The Punk Rock of Belly Dance

I attended a classic Fat Chance Belly Dance style class this evening taught by the lovely Wendy.
As I've mentioned before, FCBD are American Tribal Style belly dance, actually, they are the founders of that specific form of belly dance. It is an improvisational form that is done in groups (or "tribes") of women. Each women studies the language of movements and cues so that they can spontaneously dance with one another. So say one ATS dancer from Kansas meets an ATS gal from Melbourne, they can instantly dance with one another with this language.

I love the fact that this dance form is community based in that way. It isn't something that is just composed of solo dancers who focus on the ego-driven goal of stardom, it is all about interaction and connection with other dancers. It's earthy and informal, the type of dance you'd expect to see performed in a meadow, as opposed to a concert hall.

I've always had a bit of an issue with high-brow art forms. I can't stand sitting in a fancy theatre with a bunch of stuff-shirts watching a melodramatic Modern Dance, nor do I really love seeing visual art in the antiseptic setting of a museum. I think art is a spontaneous part of human expression, and it's function is supposed to be as something that is interwoven with the community, not put on a pedestal behind glass. I also don't like the concept of only the privileged and insanely talented being able to create and enjoy the art.

So I guess I like ATS because it's sort of like the punk rock of belly dance. It accepts all body types, skill levels, and abilities.
Yes, there are other dance forms that have more sophisticated choreography patterns and movements, it is very folk dance like and looks very simplistic at times (though that simplicity goes away when you actually try to learn it... belly dance is challenging) Even within belly dance there are more complex schools. But I think I love this one best simply for it's heart.

Also, I think my love for it lies somewhere deeper within my psyche as well.
When I was a teenager, I was really into reading about all things New Age. I used to put myself in trances and try to recall my past lives. Think what you will of it, what I saw could be valid or total silly teenage fantasy, but regardless, it came from within me, so it has some merit within my life.
One of the lives that I recalled in a trance was that of a young woman somewhere in Europe in the Middle Ages. One of her memories was of being in a meadow with several other women from her village. They were all dancing in a circle together, doing some sort of long lost folk dance. They wore peasant-like dresses and had wreaths of small flowers in their hair. I remember feeling an incredible sense of happiness and completeness as I danced.
The first time I danced in an ATS chorus was in Sabrina's class in San Diego. At one point we all got into a circle and danced around the room before getting into formation. As we went around in the circle I remembered the past life I'd seen as a child, and I had that same incredible sense of happiness and belonging. I almost came to tears.

Recently I was thinking about what direction I would like my senior thesis to go in. I decided I would like it to be centered around American Tribal Style, it's history and also it's practical application as a tool for building community and enriching people's lives. It is my ultimate goal to advance within the class levels at Fat Chance by then and get my teacher certification. Also, by the time of graduation I would also love to be in a troupe and be performing. Hopefully I can buckle down and make all of this manifest within the next year and a half.
I talked with Wendy after class tonight and she was really helpful and encouraging. I'm excited!

Yeeeeeip!

Since I'm such a video fan, lookie here for more ATS fabulousness: