Anna Kemper, the studio’s belly-dancing instructor from UK, was in town recently, and shared her tips with DNA.
Done salsa, ballroom and flamenco? Try a belly dance fusion now. “People weren’t keen on experimenting with new-fangled dance forms when I started the dance studio in 2004. But now people are coming ahead and want to try the array of dance forms we offer at Arts in Motion,” says Aanchal Gupta, founder-director, Arts in Motion Studio.
Arts in Motion offers classes in Latin and ballroom dancing, flamenco, Argentine tango bachata and belly-dance fusion. “I feel belly-dancing is the most graceful and ultra-feminine form of dance. It’s the music that drives any dance form, and the music in belly-dancing is alluring, soft and sensual.”
Anna Kemper, the studio’s belly-dancing instructor from UK, was also in town recently, and shared her tips with DNA.
What are the different forms of belly-dancing?
Belly-dancing is an umbrella term referring to numerous dance styles from the Middle East, North Africa, the Mediterranean and Balkan countries. The term is an English translation of dance du vendre, a phrase made up by a Frenchman in the 1890s to label a group of Algerian dancers at the World Trade Fair in Paris, despite the fact that these dancers were all fully clothed, with not a belly in sight. What most people think of as belly-dancing is the nightclub dancing of Egypt, because in the early 20th century, Cairo was the centre or the Middle Eastern film industry. Different styles include Egyptian nightclub, Oriental dance, Turkish nightclub, Romani gypsy dance, American tribal, Tribal fusion, North African dances, Greek dance, Modern Egyptian, Saidi and Beledi.
How is belly-dance fusion different?
Belly-dance fusion takes key aspects, usually the muscular isolation as well as focused hip and rib movements, and fuses it with different styles of dance. For example, belly-dance/ reggaeton fusion mixes the muscular isolation and control as well as the focused hip and rib movements with more tropical Latin dances such as the samba and salsa, throwing in the energy and bounce of street dance and hip-hop.
In which parts of the world is this dance form popular?
Belly-dancing and belly-dance fusion are most popular in the USA. Now, I get more and more requests to teach belly-dance fusion each year.
Anything in particular that you bring, or want to share, in India?
I am originally from the US but have lived all over the world and now run my own dance school in London. Reggaeton/belly-dance has developed over years at house parties, club nights, performances, lessons and travels through the US, Latin America, Egypt, Turkey and Morocco. I want all women, when the music moves them, to enjoy, feel the music and share the fun!
m_brinda@dnaindia.net
For information, contact Aanchal Gupta on 9820183231/9820380009.
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