Finding Belly Dance Inspiration.

In American Tribal Style Belly Dance, and in Tribal Fusion belly dance, there are a few names that everyone knows.

Big names?

Fat Chance Belly Dance, Persephone Belly Dance (that's one of my personal favorites), Rachel Brice, and Zoe Jakes.

Carolena Nerrico is the founder and creator of ATS Belly Dance, and her company "FatChance Belly Dance" is the first, but definitely not the last. Her lead dancers (instructors and a few of them have their own troupes) are amongst the best in the business. My personal favorite to watch is Kae Montgomery.

Kae Montgomery of Fat Chance Belly dance. I am a little in love with her, her dancing, and her costume ideas. All her accessories? Made by her (I am sure there are a few exceptions though)

Her hair pieces are so gorgeous.

She's actually one of the few original FCBD dancers that isn't completely covered in tattoos (which is pretty common in American Tribal Style, but not in traditional Egyptian cabaret, or as you know it, the type they do in restaurants). I love tattoos, but I feel she knows where her emphasis is, and it isn't her skin.

Here she is in action with the other main FCBD troupe:



There are tribal belly dancers, such as Rachel Brice and Zoe Jakes that their tattoos are truly an integral part of the 'costume'. These two are the most famous of the tribal fusion dance; the fusion being between cabaret style belly dance, and the 'new' ATS. There have been many integrations of tribal dances, traditional, and new styles that have kept the field interesting to perform and watch.



I personally dislike the "pop and lock" focus of the solo tribal dancer, but that does not mean they are not famous in their field without good reason. They are glorious soloists.

Here is a video of Rachel Brice in action (the quality is ehh but it is one of my favorites):




And Zoe:



Zoe is the lead dancer of Beats Antique and tours around the country for performances, seminars, and well...for just about anything. 
Persephone Dance Co. is an ATS belly dance troupe that I cannot get enough of when I need a little inspiration.

Just watch. 


Thank God for all this glorious inspiration.



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It's been a really crazy year. I don't really know what to say on blogspot. I have a livejournal. I have facebook. I don't know yet how to make my blog spot special.

Work in progress.

Phoenix in St. Louis, 8/9/10 (oo)

Ever since 2004 I have been a huge fan of Phoenix. First heard of them while watching "Lost in Translation" to becoming obsessed with every album they had out. And I was alone on this at the time -- hardly any one had seen the film, never mind it's soundtrack. So here I was, in St. Louis, Fall of 2004, realizing that in all my concert going glory, I may never see my favorite (yes, still) band perform in St. Louis. 

Maybe New York, Chicago, or ya know, any larger city with less infamous music venues. But not St. Louis

However. Fast forward to this past winter. Phoenix announces their new tour.

St. Louis is on the mutha' friggin' list. 

To say I "whipped out my credit card in a frenzy" would be putting it mildly. 

I bought one ticket, and I figured I might find a few people to go with me, but there were no guarantees.

So yesterday evening, I headed out, and enjoyed one of the BEST concerts I have ever been to. Speaking as someone that's worked in music venues, and street teams for various performers....I've been to quite a few. 

We all enjoyed the show. All...how many thousands of us?

At the end of their set, Thomas Mars, the lead singer and also Sofia Coppola's babydaddy (no idea who is the luckier one in that couple, shush if you disagree, I don't give a flying f___), went through the crowd with this extremely long microphone to sing from the crowd. There he is working his way back onto the stage.

I love this shit. And I sincerely hope for Phoenix's return to St. Louis on their next tour. I will be there, you can count on it.

(pictures, all of them with the exception of the Phoenix cover are all credit, me, LeslieK. 2010)

But EVERYONE'S DOING IT!

So I know that something is extremely popular if my roommate is involved. She finally cracked and created one last week, and she persisted the entire time that I create one as well.

You win, Lee Ann, you win.