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New Beginner Classes Now Open!

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:21:09 +0100

Saturday: New beginner & Mother and daughter class - 11am - 12pm

Monday: Adults New beginner - 5:30 - 6:30pm

Book your spot now! Next beginner intake is in January 2011!

Fun for the holidays Bellydance workshop!

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:32:29 +0100

Learn some fun bouncy dance moves
Free face painting
Craft a beautiful bracelet to take home.
Bring a packed lunch
Wear leggings/stretch pants

Tuesday 15th June
R70 per child
for girls aged 6 - 13
10:00am - 1:00pm
Roosevelt park Rec
Booking essential!
Alison 083 450 8508

New Beginners Classes Start In June! Wiggle some warmth into your life this winter!

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:24:08 +0100

If you like tattoos, dressing up, heavy silver jewelry and unusual music then Tribal Fusion Bellydance is for you!

Book your spot today to learn Snakelike Skills!

Classes on Mondays 5:30 - 6:30 PM!

Melange

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:58:26 +0100

Melange – Student Show 2009

5 December 2009 – Thank you to everyone involved in making our 2^nd show ever a great success!

Our audience loved it and we had a great time! After a long year of hard work and practice we outdid ourselves by presenting a show to a packed audience who described the performances as - “Outstanding” Fantastic” and mind blowing!

Many Many thanks to all those who took part, attended, helped and most of all the wonderful dancers who put such an effort into their dance, costumes and our studio!

Photos up in the gallery!

Busy Busy Bellydancers!

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:44:35 +0100

The past few months have been quite busy for Bellydancers in Johannesburg!

In August Alibelly performed in Johannesburgs first interstudio Tribal Bellydance showcase organised by In Harems Way. We got to meet and perform with In Harems Way, Fuse Dance, Soma, Almeya Bellydance, Scarlett Bastet and Alegra and Fulvia from Dancing Divinity. We also danced at the Firlands Childrens Home Fete which was fun and the little Tribal Genies did their first public performance!

In September we took part in the Miss Bellydance SA Competition where we came second in the Group Drum Solo/Tribal Fusion Category. We also danced at the Bellydance Sounds fo Africa iterstudio event.

October has been busy too with workshops with former Bellydance Superstar Sherri Wheatley and Laura Montieth from Scotland on the weekend of the 3rd and 4th - Phew - 12 hours of dance all together! The weekend of the 9th,10th and 11th I will be attending Into the Shadows Show and doing workshops with Bellydance Superstar Sharon Kihara.

All in all LOTs of dancing! Lots of Fun!

Karen comes home.... : )

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:25:32 +0100

To state that I enjoy my dancing, could definitely be considere

To state that I enjoy my dancing, could definitely be considered euphemistic. To put it more succinctly: I'm having the most fun I've had for centuries!

Hi, I'm Karen, a 50 year old yoga teacher, massage therapist, home executive and care giver. Although the opening statement above originated from my Nosferatic alter ego, apparent in the accompanying photograph, I concur wholeheartedly.

I started belly dancing in February 2007 and switched to Tribal in January 2008. It's been quite a roller coaster ride from extreme physical, emotional and mental challenge to an increase in confidence, creative fulfilment and sheer joy. I decided to do belly dancing shortly after being diagnosed with Coxsackie virus and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) after 9 months of weird and (not so)wonderful symptoms and a multitude of medical tests. Probably not the best time to start a new physical activity, but the illness made me acutely aware of how tenuous our existence actually is, and that one should live every day as if it's your last. So no more procrastination, just go out and do it!

My first few months of belly dancing were absolute hell. Not only was it an extreme physical challenge, but also a mental and emotional one. Even though I was in fairly decent shape due to my 16 years of yoga training, it's always difficult to teach an old body new tricks, especially one with CFS! My friends couldn't understand why I would “put myself through the agony?” To me though, it was the ultimate challenge, no way was I going to let any silly little virus sentence me to crocheting doilies way before my time! So I persisted in the knowledge that somewhere down the line, things would fall into place and I would start enjoying myself. It took about 6 months before I started to feel the improvement and by the time I started with Tribal, it all came together. The physical side of dancing is still challenging to me, since I'm never sure how my energy levels will be or how my muscles are going to react at a certain time, and I often have to dance "through" the pain or discomfort, but the amount of pleasure I derive from the whole experience makes it all worth while. It has also taught me humility and patience. I have what Alison once, very diplomatically, referred to as an “...attention to detail personality...” (My friends just call it obsessive), so it's still a challenge for me to be patient whilst my body tries to catch up with my mind!

