What Is Fusion Belly Dance?
When I first began belly dancing in 2003, I felt very confined.
Coming from a Russian Gypsy style of dance, and years of studying
various forms of dance including jazz, hip hop, ballet and tap, I
suddenly felt “trapped“ in the traditional styles of Raks Sharqui.
Studying with Egyptian, Lebanese and Turkish instructors, I felt as
if my body wanted to do something completely different. My
instructors would tell me to do one thing, but my body was
screaming to do another. I was still belly dancing, but my body
felt no connection to those particular styles. I loved Arabic music,
but my ideas for how I would interpret the music was not the
same way as I was being taught. I adore Raks Sharqui dancers-
there quick, sharp, firm, ballet-esque movements. Thats not me. I
wanted to take belly dance, and dance to what I felt connected
with musically. Lets face it, belly dance is an ever evolving dance.
I wanted to perform belly dance to what I felt connected to.
And it wasn’t always traditional music.
For years I struggled to find my grounding. Being the "odd ball"
wasnt easy (but alas our time has finally come). Feeling lonely, I
came across Isidora Bushkovski from Colorado--and BAM! There
was my style! It was refreshing to see another dancer doing what
I was--and being accepted for it. So now, its what I perform and
what I teach.
Fusion Belly Dance is the integration and weaving of one
style of dance (hip hop, Flamenco, etc) with belly dance.
Here are some of my points on the do’s and don’ts of Fusion Belly
Dance:
I am a fusion belly dancer. I make that clear when I get booked
for ANYTHING, teach ANYTHING, do ANYTHING. I am a FUSION
belly dancer. I don't take gigs that are for traditional belly
dancers. And I cant dance to music I don't feel connected to. Its
why I am not a restaurant dancer. I cant perform to something
that doesn't move or inspire me. Sometimes, it is traditional belly
dance music-with my own twist to performing to it. Point: Don’t
advertise yourself as a belly dancer if you perform fusion
belly dance. People maybe paying you to perform or teach
traditional Raks Sharqui and will be very unhappy if you
are doing something that is not. Be honest with yourself
and your customers.
I have GROWN tremendously in this particular style. Its more than
just picking a song and adding a few belly dance moves. Point:
When performing fusion belly dance its about taking the
song--understanding ITS roots--and then adding belly
dance moves to it. And, alas, one hip drop in the whole
routine does not make it belly dance fusion.
TRIBAL Fusion is NOT the same as FUSION Belly Dance. Point:
Tribal Fusion has its roots in American Tribal Style.
Its not just the music. Its the EVERYTHING. Example, I saw this
video of a "fusion" belly dance. She picked this ultra jazzy number,
and wore a mini chiffon skirt, hip scarf and coin bra. It looked
awkward. The costume didn't match the music. It didnt match
the choreography. By the end it looked like a mess. Point: Don’t
forget to pull everything--from costuming, to make up, to
prop-together when doing a fusion belly dance number. If
you jumble things up. your audience will get confused and
that’s when fusion belly dance doesn’t work!
Props. So here's another thing. If you pick a non-traditional song,
and use a prop, make sure the prop meets the music. Example:
Don’t do a veil number to a song that has a "saiidi" feel. Again, a
video where a dancer was dancing to a 1940's swing number
using a veil--like--well, like a belly dancer would. It looked
awkward. Point: It’s the details. A 1940’s Big Band/Belly
Dance Fusion may work better with a cane--and you can
add sassy saiidi in there!
Know the culture and/or other style you are fusing with---and
their traditional dances--Say, Flamenco Belly Dance Fusion should
have aspects of both Flamenco and Belly Dance. Hip Hop Belly
Dance Fusion--should have hip hop in it. So don't just pick a song
and just belly dance to it...it doesn't work. Point: Don’t
perform to something if you don’t know where its roots
are. This is where fusion is fun! Take a few classes in
another dance form. It lets you be creative and adds more
to your number! Also, KNOW your belly dance roots! One
hip drop in a fusion piece does not make it count as “belly
dance fusion.” You need to be able to combine both dance
forms comfortably and properly.
Know your audience. Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing
a fusion belly dancer performing for a non-fusion audience. You
may think its an awesome choreography--but if your audience was
expecting a straight up Raks Sharqui number--erm...you just
boned yourself! Point: Know your audience and venue. Your
act may not work for that gig. You have to be able to
admit.
Don't be afraid to bag it. I cant tell you how many choreographies
I have bagged because well, in my brain, I thought the fusion
would work, but when I did it--OMG! Yeah no. So try and if it
doesn't work, don't be afraid to try again. Point: If at first you
don’t succeed- try again!
Educate the belly dance community!! When someone says,
"fusion belly dance isnt belly dance" educate them! Dont be
catty! Dont be nasty! Just educate them about what fusion is
and what it isnt. The more people know, the more fusion
becomes an accepted form of belly dance.
