What are the Different Belly Dance Styles?

Belly dance includes styles like Traditional (Raqs Sharki), Fat Chance (improvisational), Fusion (diverse influences), and The Siren Project (FCBD with flamenco), each offering unique movements and expressions.

Traditional Belly Dance

Belly dance, also known as Raqs Sharki, is an ancient dance. She is particularly recognized for her subtle and feminine movements. The main focus is on the hips. The most common elements are: the veil and silk fans, rattles to accompany the music, sword, candelabra, and much more. It has its geographical origins in the Middle East, mainly developed in Egypt, Lebanon, and Iran, although we can find traditional belly dancers in most Arab countries. By studying its history, we know that belly dance emerged during the matriarchy centuries ago. She is distinguished by her light, colorful clothing, and also by her sensual and happy attitude.

Fat Chance Belly Dance

Fat Chance Belly Dance® Style (formerly American Tribal Style®) is a modern style that focuses on group improvisation and was created by Carolena Nericcio in San Francisco, California, USA in 1987. Most FCBD® movements are inspired by folk dances from the Middle East, North Africa, Spain, and India. It is an exceptionally modern creation that does not represent an "authentic" dance of any particular region, although at the same time, it is recognized as one of the styles of belly dance. FCBD® Style is characterized by its improvisation technique, which uses a vocabulary of natural movements and signals that allows dancers to communicate through gestures and eye contact when dancing together.

Fusion Belly Dance

Fusion belly dancing began as an alternative to Fat Chance Belly Dance® style so dancers could have more freedom of movement and less structure. You could say that it is more practical for soloists. Rachel Brice could be considered the queen of fusion belly dance and other exponents have revolutionized this dance, such as Zoe Jakes. Within this variant, it is valid to merge with any style of music or dance. However, among the most common we have flamenco, hip hop, Odissi, among others. Additionally, it was widely known as "tribal fusion." In the costumes too, we will see the reflection of different styles of belly dance along with other disciplines. For example, we can see the 25-yard skirt worn in FCBD®, along with a more traditional ballerina-like sparkly bra.

The Siren Project: FCBD® Flamenco Fusion

One of the newest belly dance styles is the Siren Project style or format, created by Katarzyna Lidia and Agata Zakrzewska in Poland. Siren Project is the mix between the Fat Chance Belly Dance® format along with flamenco. This variant of FCBD® stands out for adding the use of the fan and the shawl, which are traditionally for flamenco. By combining the stylization of these two beautiful forms of art, the result is simply spectacular. Additionally, the stylization of the Siren Project format includes flamenco skirts and hair pin flowers, which are traditionally used in flamenco.

Study Fusion Belly Dance with Tracy Rhaj: international belly dance teacher.

You can access weekly online belly dance classes, online workshops, pre-recorded classes, and weekly belly dance classes in Southern California, USA.

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