healthy spirit-Earth connection. Typically, the dance is practiced by women with alternative lifestyles with a greater sense of purpose seeking spiritual fulfillment. These choices show a true devotion to the dance style in its entirety but are entirely up to each individual.

Roma

Roma first became interested in bellydance at the age of 14 when she met Nanabelle, the bellydancer, and was forever changed. She has been formally bellydancing since 2003. She began taking lessons in her hometown of Tempe, AZ. She quickly excelled at the dance due to her extensive background in yoga and other forms of urban dance picked up at drum circles, raves, and the underground art and hip-hop subcultures. Roma was immediately attracted to tribal style after seeing a performance at Domba studios, where she soon began taking classes.

She relocated to Maryland in 2005 to pursue a career in environmental education and participated in the Americorps program at Assateague State Park and the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. She quickly networked with local dancers (of the cabaret dance form) in order to perpetuate her hobby. She now teaches American Tribal Style bellydance at the Art Institute and Gallery in Salisbury, MD. She has appeared at many festivals and events through Arabian Lights Dance Company, which she served as publicity director. She also strated a free tribal practice Sunday session at Salisbury University in the summers.

She is committed to learning more about American Tribal Style bellydance and hopes to gain certification in the coming years. She has taken workshops with Sharon Moore, voted teacher of the year by Zhagareet Magazine 2007; Carolena Nericcio, creator of the ATS dance form and director of Fat Chance Bellydance; Paulette Reese-Denis of Gypsy Caravan (OR); Domba Troupe members Gina and Samantha (AZ); Belladonna of Romka (DC), and Jill Parker of Ultra Gypsy (CA).

Roma makes and sells tribal clothing and jewelry and does henna art for hire. She is creator and director of Nomadic Magic Tribal Dance, a dance company open to any of her students or experienced dancers free of charge. The troupe currently meets bimonthly at the Art Institute. Topics for the troupe include but are not limited to tribe study, costume and makeup, photo shoot, improvisation, unique cues, smooth transitions, tribal formations, zil usage, and chorus. Members are encouraged to bring their troupe expectations to fruition by serving as a committee member to address their individual or the groups' needs.

Roma has been a vegetarian since age 15 and has always loved animals, kids, and saving the environment. When she is not dancing or making costumes, you may find her on an outdoor adventure, teaching kids about nature, or helping restore wetlands with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Environmental Concern, MD Coastal Bay Program, Ward Museum, or the Salisbury Zoo. She is an avid metaphysical believer and a practitioner of the natural healing arts using herbs, vitamins, crystals, chakras, yoga, meditation, tantra, fasting, and detoxification. A modern primitive, she has dreadlocks and a growing tattoo collection.

Meet the Troupe

Meagan

Fran

Renee

Dedicated Students- Elaine, Glenda, Barbara