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Aziyade · 12-05-2007, 03:20 PM

The big debate -- at least in the US -- is whether or not Tribal was first and foremost a COSTUMING style or a DANCE style.

The original Bal Anat wasn't "tribal" in any way that we would think of today. They did the same movements at the Renn Faire in the day that they did at the clubs in the nights. The costuming was more "ethnic" in appearance for the Renn Faire, because that was a look that worked for them.

Eventually they created a SHOW based around what Jamila understood to be ethnic dances from North Africa (or inspired by them) and that became the more formal Bal Anat show. (We got to see ancient footage of the dancers when Suhaila brought the new Bal Anat to St. Louis. It was AWESOME!!)

You can see old photos of Masha Archer on line, and even then you can see her exploring her costuming ideas, but "Tribal" as a dance style hadn't been born yet.

Did Tribal as a DANCE begin with Jamila? Not really, even though Suhaila likes to say it does

LOL. Carolena was Masha's student and never even took a class with Jamila, but Carolena created the group improv style of DANCE that would be called Tribal.

So if you think Tribal is COSTUMING, then yes it began with (or at least might have been popularized by) Bal Anat. But as far as a DANCE style it had nothing to do with Bal Anat, and came later.

12-05-2007, 03:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
Aziyade V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornfields of Evansville Indiana. Posts: 1,049	The big debate -- at least in the US -- is whether or not Tribal was first and foremost a COSTUMING style or a DANCE style. The original Bal Anat wasn't "tribal" in any way that we would think of today. They did the same movements at the Renn Faire in the day that they did at the clubs in the nights. The costuming was more "ethnic" in appearance for the Renn Faire, because that was a look that worked for them. Eventually they created a SHOW based around what Jamila understood to be ethnic dances from North Africa (or inspired by them) and that became the more formal Bal Anat show. (We got to see ancient footage of the dancers when Suhaila brought the new Bal Anat to St. Louis. It was AWESOME!!) You can see old photos of Masha Archer on line, and even then you can see her exploring her costuming ideas, but "Tribal" as a dance style hadn't been born yet. Did Tribal as a DANCE begin with Jamila? Not really, even though Suhaila likes to say it does LOL. Carolena was Masha's student and never even took a class with Jamila, but Carolena created the group improv style of DANCE that would be called Tribal. So if you think Tribal is COSTUMING, then yes it began with (or at least might have been popularized by) Bal Anat. But as far as a DANCE style it had nothing to do with Bal Anat, and came later.