Duvet
Member
As with Bollywood, Flamenco fusion seems to be quite popular at the moment. Fusions are fine by me, some work, some don't (tap-dance doesn't, Breton dance does). Bollywood seems to have seeped into Bellydance under the aegis of having common gypsy roots (true or false or maybe), and Flamenco is included as an Arabic dance because it has its roots in the Andalusian gypsies who were heavily influenced by the Moorish occupation of Spain (711-1492). I've also heard of Zambra Mora, said to be the Moorish influenced gypsy style Flamenco, but unless I've seen bad performances of it, I have to admit I only saw the similarities to bellydance because I was looking for it, not because it was very evident.
How distant does a dance need to be from any Arabic connection for it not to be claimed under the Bellydance umbrella? If some teachers think any gypsy type dance = common link to bellydance, or think 15th Century Moor = Flamenco = suitable as Arabic dance, when are we going to start seeing Morris Dancing as a workshop option?
Potential for an untapped market.
How distant does a dance need to be from any Arabic connection for it not to be claimed under the Bellydance umbrella? If some teachers think any gypsy type dance = common link to bellydance, or think 15th Century Moor = Flamenco = suitable as Arabic dance, when are we going to start seeing Morris Dancing as a workshop option?
Potential for an untapped market.