Moondancer

I'm looking for some dvds on tribal and tribal fusion because i wanna learn more about these styles. does anyone have any recommendations? what about rachel brice's or ariellah's instructional dvds?

thx

Aziyade

Okay, I'm NOT a Tribal dancer, but I like doing the Tribal Fusion dvd workouts.

First of all Tribal Fusion is a fusion of ATS Tribal with other things. So the first thing you might want to do is get Fat Chance Bellydance dvds or Gypsy Caravan DVDs to see the "Tribal" part of Tribal Fusion.

Rachel's dvd is so-so. The other one you mentioned is better. Sharon Kihara's dvd is nice too!

Zarka

Before you do the Fusion, you should learn the basic. I love the FCBD DVDs and both of Kajira.

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Q-Tip

This thread might help as there are a lot of videos listed What instructional DVDs/Videos you have? and I included screen prints from the Ariellah and Rachel Brice DVDs that I have.

lizaj

Sahira's Arabian Spices and her new one Ali.
Domba's Shimmy shimmy drop drop. All have excellent combinations of moves.

SaraKat

I love the FatChance DVDs with the exception of their costuming DVD, which I thought was a bit silly (I watched it at a friend's house and I am glad I didn't pay for it).
The content on the Gypsy Caravan DVDs is great but I don't like the presentation. I wish they would face away from the camera towards a mirror like on the FatChance DVDs, especially when they teach longer combos where left and right really matter. Of course I'm a bit of a space cadet, so this might not be an issue for you.
I actually really like Rachel Brice's first DVD (eg. the not arms one-- I haven't seen the other one), although the content is very basic and a bit limited in its scope. I felt like even with multiple viewings I can still come away with new insight because she breaks things down very well.
I like Ariellah's DVD. It's really long-- it has a lot of content packed into one disc.
I have heard good things about the East Coast Tribal dvd and the Kassar dvd, but I haven't watched either all the way through, just the performances at the end (again at a friend's house).
My advice is not to go on a spree, but to just buy one DVD and really try to absorb everything in it before you buy another. If you were only going to buy one, it should be FCBD vol 1 in my opinion. Even if you do not want to do ATS, familiarity with the format is always always a good thing.

TribalDancer

Start with FCBD and GC videos. Don't skip straight to the fusion DVD's if you want to get your foundations down.

The fusion DVD's are great for exploring many other directions, once you have your foundations down.

I find that students who have diversified too quickly become a "dancer of many styles, master of none". Better to solidify your technique and knowledge of the format on which the fusion is based first, then look at the fusion and decide what works and what doesn't for you!

lizaj

Sorry I (foolishly ) assume that potential fusion dancers have done the basics...silly me!

Aziyade

Yeah, really! No, seriously -- I was asking about how to start learning Tribal Fusion a while ago, and only a scant few people said anything about learning the TRIBAL part first. I hate to say this, but it never occurred to me to actually study TRIBAL before FUSING it with whatever. I never said I was a quick study, tho...

lizaj

I assume so many dancers found what Rachel Brice was doing attractive, they decided to miss out the ATS bit especially as you aren't required to be in a group format. Yes it's happening here also and even missing out the belly dance bit as well!
It's understandable that some don't make the connection and I know some teachers accept the "straight to fusion" students here. Maybe it's right, maybe it's wrong. More Trad. Belly dance doesn't appeal to some potential students. I am still unsure myself but ho hum I fell in love with Egyptian Style and then ATS...and having said that I fuse that because we choreo in the performance troupe I belong to even if I teach ATS as improv.