Spiral Sky
- Thread starter Shanazel
- Start date
Shanazel
Moderator
I am torn between not saying anything at all because I can't say anything nice and howling with sheer frustration.
I'm not just picking on Spiral Skies. A good ninety percent of regional "belly dancers" I've seen in the last few years have gone somewhere far around the bend from traditional costuming, music, and dance vocabulary.
I'm no purist insisting that everything under the umbrella of belly dance pass the scrutiny of hard core middle eastern natives (I am an American Oriental dancer, after all) but presenting this mishmash of styles and wishful thinking as belly dance truly distresses me.
I'm not just picking on Spiral Skies. A good ninety percent of regional "belly dancers" I've seen in the last few years have gone somewhere far around the bend from traditional costuming, music, and dance vocabulary.
I'm no purist insisting that everything under the umbrella of belly dance pass the scrutiny of hard core middle eastern natives (I am an American Oriental dancer, after all) but presenting this mishmash of styles and wishful thinking as belly dance truly distresses me.
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Aniseteph
New member
This is what belly dance troupes look like*. It doesn't have anything to do with what I think of as belly dance, but then I'm one of those ME-centric pedants and have to live with it. I am having trouble reading harem pants as BD these days, that's how bad its got... <sigh>
*disclaimer - I did not get very far with the clip - STOP ALL THAT B!**&ING YIPPING FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!!!!
*disclaimer - I did not get very far with the clip - STOP ALL THAT B!**&ING YIPPING FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!!!!
Ariadne
Well-known member
I wonder if an attempt to translate it to a large stage might also be somewhat at fault. :think:
I used to be fully supportive of the attempt to transfer BD to the large stage but the more I see of what has been done with it the less I like the results. I'm starting to think film is way more intimate and appropriate; especially now that we have HD so we can actually see all the little nuances.
Oh, and Harem pants are just ugly when you twirl.
I used to be fully supportive of the attempt to transfer BD to the large stage but the more I see of what has been done with it the less I like the results. I'm starting to think film is way more intimate and appropriate; especially now that we have HD so we can actually see all the little nuances.
Oh, and Harem pants are just ugly when you twirl.
PracticalDancer
New member
There are those who do not believe that sword belongs in belly dance. Or beatboxing. Or balancing. (shrug)
This was actually a fairly well staged number. I enjoyed how they used the shape of the swords to make shapes. And, I thought they used the space of the stage well. My only 3 critiques would be: 1) that the "dancing" didn't start until the complicated staging was over (they should go hand in hand), 2) that the dancers kept pinching or obviously holding the sword blades (it really breaks the illusion -- and, I *know* those swords weigh a ton, but still!), and 3) as well staged as the rest of the number was, the exit was not staged at all -- it really should have been.
I actually did watch it all the way through. I am not a huge fan of fusion; but, I will say that the music was far more fusion than the dancing was. I find harem pants to be rarely attractive but required when needed -- and, well, we didn't get flashed, did we? They are also somewhat historically appropriate, even if the swords and music were not.
And, as to the yipping -- most of that came from the audience. But, if you are going to do a "cuisinart maneuver" like the stage crossing one or the turns, a little bark to time the troupe is perfectly fine in my book.
I actually liked it and may watch it again to get staging ideas.
This was actually a fairly well staged number. I enjoyed how they used the shape of the swords to make shapes. And, I thought they used the space of the stage well. My only 3 critiques would be: 1) that the "dancing" didn't start until the complicated staging was over (they should go hand in hand), 2) that the dancers kept pinching or obviously holding the sword blades (it really breaks the illusion -- and, I *know* those swords weigh a ton, but still!), and 3) as well staged as the rest of the number was, the exit was not staged at all -- it really should have been.
I actually did watch it all the way through. I am not a huge fan of fusion; but, I will say that the music was far more fusion than the dancing was. I find harem pants to be rarely attractive but required when needed -- and, well, we didn't get flashed, did we? They are also somewhat historically appropriate, even if the swords and music were not.
And, as to the yipping -- most of that came from the audience. But, if you are going to do a "cuisinart maneuver" like the stage crossing one or the turns, a little bark to time the troupe is perfectly fine in my book.
I actually liked it and may watch it again to get staging ideas.
Aniseteph
New member
No blame to the troupe for the yipping, I know it was the audience, but none the less annoying for that. I know people do it to be encouraging and all that, but it's as if audiences feel they have to be on full on woohoo yay you go girls clappy mode all the time. It gets tiring and leaves you nowhere to go on the appreciation scale, IMO.
Ariadne
Well-known member
That was exactly why I assumed they were a student troop at first.
Sophia Maria
New member
Huh.
...
I have to say I really liked the way they used the stage, and the sword work was precise and well-rehearsed. It can be painful to watch a group performance with props when all the props are out of sync / falling. That being said, the performance seemed to be all about how cool swords are, rather than dancing or entertaining. I think they were going for the dangerous gypsy lady look, and that always leaves me disappointed.
And yes, please audience, stop the yipping! :lol::lol: It's great to show support, but to me it gets a little repetitive and boring when the whole audience zaghareets just because their friend walked on stage.
...
I have to say I really liked the way they used the stage, and the sword work was precise and well-rehearsed. It can be painful to watch a group performance with props when all the props are out of sync / falling. That being said, the performance seemed to be all about how cool swords are, rather than dancing or entertaining. I think they were going for the dangerous gypsy lady look, and that always leaves me disappointed.