Coming from a Russian Gypsy style of dance, and years of studying
various forms of dance including jazz, hip hop, ballet and tap, I
suddenly felt “trapped“ in the traditional styles of Raks Sharqui.
Studying with Egyptian, Lebanese and Turkish instructors, I felt as
if my body wanted to do something completely different. My
instructors would tell me to do one thing, but my body was
screaming to do another. I was still belly dancing, but my body
felt no connection to those particular styles. I loved Arabic music,
but my ideas for how I would interpret the music was not the
same way as I was being taught. I adore Raks Sharqui dancers-
there quick, sharp, firm, ballet-esque movements. Thats not me. I
wanted to take belly dance, and dance to what I felt connected
with musically. Lets face it, belly dance is an ever evolving dance.
I wanted to perform belly dance to what I felt connected to.
And it wasn’t always traditional music.
For years I struggled to find my grounding. Being the "odd ball"
wasnt easy (but alas our time has finally come). Feeling lonely, I
came across Isidora Bushkovski from Colorado--and BAM! There
was my style! It was refreshing to see another dancer doing what
I was--and being accepted for it. So now, its what I perform and
what I teach.
Fusion Belly Dance is the integration and weaving of one
style of dance (hip hop, Flamenco, etc) with belly dance.
Here are some of my points on the do’s and don’ts of Fusion Belly
Dance:
I am a fusion belly dancer. I make that clear when I get booked
for ANYTHING, teach ANYTHING, do ANYTHING. I am a FUSION
belly dancer. I don't take gigs that are for traditional belly
dancers. And I cant dance to music I don't feel connected to. Its
why I am not a restaurant dancer. I cant perform to something
that doesn't move or inspire me. Sometimes, it is traditional belly
dance music-with my own twist to performing to it. Point: Don’t
advertise yourself as a belly dancer if you perform fusion
belly dance. People maybe paying you to perform or teach
traditional Raks Sharqui and will be very unhappy if you
are doing something that is not. Be honest with yourself
and your customers.
I have GROWN tremendously in this particular style. Its more than
just picking a song and adding a few belly dance moves. Point:
When performing fusion belly dance its about taking the
song--understanding ITS roots--and then adding belly
dance moves to it. And, alas, one hip drop in the whole
routine does not make it belly dance fusion.
TRIBAL Fusion is NOT the same as FUSION Belly Dance. Point:
Tribal Fusion has its roots in American Tribal Style.
Its not just the music. Its the EVERYTHING. Example, I saw this
video of a "fusion" belly dance. She picked this ultra jazzy number,
and wore a mini chiffon skirt, hip scarf and coin bra. It looked
awkward. The costume didn't match the music. It didnt match
the choreography. By the end it looked like a mess. Point: Don’t
forget to pull everything--from costuming, to make up, to
prop-together when doing a fusion belly dance number. If
you jumble things up. your audience will get confused and
that’s when fusion belly dance doesn’t work!
Props. So here's another thing. If you pick a non-traditional song,
and use a prop, make sure the prop meets the music. Example:
Don’t do a veil number to a song that has a "saiidi" feel. Again, a
video where a dancer was dancing to a 1940's swing number
using a veil--like--well, like a belly dancer would. It looked
awkward. Point: It’s the details. A 1940’s Big Band/Belly
Dance Fusion may work better with a cane--and you can
add sassy saiidi in there!
Know the culture and/or other style you are fusing with---and
their traditional dances--Say, Flamenco Belly Dance Fusion should
have aspects of both Flamenco and Belly Dance. Hip Hop Belly
Dance Fusion--should have hip hop in it. So don't just pick a song
and just belly dance to it...it doesn't work. Point: Don’t
perform to something if you don’t know where its roots
are. This is where fusion is fun! Take a few classes in
another dance form. It lets you be creative and adds more
to your number! Also, KNOW your belly dance roots! One
hip drop in a fusion piece does not make it count as “belly
dance fusion.” You need to be able to combine both dance
forms comfortably and properly.
Know your audience. Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing
a fusion belly dancer performing for a non-fusion audience. You
may think its an awesome choreography--but if your audience was
expecting a straight up Raks Sharqui number--erm...you just
boned yourself! Point: Know your audience and venue. Your
act may not work for that gig. You have to be able to
admit.
Don't be afraid to bag it. I cant tell you how many choreographies
I have bagged because well, in my brain, I thought the fusion
would work, but when I did it--OMG! Yeah no. So try and if it
doesn't work, don't be afraid to try again. Point: If at first you
don’t succeed- try again!
Educate the belly dance community!! When someone says,
"fusion belly dance isnt belly dance" educate them! Dont be
catty! Dont be nasty! Just educate them about what fusion is
and what it isnt. The more people know, the more fusion
becomes an accepted form of belly dance.
