Spiral Sky

Jane

New member
From what I know of the ladies in the troupe, they all have had the one main teacher. The troupe hosts new American style dancers, Tribal Fusion dancers, and they once hosted Ruby Beh. It's kind of an eclectic mix with a lot of American pop-culture, props, and creative artistic expression. Someone in their troupe has a background in occidental dance, with the heavy use of formations and attention to line. Tracks experimental world dance to me and not belly dance. I've never witnessed them in a live performance using real Middle Eastern music in a troupe number. Granted I've not seen a lot of their stuff live.

I've done troupe work in the old AmCab style. It was George Abdo and Eddie the Shiek type music with solid 70s & 80s AmCab dance aesthetic. Rarely veil, sword and zills, but always used in the same way an AmCab soloist used them. We were always heavy on the dancing and light on the formations and staging. No structured improv at all. If someone did improvisation, it was as a break away soloist and the others just fell to the back and stayed quiet.
 

Shanazel

Moderator
Thanks for the insights, Jane. Experimental world dance describes what I've seen much better than belly dance.

I've often wondered why folks doing this type of dance (and I'm not centering on SS here) insist on the belly dance label. Do they think the label gives them a veracity that experimental dance does not? Or are they simply uneducated and truly believe that what they do is belly dance? I've always thought it a dead shame that Carolena Nerriccio had to hide glorious ATS behind the skirts of belly dance for so long insead of simply declaring it a new form. I feel the same way about Goth dance and some of the worship forms of dance that insist on a belly dance designation.
 

Ariadne

Well-known member
Thinking of the troupes you really rate, do they tend to be more specialist, or cover the range from Egyptian to the outer reaches of TF?

I have some favorite troupes and they are all specialists. They do one thing and they do it really well.
 

Zorba

"The Veiled Male"
I thought it was well done and well staged. I do agree that there wasn't much actual *dancing* in the routine - BUT - that is pretty typical of Sword routines. I *REALLY* detest sword. I'm not saying it "doesn't belong" as another poster alluded to, I'm just saying I roll my eyes every time yet another sword comes out onto the stage.

With all that said - at least they did something DIFFERENT with the darn things!
 

Shanazel

Moderator
I think I'll borrow a students sword for our next rece center recital and use it in a dramatic dance based on an ancient vegetable stew making tradition. Haven't seen sword dancers chop carrots on stage yet...
 

PracticalDancer

New member
I thought it was well done and well staged. I do agree that there wasn't much actual *dancing* in the routine - BUT - that is pretty typical of Sword routines. I *REALLY* detest sword. I'm not saying it "doesn't belong" as another poster alluded to, I'm just saying I roll my eyes every time yet another sword comes out onto the stage.

With all that said - at least they did something DIFFERENT with the darn things!

Zorba, there is at least one (if not more) video if our lovely Shems dancing with a sword. I will find it for you to give you hope. :)
 

gisela

Super Moderator
I just rewatched Project Bellydance and Karolina does a pretty cool sword dance as the audition piece.
 

M'Lady Caija

New member
I'm mostly amazed that they didn't hurt themselfes or eachother with the swords. As a viking-fighter I know that replicas might be heavy and when not used to a type of prop/weapon it might get really intresting...

I actually rather liked it, But I'm not as eduacated. I was looking more at the koordination of the swords and the way they moved over stage, and I found that very to my liking but when you mention it, I cant really recall any actual dancing. Especially not when comparing to the solo nunmber by the girl in red and blue skirts!
 

gypsy

New member
Not looking like belly dance to me...
Once I noticed they were wearing harem pants all I could see was MEN. And not male dancers either, but looked like women impersonating a stereotypical image of arabic men. Can't get image out of my head!!!
 
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