Speak from the Hip

Carolena Nericcio and Devi Mamak perform ATS®  in Adelaide, Australia

I teach TECHNIQUE. Not Choreography.

To attempt a choreography with no prior knowledge

of the movements that make it

is like reading a book written

in a language you do not understand.

You just skim the surface.

Learn the language, learn the technique.

Then you can fly.

~Speak From The Hip, 2013.

My second set of the night, dancing to my go-to song at the time: ‘Le Toi’ by Mitsoura. This was a filler, unrehearsed and spontaneous. One  of my favourite dance moments of 2011.

Lauramaeve @ The Zoryanna Showcase, April 2011

Busy season has come around again and after the long (not so) hot summer in Ireland I’m looking forward to getting back in to…

F-F-Festival mode!

First up is Electric Picnic 2011  I’ll be in the Body&Soul area over the weekend hosting Speak From The Hip Presents…. Tribal Tales: a delve to the movements, music and culture of American Tribal Style® Belly Dance.  If its anything like last year its gonna be SO MUCH FUN!

With just enough time after EP for a shower and a cuppa I’ll be at Spirit of Folk giving a workshop on Folkloric and Tribal dance, catch me in the Shamanic area on the Friday evening….

…. and October sees me at Ireland’s festival of Magic and Spirituality, Féile Draíochta giving a talk and demo on The Goddess in Tribal Bellydance….

A different experience everytime – but all with the same underlying mantra…

What else, What else?? Oh yea….The September 2011 ATS® DANCE INTENSIVE!!1!

This week I announced the dates for the next ATS® Intensive and the newsletter has duly gone out. This will be the 4th run of the Intensive and I am delighted with the response I have received. I’m constantly looking for ways to improve the class content and make the experience fun and enjoyable for everyone involved and this time round is no different. My students not only get a full introduction to the ATS® repertoire but they get a taste of the music, the costuming and the global culture that is Tribal Style…..

Oh! And don’t forget…

For anyone who wants to know a little bit more about the artform before they make the decision to join the Intensive I am running drop-in classes every Tuesday at Ranelagh Arts Centre. This is a relaxed, informal class where new students will not only learn a few moves they may also see an impromptu ATS® performance with yours truely and some of my lovely intermediate students. Class is from 6:30-8pm upstairs in Ranelagh Arts and its €15 on the night. Drop-in!

@ Celebrating the Body in Dance, Dublin, Aug 2011

Required Reading

I am a dancer who is proud and passionate about her work. I have put years into honing my skills and I will continue to do so with a happy heart. I consider myself lucky to be one of those people who find their true passion in life and even more lucky to be in a position to share it with those who are curious and willing to learn.

I have assumed the responsibility of teaching this dance form to  others and I have to say that sometimes its not easy, I have wonderful students, I have a beautiful dance space – that aspect is fine – but I sometimes struggle with trying to define American Tribal Style Belly Dance® and Tribal Fusion to a wider audience.

A couple of articles have been published recently that will help me with this particular little mission.

The first is an account of a workshop with Jamila Salimpour. Asharah, the voice of Bellydance Paladin was lucky enough to be at that workshop with the 84 year old ‘Mother of American Tribal Style®’ in September of this year… Asharah gives great insight into the true origins of  ‘ATS® Old School’ moves and there are a couple of choice links at the end which are well worth checking out by anyone interested in finding out more.

The second article, taken from The Guilded Serpent, focuses on the little sister of American Tribal Style® –  Tribal Fusion and how, as writer Jasmine June puts it…

it is especially important to treat the genre [Tribal Fusion] with a level of professionalism, or else one runs the risk of discrediting the work of dancers who have dedicated their lives to creating and elevating Tribal Fusion Belly Dance.

Quite. Enjoy!

Meanwhile, in the land of La

My classes are winding down as the Silly Season approaches and plans for afoot for even more classes in the New Year.  If anyone out there would like a free taster, come along to the Dublin Holistic Centre Christmas Open Day on Dec 18th where I’ll be hosting a workshop. Info on upcoming classes, performances, workshops, and general happenings will hit the network as and when the adventure unfolds!

For now, I wish you all a Happy, Peaceful and Love filled Christmas and an Excellent New Year!

Beautiful Fusion from Irish based troupe Triptych.

Music is Toy Wings by Chequerboard.

Improvised Tribal Style (ITS) From WildCard BellyDance

Tough Love Tribal bellydance from Unmata

A Tribal Goddess, a truly gifted dancer. I’ve been honoured to share the stage with her in the past and she’s a total sweetheart. Ladies and Gentlefolk,  Samantha Emanuel…