Antuanette

I've read a lot on the fusions posts on here and realize that this isn't a traditional dance form, but I think it deserves to be recognized as a fusion style. With groups like Unmata and Shakra doing complete fusion dancing that all stems from a bellydance background, there are now some great new forms of dance that are growing out of traditional bellydance techniques. So, with that in mind, I really want to share my first gothic tribal bellydance music video. The intent was to focus on the music and movement together and not really the dance. It is supposed to be a "music" video, not a dance video. I'd love to hear your comments as long as they aren't mean spirited. Thanks for looking!

YouTube - Fully Automatic Gothic Tribal Bellydance


A~

Aisha Azar

Dear Antuanette,
Perhaps you will think this mean spirited; I am not sure, but I think it is a legitimate question.
What in the clip do you consider to be belly dance?
Regards,
A'isha

Antuanette

No, I don't consider that question mean spirited at all. I'm thinking you are asking what traditional bellydance moves I perform in the entire video. I do undulations, snake arms, omis, mayas and shimmies. These are all things that I learned in bellydance 101 when I first started taking classes and then improved upon during my time in a Tribal Fusion troupe. Of course, this particular video doesn't FOCUS on traditional bellydance moves at all. it is a fusion music video. I consider the costuming and some of the dance movements to be very gothic and some of the dance movements are inspired by Amy from Unmata and hip-hop classes I've taken. Overall, tho, it all stems from the bellydance community I've been a part of for a few years and things I've learned at TribalCon, Spirit of the Tribes, Orlando Bellydance, YouHealth and other workshops.

A~

Aisha Azar

Dear Antuanette,
To me, what is happening in the video does not remind me of belly dance in any way. There seems to be a few movements in common with belly dance and some other dance forms, not relegated to belly dance alone. They could come from numerous sources.
In the 1960s I used to live in the San Francisco area and I used to go to rock concerts at Winterland and Sgt. Pepper's and the Family Dog and Filmore West. In these venues they often used to have a big movie screen behind the band and on it they would show sort of psychedilic film footage. This video reminded me very much of the screens behind the bands that used to play in these venues.
Belly dance is a combination of movement from specific families, cultural musical elements, a cultural as well as personal spirit and essence, a musical base that can be interpreted with the body and the mind and soul from within certain ethnic boundaries. Interesting as this video is, it does not have the needed components to be belly dance. I am hoping that you will consider calling it by some other name.
Regards,
A'isha

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia

Hi Antuanette, I really couldn't watch the video in it's entirety..the special effects were hard to follow and my eyes began to blur involuntarily. That's is not a reflection on your dance, but that the effects used in the video may cause viewers problems..espcially those prone to epileptic seizures or visual deficits.

It may be something to consider when making the next video.
Yasmine

__________________
www.visionsofthenile.com

Antuanette

I really appreciate your comments and opinions. I'm glad we were able to echo the movement of the 60's in the video. I also respect your ideas about bellydance, but think that the current art form of "bellydancing" encompasses a lot more than just traditional movements within certain ethnic boundaries. Bellydance is truly a spiritual dance that is interpreted through body movements. I think our differing beliefs stem from seeing bellydance as only including traditional movements as opposed to bellydance including many different types of spiritual body movements. So, I won't be changing the title because my personal belief is that all types of dance can be fused with bellydance movements and still be called "bellydance".

A~

Aisha Azar

Dear Antuanette,
My beliefs have very little to do with movement at all, but indeed with the spirit of the dance itself. Movement is a vehicle for expression, not THE dance. In order for it to be the dance it has to have certain criteria, which I mentioned in my other post. Movement does not belong to one dance form alone, and any movement found in belly dance can be found in other forms as well. Essence and spirit define the dances.
Regards,
A'isha

da Sage

This video is not a good showcase of your dance skills, nor does it seem particularly gothic to me. Perhaps you have another clip where your dancing can be clearly seen?

Salome

She did say it was suppose to be a music video not a dance video.

lizaj

Yes I couldn't watch it either. It was too painful to do so and that isn't to do with the dancing!!!!
I'd rather just see someone dance either interesting fusion or belly dance and without all the tricksy stuff to distract (or hurt)me.