My first year of belly dancing was done with Alison whilst she was still teaching at another dance school and it was here, about 4 months after I started, that I was first exposed to the Tribal Fusion style at a video day at Alison's home, where she enthusiastically told us all about this amazing new dance style that she was crazy about. Well, it was total infatuation at first sight for me! Here was something I totally “got”. So when Alison informed us she was starting up a Tribal school the following year, I immediately drafted my letter of resignation and followed her.

I guess it's difficult for me to explain why Tribal appeals to me so much, it's a little like trying to explain why I like Heavy Metal. It's a very personal and emotional, gut response at first and that's more related to the visual style than anything else. Let's just say that with my dyed black hair with the purple streak, my tattoos and piercings, my art college background and my taste for the bizarre in general, it felt like coming “home”. On a more intellectual level, I suppose it appeals to my eclectic nature. I love mixing seemingly disparate ideas and things together in all aspects of my life. I'm also what you'd call a "Globalist" and enjoy seeing the effect of cross cultural influences in all forms of art and everyday life. In other words if someday, in the not too distant future, earth would be populated by coffee skinned humans that speak one global language, that's something I'd find amazingly exciting. So here was a unique dance form that incorporated that crossing over and inter-cultural mixing.

Since Tribal is also still an essentially “young” dance form and constantly evolving, it doesn't yet have the rules and constraints of established form that other “older” dance styles have. This makes it fiercely individualistic and open to personalisation on all levels. Hell, I get to express my own individuality through my dance movements, my costuming, jewellery and make up and best of all, I get to do it to music by my favourite Alternative Rock band! Where else do you get this kind of expressive freedom?!!

Tribal has also been responsible for re-awakening some of my other, long neglected, creative passions like painting, costume, hair, make up and especially, jewellery design and making. I'm very bravely, going to attempt to paint a backdrop for our end of the year show and that will be the first time in about 18 years that I touch a paint brush! It remains to be seen if I'm still up to the task. Since I couldn't find the appropriate jewellery locally for my costumes, I had to resort to making my own. This, in turn, led me to discover and explore the endless possibilities of Chainmaille and ignited a whole new passion that is giving me a tremendous sense of creative fulfilment. I'm currently specializing in custom made chainmaille pieces for Tribal costuming from hip skirts to hand flowers and anything else that tickles your fetish!

My dancing has also given me a legitimate excuse to play dress up in as imaginative and over the top way as I like and to let my inner (Goth)child out to play. In today's world we are constantly confronted by the “bad news” and as a result, tend to take life very seriously and we forget how to play, losing an essential part of what makes us balanced human beings. Every time I get dressed up and dance, I instantaneously feel about 20 years younger! Who needs Botox and Viagra? I can't wait to see what's next in this exciting adventure.

Of Mice and Men

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:48:02 +0100

After months of practice and costume preparation we unveiled our vampire fusion piece at a charity event called of Mice and Men. This event was in aid of raising funds for CLAW.
See http:/www.facebook.com/homephp#/event.php?eid=86192638217

Renee's take on Tribal

Fri, 29 May 2009 10:21:17 +0100

1. How does tribal differ from other forms of bellydancing? What are it's distinctive qualities?

For me the basic movements are the same as other forms of bellydancing, but there is a definitely different aesthetic to the dance.

A slower tempo and greater emphasis on the definition of movements, less glitzy.

2. What drew you towards this form?
I was not very concerned about the form when I first enquired about classes etc, I just wanted to do belly dancing full stop, however, having started to learn tribal I really enjoy the languid motions and the very cool music.

3. Do you find bellydancing gives your students more confidence in themselves and their own feminity/their bodies?
For me personally I would say for sure! It is the one time in the week when your wiggling wobbling butt is a must, and shaking what your mama gave you no matter the size, the dipples or the stretch marks is all great - so long as you get it moving.

4. What are the physical benefits?

I would say discovering, or locating muscles that are there but that you are not neccesarily aware of.

PINK PARTY!

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:33:22 +0100

Since our concert was in September last year we decided it was high time for a get together! On Friday 27th March we invaded the upper level of Il Capo's in Bergbron for our girls night out Pink Party.
Dinner was served and the dancing began! Much fun was had by all - Our non Bellydancer guests got to learn a few moves and we got to dress up in our Costumes and dance outside of the classroom!
Prizes were awarded for the Pinkest Costumes, the Best Wiggler, The Most Enthusiastic Shimmy and the Slinkiest Snake Arms.

Dawn, Karen, Alison and Vanessa

Release your inner Bling Addict

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:22:27 +0100

Tribal Bellydancing is the most amazing and enjoyable experience. The best part is that any person no matter who you are or what you look like can join in this wonderful activity not only is it an enjoyable way to get excersise but to bring out the "bling" side of your personality. Im very glad to have been exposed to such an entertaining activity.

Dawn