| Belly dancing per se has been around for centuries | | | | Belly dance festivals, workshops and festivals, not to |
| and the very word brings to mind images of lithe | | | | mention belly dance holidays, give ample opportunity to |
| women rolling their bodies sinuously to the call of music. | | | | learn the craft whole heartedly and with dedication |
| Its origin seems to drift historically between oriental or | | | | within a specified time frame. The art form of this |
| inspired by the Romany gypsies. Today, however, belly | | | | dance has inspired several amateurs to seriously |
| dancing is more of a celebration of myriad cultures, | | | | pursue the more advanced forms of belly dancing |
| which seeks to incorporate the best of all the cultures | | | | across the countries where it has originated. Most of |
| that have laid a claim on belly dancing. Tribal belly | | | | the steps in the tribal belly dance are circular motions |
| dancing is this beautiful, passionate fusion of cultures | | | | that are isolated in one body part at a time. The |
| that glorifies the passionate self within the dancer. | | | | dancer gyrates and shimmies using clever muscle |
| Tribal belly dancing has evolved with the years as | | | | control to keep the rhythm going effortlessly. As you |
| more and more people are discovering the exhilarating | | | | get better at belly dancing, flexibility is increased and |
| experience of stylized dance that actually frees up the | | | | tricks using coins and swords are popular to |
| muscular structure of the body by doing amazing | | | | demonstrate the use of muscles especially in the belly |
| movements and can the mind be far behind. Tribal | | | | and hips. |
| belly dance can make the most stoic of women relate | | | | Tribal belly dancing whether American tribal fusion or |
| to the inner free spirit within herself and spin free with | | | | otherwise, internalizes the rhythms and the outflow of |
| the pulsating moves that the dance demands. The | | | | emotion. It is channeled into an improvised dance that |
| very name tribal belly dance has a primordial ring to it | | | | has its own uniqueness and cannot be learnt by rote. |
| that releases one from the dreary life and transports | | | | Each dancer makes a personal experience with the |
| the dancer to another level that enhances her, both | | | | music and communicates with an individual style. It is |
| personally and physically. | | | | more of a communication with the audience on a one |
| Tribal belly dancing costumes actually have such color | | | | to one basis and this is what adds to the simplicity and |
| and grace that every belly dancer wearing them is | | | | fluid sensuality of the dance. It is a misconception that |
| going to feel at one with her essential womanliness. | | | | tribal belly dancing is only sensual in appeal; it is actually |
| These belly dancing costumes are overtly flowing, | | | | a very mature demonstration that is not coy and at |
| colorful and gracefully gorgeous. They gladden every | | | | the same time is imbued with a rare dignity. |
| woman with the flowing lines and gauzy veils that | | | | Many women in the US and Europe turn to tribal belly |
| emphasize feminity. Finger cymbals called zills are | | | | dancing because they treat it as a kind of self |
| worn to click between the fingers and the jewelery is | | | | empowerment tool that heals as it teaches. Being able |
| exotic and bold. The tribal jewelery includes | | | | to belly dance is a healing medium for mind, body and |
| headpieces that are made of beaten silver or copper | | | | soul. It frees them from their inner demons whether |
| and are fairly large and help keep the head scarf in | | | | they have issues that need healing or otherwise. There |
| place. There are belts made of coins and | | | | is something very uplifting in challenging one's ability to |
| semi-precious stones. | | | | learn a new medium and frees the spirit in music. It is a |
| American tribal style belly dance has evolved from | | | | spiritual release that endows well being of mind and |
| their fascination for the exotic rhythms and the music. | | | | body. |
| There is a distinctive stylization to the American | | | | Tribal belly dancing even though fairly young in |
| version of tribal fusion belly dance that somehow has | | | | inception; it is growing in leaps and bounds. It has been |
| a touch of Hollywood. Belly dancing is now a hugely | | | | embraced for being a multicultural offering that is |
| popular dance form in the US for the simple reason | | | | exquisite in its bold definitions and delicate message. It |
| that in today's world, women do not get a chance to | | | | may seem very blatant but actually has a lingering |
| flaunt their essential feminine nature and by doing the | | | | sweetness that has not been lost through the |
| tribal fusion belly dance, they are subconsciously | | | | centuries of evolving to what it is today. |
| reaching out to the core of their essential womanhood. | | | | |