It's the tribe part of tribal that speaks to me. I find in it the things I do not have in my mundane life. My mother left when I was 3, and was herself adopted, so that whole side of my tribe is not available to me. Half of my family heritage is Native America, but thanks to centuries of prejudice and my ancestors rejecting that part of our history, that is also not available to me. My faith, however, is very much Native American, primal, tribal - I'm a practicing animist. I've been trained by a Lakota Shaman. Between meddling in socio-political issues, and finishing a degree in religion, my energies are really spent looking at the greater human tribe, esp women's expression. When I was working on my Masters (on indefinite hold for now) I had intended to write my thesis on women's expression of spirit through dance. When you dance, there is no right or wrong, there just IS. I think that is why I get aggravated when an individual tries to claim "ownership" of any particular flavor of tribal. In my mind, that flies right in the face of what tribal means. It does not belong to any one person. It belongs to the tribe.

My two copper, YMMV.

I dance because it makes me feel alive. I work on the moves and the technique because when I do it perfectly in formation, i know i have done something worthwhile for my body, my mind, my soul, and my fellow dancers know what the heck i'm doing ;D It just makes me feel good, i get to meet all sorts of new people. And I get to shop my little heart out for performances, at workshops and TribalFest! Not sure if any of this made sense but... oh well... main thing being i feel alive and i find myself loving me just the way i am without needing anyone elses aproval.
LUVS!
Joanna

I also love the community in tribal. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE the music and feel of it. When I fuse it, I can be moody. When I do more folkloric dances I can be flirtatious or happy. It's really whatever I want it to be. It's more earthy than some other styles. Its really versatile fo me. And I love the costuming options too. as well as the fun makeup and hair. I LOVE the way you can dance with your troupe too. You can really be in a unit and dance with each other in a way I never did with caberet. Not that I don't still enjoy caberet but with tribal there is a different level of being connected with your troupe sisters. I just really love about everything that is tribal.

I have found in Tribal a greater level of camaraderie than I ever experienced in 10 years of cabaret. I think it comes from the fact that in Tribal you are part of something bigger than just your own ego. It's less about competition and more about teamwork. This is not to say, however, that there is not the same level of competitiveness between certain troupes!

I've been thinking about this one....

--the music
--the way dancers communicate to one another with their bodies
--the connection I have developed with my troupe members
--meeting the most amazing, creative women and men ever
--the connection (did I already mention that?)
--the costuming
--the trust involved in improv

My favorite thing about tribal (and belly dance in general) is that it isn't competitive. Sure, everyone wants to be amazing, and wants to perform the most places, but every single dancer that I have met has been more supportive then the one before! Tribal also has that amazing connection and sense of community, something I never really found in other styles of dance in the past. And I also love having ANY excuse to dance:)

I was in band for almost 10 years, did TaeKwon-Do for 5, did swim team for 8.... never took dance until I found belly dancing. For me, what is so special about tribal style (be it ATS or whatever... nuances are irritating for me anyway) is that it's so individually-based, and although there *are* wrong ways to do dance moves, there aren't really any *right* ones. There is no one way to do hip drops or floor work or myas. Everything is based on the individual as far as style goes, and from there, everyone I've met who does tribal is really open and friendly with each other, generally speaking.

Plus, on top of that, belly dancing has been extremely body-positive for me. It's helped me to become more comfortable in my own skin (I wore a bikini in public for the first time in 7 or 8 years over winter break!) and really understand how my body works and how to express myself through a medium I've never tried.

And... well... of course, the music and the dressing-up part are always fun. :D

Tribal belly dance taught me beauty and owning beauty. Growing up, I was the awkward tomboy type. I always looked like I was trying too hard whenever I thought it was a good idea to try out the latest girl trend or be inspired by one of the polished giggly fashionistas at school. Just wasn't cutesy and bouncy enough to pull off that kind of pretty. ::glares:: You wouldn't be either, if you were like me -- a sports-bra T-shirt wearing, baggy jeans sagging teenager with bad skin and felt like you were wearing jewelry when you put on your plastic glow-in-the-dark watch. Plus being raised to suppress self expression because life, I was taught, is about achievments and success, not showing yourself off. So, happiness in my mind, was based on external things done to win the approval of others.

I didn't learn how to be happy within myself until I found tribal bellydance, by accident! One day I passed a martial arts and dance studio and what made me stop were the women inside. All different sizes and ages, all strikingly beautiful in layers of costume. Most had bare bellies, and everyone just looked so comfortable and happy. Not the kind of crazy feverish competitive happy like how people get at school during rallies or getting ready for school dances, but a gentle warm happy. Before I knew what was happening, the workshop teacher invited me in for a head-to-toe basic lesson. The other students took pieces from their costumes for me to borrow for the rest of the session. I felt so welcome, so encouraged to enjoy being adorned and learning to move in beautiful ways. There I was, immediately comfortable learning to dance with my hips in front of strangers (very kind strangers!) - the girl who couldn't stand up straight and proud in a everday clothes. I kept going back for workshops and became obsessed with all aspects of the dance. I could spend hours researching the history, costuming sites, troupes and dancers, etc. One of my favorite things about tribal bellydance is that beauty doesn't necessarily have to step out of a salon, or be wearing a trendy expensive outfit that will look ridiculous in 5 years.

Bellydance is the one of the greatest gifts I have received in this life. I am confident and happy now because I know feminine beauty and feminine strength are my birthright. I can be happy within myself, independent of what others want to project on me.

So, what do I love about tribal bellydance? What's NOT to love?!

I am drawn to the duality of it. On one hand, I am enamored with the almost-warrior like attitude of it sometimes. My dance partner & I are both plus-sized dancers and there's something highly empowering about taking your big ol' hip & dropping it in front of an audience like "yeah, there it is - in all it's non-petite glory - how do you like THAT?" We feel very RARRRR about our dancing at times. I feel like I don't have that RARRRRR option in cabaret. But, on the flip side, Tribal can still be very soft and floaty, nearly mesmerizing as times. I love that juxtaposition.

And don't even get me started on the costumes'hair/makeup...