And yes, please audience, stop the yipping! :lol::lol: It's great to show support, but to me it gets a little repetitive and boring when the whole audience zaghareets just because their friend walked on stage.
This troupe would be a big hit at some of the local festivals in my area that are pirate/belly dancer themed, such as Sea Dogs and Tortuga. They obviously worked hard on the choreography, did some interesting things and incorporated belly dance movements. Overall, the dancers aren't terribly skilled, but kudos to them for their precision with the props and formations.
The music is a fusion of Eastern/Western, an original piece by Djinn and I quite liked it. Not traditional music by any means, but worked well for this piece.
Interesting to me (on a personal level) that this doesn't look as outlandish as the more tribal fusion styles that are popular these days. This looks to me like it grew right out of the roots of the old West Coast of the U.S. so-called "ethnic" style from back in the day (70's). So because of my personal dance roots, it looks more belly dance to me than, say, the Indigo or Unmata (or other tribal fusion groups that I don't know the name of, that incorporate totally Western music and hip/hop, etc).
The music is a fusion of Eastern/Western, an original piece by Djinn and I quite liked it. Not traditional music by any means, but worked well for this piece.
Interesting to me (on a personal level) that this doesn't look as outlandish as the more tribal fusion styles that are popular these days. This looks to me like it grew right out of the roots of the old West Coast of the U.S. so-called "ethnic" style from back in the day (70's). So because of my personal dance roots, it looks more belly dance to me than, say, the Indigo or Unmata (or other tribal fusion groups that I don't know the name of, that incorporate totally Western music and hip/hop, etc).
Sophia Maria
New member
It's Djinn? I've never heard anything from them before...but I've heard good things.
Yeah it's not bad per se, it's actually very well staged, like I was saying. I'm not offended at all by it, but I just have to raise my eyebrows when belly dancers portray themselves as pirate gypsies.
Yeah it's not bad per se, it's actually very well staged, like I was saying. I'm not offended at all by it, but I just have to raise my eyebrows when belly dancers portray themselves as pirate gypsies.
Aniseteph
New member
I was trying not to butt in and derail, but as it's gone quiet...
Having had a look at their website and some other clips - is this style and approach typical of belly dance troupes? The music runs a huge gamut with absolutely no connection, the costumes change to match. I guess the idea is to be diverse, but for me the dancing is generic to the point of flavourlessness. At times it's like watching a class drill.
I don't want to make it about this group - they seem to have a range of different style dancers so how you blend that might always be tricky. But it's like an icecream sundae where instead of an interesting selection someone blended the whole range of flavours into a generic icecream. You've lost what made a good vanilla, or strawberry, or sundae, and replaced it with... what?
I was going to say that troupes tend to be more specialised over here, but then had a flashback and Googled and YT'd. Oh dear. No. Apparently no they don't. Jack of all trades and master of none; that's supposed to be belly dance? I could cry. Seriously, WHO WANTS TO WATCH THIS STUFF? (whole 'nuther thread).
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?
Having had a look at their website and some other clips - is this style and approach typical of belly dance troupes? The music runs a huge gamut with absolutely no connection, the costumes change to match. I guess the idea is to be diverse, but for me the dancing is generic to the point of flavourlessness. At times it's like watching a class drill.
I don't want to make it about this group - they seem to have a range of different style dancers so how you blend that might always be tricky. But it's like an icecream sundae where instead of an interesting selection someone blended the whole range of flavours into a generic icecream. You've lost what made a good vanilla, or strawberry, or sundae, and replaced it with... what?
I was going to say that troupes tend to be more specialised over here, but then had a flashback and Googled and YT'd. Oh dear. No. Apparently no they don't. Jack of all trades and master of none; that's supposed to be belly dance? I could cry. Seriously, WHO WANTS TO WATCH THIS STUFF? (whole 'nuther thread).
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?
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Shanazel
Moderator
Ice cream is a good analogy, Aniseteph!
I've never been a troupe member. The closest I came while dancing in the dark ages was traveling with a couple of gals who had gigs the same time and place I did; we were strictly solo performers. My students dance as an ensemble for student occasions though I encourage the more advanced ones to solo.
Offhand I can't think of any favorite troupe, but I do enjoy programs that include a range of styles: AmCab, Egyptian, Greek tsifteteli, maybe even a very good fusion that remains firmly based in belly dance and doesn't stray into heavy goth, Bollywood, or pirate fantasies. I dislike entire shows of straight fusion and weird fantasy presented as belly dance, though I have no objection whatsoever to the same shows presented as experimental dance or some other genre.
I've never been a troupe member. The closest I came while dancing in the dark ages was traveling with a couple of gals who had gigs the same time and place I did; we were strictly solo performers. My students dance as an ensemble for student occasions though I encourage the more advanced ones to solo.
Offhand I can't think of any favorite troupe, but I do enjoy programs that include a range of styles: AmCab, Egyptian, Greek tsifteteli, maybe even a very good fusion that remains firmly based in belly dance and doesn't stray into heavy goth, Bollywood, or pirate fantasies. I dislike entire shows of straight fusion and weird fantasy presented as belly dance, though I have no objection whatsoever to the same shows presented as experimental dance or some other genre.