Tribal Belly Dance

Tribal Style Belly Dance or American Tribal Style Belly Dance (commonly known as ATS) is a modern style of dance created by FatChanceBellyDance director, Carolena Nericcio. In 1974 Carolena began belly dancing with Masha Archer and the San Francisco Dance Troupe. Masha’s style was an eclectic blend of classic Egyptian Cabaret, Folkloric and any other influence that she found enticing. Being a trained painter and sculptor, Masha taught her dancers to create art through dance. In 1987, after the SF Classic Dance Troupe had disbanded, Carolena began teaching in a small studio in the Noe Valley Ministry.

In defining Tribal Style Belly Dance and/or American Tribal Style Belly Dance, it is extremely important to note that Tribal Style is a larger category under which American Tribal Style (ATS) appears. ATS is a specific form of Tribal Style Belly Dance that is clearly defined and documented with the primary characteristic being that of group improvisation. "Tribal Style" can describe many other styles that are not necessarily ATS.

Tribal Bellydance

Tribal bellydance's main focus is on a group improvisational style, as with ATS above. Participants learn a common vocabulary of movement, and through subtle cueing and a lot of practice to develop non-verbal communication, dancers can create a performance in the moment that, to the audience, appears choreographed. This dance draws also on some of the cultural conventions of the Tribal peoples it emulates, and many women find great camaraderie, comfort, trust, and friendship through the dance experience, and devote their time to the social and emotional aspects of the dance.

Tribal style movement is one important, and sometimes subtle, aspect to Tribal bellydance.

Discussions of the style have yielded a wide consensus that Tribal movement has a stronger emphasis on isolations. Specifically keeping portions of the body gently firm and still while other portions move with marked precision and a greater degree of repetition.

 While in other forms of bellydance, isolations are also part of the aesthetic, Tribal isolations are more severe and stillness is held in sharper contrast to the movement.

Costuming is often colorful and involves many layers, with large full skirts and/or full pantaloons, Indian-style cholis, hip scarves, tassel belts and/or long fringe, and some sort of detailed head wrap, decorations, or turban. Often, a coin bra or Tribal-decorated bra is worn.