i have been bellydancing- just not ATS- for almost nine years. Not to toot my own horn, but I'm, ya know, pretty good I guess. I have taken a few tribal classes just this year. I would like to get a Fat Chance video to learn the combos and the cues and the names of them, but I don't know which one to get. Is vol. I "tribal basics" more teaching of each individual movement, or is it combos and cues? Or should I go with vol. 5 "cues and transitions? Don't get me wrong, I've heard great things about all the FC videos, I jusst don't need another drill video. I would like something that will show me combos I can take and incorporate into my performing.
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Re: which video would you recommend?
Mon, January 15, 2007 - 2:32 PMHey girl well lemme try to break this down for ya!
Tribal Basics vol 1 breaks down your basic foundation with his Basic Egyptian, Arabic, taxeem, arm undulations (snake arms), choo choo, belly rolls, etc. Pretty essential if you ask me.
Vol. 2 Make-up & Costume
Vol. 3 Zils
Vol. 4 Advanced Workshop: This is the next step in learning ATS. More individual moves such as the Camel Walk, Propellor, Corkscrew, hand floreos, turkish shimmy, egyptian half turn, reach & sit, circle step, torso twist, etc. and of course drilling the moves. Recommended!
Vol. 5 Cues & Transitions; Drills linking the individual steps you've learned by cues & transitions. Dancing with FCBD! Fun!
Vol 6 Improvisational Choreography: Linking it altogether (Vols'1-5) to take to the stage!
Vol 7 Creative Steps & Combinations: 20 new steps & combo's. Just released and highly recommended!
So to summarize, Vol's 1, 4 & 7 teaches the steps & combo's and the others help you to put it altogether (with zils of course!)
I teach tribal fusion bellydance here in Orange County, CA and just got certified in the General Skills program with Carolena and Fat Chance Bellydance. The one thing I find is you have to drill the steps but also you need to also drill with a partner &/or a group to link the steps seamlessly. True ATS is improv dancing with a group. If you're wanting to dance solo ala Rachel Brice, she rarely does any of these steps anymore. It's more about pops & locks becasue doing a basic Egyptian by yourself is not very interesting IMO.
I encourage you to learn the ATS format if you're looking into tribal/tribal fusion. It's a great and essential foundation that is not being studied by upcoming fusion dancers. And since you're already a dancer, these moves will come pretty easy to you so have fun dancing! I hope this info helps! peace. -
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Re: which video would you recommend?
Tue, January 16, 2007 - 4:26 PMSSSOOOZ! Wow I feel so special that you replied to my post in such depth. Thank you!! While I do hope to purchase a BUNCH of the dvds, I have to pick one to start off. I totally get what you're saying about how you have to do it with other people- that's the whole point of cues and what-not. I have three girlfriends that I get together with and we try to make up our own choreographies and stuff, and we have been going to the workshops and so I find quite oftern that while I can 'catch-on' to stuff that instructors teach at workshops, depending on how ATS based they are, I really need to know some of the basic moves and what they are actually called by their ATS names, not just "miabella names" and made up names.
If you want to know the truth, at Tribal Alchemy, when all of you guys were on stage together and just danced together, never having practiced all together before, I was very inspired and though "God, i gotta learn this shit!" :-) -
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Re: which video would you recommend?
Tue, January 16, 2007 - 4:27 PMMiabella is my awesome bellydance teacher of nine years, BTW :-) -
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Re: which video would you recommend?
Tue, January 16, 2007 - 4:29 PMoh yeah- also, would you say, if you HAD to pick one to start with, would you say vol. I, or 4 first? I hate the way this will sound, but will vol. I be too... beginner-y? (I don't mean that as a bad thing) -
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Re: which video would you recommend?
Tue, January 16, 2007 - 4:56 PMAwwww January! So sweet of you to say that about our performance at Tribal Alchemy! That's actually refered to as Tribal Union and it's usually our friends getting up there who know basic ATS the Fat Chance way (because each troupe has their own spin on things) and just "jammin'" I love it because it's never planned and you never know who's going to want to do it. At Tribal Fusion Faire recently in SLO it was me, Blue Damsel, Rachel Brice & Mardi Love dancing to Solace Live. Talk bout jammin"!!! And inspiring!
O.k. so which one to start with....well, for someone as advanced in the dance as you try Vol. 4. Tho Carolena does say, if you haven't done the basics, stop the tape and start with that one to get familiar with some of the basic foundations such as shimmys, taxim, etc. But I think you should be o.k. And thank goodness you have someone to drill with in person! That's huge! I started with videos myself and dancing with other bodies helps tremendously!
Happy jammin!
Also, there's a great performance of Fat Chance with Wendy & Sandi dancing on YouTube! O.k. now back to practicing... -
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Re: which video would you recommend?
Fri, January 19, 2007 - 12:17 PMI have to jump in here: I think that stating that you are "advanced" and jumping to the Vol. 4 Advanced Workshop won't get the full experience. Vol. 4 is a continuation of step families introduced in Vol. 1 Fundamentals of Dance. You have to know the core steps before you can add the variations. If you start with Vol. 4, you will just be drilling individual steps, getting no closer to improv. I advocate starting with Vol.1, then adding Vol.4 and ultimately Vol. 5 Cues and Transitions and then Vol. 6 Improv Chor.
That is, if you really want to get the experience of dancing improv as a group. -
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Re: which video would you recommend?
Fri, January 19, 2007 - 1:17 PMThank you sooo much Carolena for jumping in! The "full experience"....I couldn't of said it any better! -
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Re: which video would you recommend?
Sat, January 20, 2007 - 5:15 PMOK- that makes sense. Thanks y'all!! I will buy vol. one then.
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