Core on the Floor

[shanmonster]

I spaced the planks in between the rope jumping sections. I did a lot better than I thought. The bicep exercises made my arms bulge. I'm going to be sore for a couple of days, I think.

I'm not pleased by my kneeling laybacks. I need to get those back up to snuff to perform and teach floorwork. No staggered ascending laybacks for a while, I guess. I have a goal to work towards.

I met a dancer at the gym. I asked her what style she danced, and she said, "Tribal."

"Oh, ATS?"

She shook her head. "No, tribal fusion."

"What styles do you fuse?"

She looked baffled. "All styles."

This was my turn to be baffled. I was picturing tap/ballet/butoh/yoga/modern/square/swing/ATS fusion, and it made my brain hurt. I finally figured out it was primarily Egyptian raqs with elements of hiphop. Phew!

I think a lot of tribal fusion artists perhaps don't know what styles they have fused together.

I think a lot of people would call me a tribal fusion belly dancer, but my background isn't primarily in American Tribal Style. It's in AmCab, floorwork, Martha Graham modern, martial arts, yoga, poi, pole, butoh, burlesque, and Egyptian raqs. I've studied a lot of different dance and martial art styles, and once I've gained a familiarity with some of the movements or movement philosophies, those elements will begin to creep into my performance pieces. I think of myself as fusing a wide variety of movement styles (though not all at once. That would make a mess).

Comments

[meadb.livejournal.com]

Arrrrgh, how can people do fusion without knowing what they are fusing? Boggles the mind.

[meddevi.livejournal.com]

probably the result of the many someones out there just teaching "Tribal Fusion" without any explanation of any of the roots...:P

Improper teaching...

[(Anonymous)]

Perhaps she meant she fuses all styles of tribal...or maybe she's got one of THOSE teachers, the six-week wonders who've got no idea about body mechanics, history, ethics..... Sigh. Now I need a scone and a lie-down. Gwyn

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of tribal fusion artists perhaps don't know what styles they have fused together.

I was going to say something along the lines of "ya think?" but I see it's already been covered.

Good luck on your strength-building!

[mysteryelfx.livejournal.com]

You've got to know what you are fusing to call something fusion. Dancers who just call themselves "tribal fusion" dancers give away the fact that they have no clue. Those of us who know better know better...

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Heh. Especially since ATS is a fusion dance to begin with.