What is Tribal Style Bellydance? There are many different styles of bellydance with many different cultural and historical influences (some more authentic than others).  Generally what you see in the restaurants around Columbia, with beaded and sequinned costumes, is called Cabaret, and tends to be Egyptian or Turkish in origin.   American Tribal Style is a modern world fusion created in San Francisco in the 1970's and 80's by Carolena Nericcio, and her troupe Fat Chance Bellydance.  ATS, as it's often called, is a combination of Egyptian, Turkish, Classical Indian dances, Flamenco, and North African dance styles, among other things.  It's meant to be performed as a tribe or group, as opposed to soloists, and it has an improvisational basis.  Dancers take turn leading and following, speaking a fluent, fluid, shared vocabulary of body language with each other.  The costuming is also mix of influences, mainly a converted Indian choli, pantaloons, a long and full skirt, and Indian, Pakistani and Afghani accessories and jewelry. Originally, Delirium Tribal followed the American Tribal Style format, with a few changes on our troupe level and a few extra moves we created or learned from other companies.  Recently Carolena Nericcio asked troupes not following her format 100% faithfully to cease using American Tribal Style in their title, a decision that was very controversial in the bellydance communities across America.  Since that time, we've started branching out away from our ATS roots and have been experimenting with Tribal Fusion solo and group choreographies. Can my kids see you? Yes!  Contrary to some commonly held misconceptions, bellydance is a 100% family-friendly show. Can I hire you/Delirium Tribal/Columbia Alternacirque? Yes.  Whether you're looking for a soloist, the dance company, or a highly adaptable circus performance for your party, wedding, corporate function or black-tie event, we are available for hire.  Please view our contact page for ways to get in touch with us.  Depending on our schedule (and it is full), we will occasionally take part in benefits and fundraisers, if they're for a good cause that we can get behind.   For security and sanity reasons, we will not perform at bachelor parties. What should I do at a bellydance show? Make sure to cheer and give encouragement to the dancers.  Some common noises we make at each other include the zaghareet, a high and fast pitched noise made by saying Lelelelelele as fast as you can, yips, and "Aiwa," which means "beautiful" in arabic.  We also hiss at each other in American bellydance communities when somebody does something very slow and snakey, but funny enough, in other dance communities and other countries, hissing equates booing.  So be careful where you use that.  Clap along to the rhythm and cheer!   Tribal dancers feed off the exchange of energy with each other and with the audience. What should I NOT do at a bellydance show? Good question, and thank you so much for asking.  Generally, we don't find it very becoming if someone yells "Shake it, baby," etc.  We work hard at our artform and hope it will be accepted as such.  Also, though it is a tradition in Cabaret styles to accept money in the belt or (sometimes) in the bra strap, Tribal dancers tend to frown on that.   Please show your appreciation by tipping in our basket.  If you touch our dancers, you're likely to get punched in the nose.  Ouch! Can I take your classes? Of course, and don't be shy.  Bellydance is a lovely artform that embraces and looks fabulous on all body shapes, sizes, creeds and ages.  Bellydance breaks down body image barriers, gives you great core strength and posture.  I've even had men in my classes once in a while. Can my daughter take your classes? Children are welcome in my classes, as long as they're mature enough to understand that they should not disrupt class for other students. Can I watch your class first? I want to create a safe haven for women (and men) to dance in.  I'm afraid that if I get the wrong type of "spectator," that some of my students may become self-conscious.  So I usually don't allow this, no. What should I wear to your class? Whatever you feel comfortable in.  Usually people wear anything from yoga pants and a sports bra to a full skirt and choli to sweatpants and a t-shirt.  Just make sure it won't restrict your movement.  I will encourage you to be able to see your stomach eventually, because Tribal is a very subtle and muscular dance, and any sort of clothing (even leotards) will hide your progress and movement. Do you teach private lessons? Yes.  Generally, they're $25 an hour per person, and I can come down on the price a bit for bigger groups.  I also teach workshops.