What is ATS? ATS is an acronym for American Tribal Style belly dance. American Tribal Style is a form of dance that refers to a series of specific rhythmic movements done in groupings and put together in an improvisational manner.  When these movements are performed, they are accompanied by a series of cues and transitions which alert the other dancers that the movement is about to change.  There is a general type of costuming that includes harem pants, a skirt, choli top, coin bra and tribal belt. The music is Middle Eastern in flavor and style. This form is currently performed by a troupe known as Fat Chance Belly Dance (FCBD) of California. 

 What is ATS Fusion? ATS fusion is generally considered any form of belly dance that uses moves derived from ATS but deviates in any manner from the format used by Fat Chance Belly dance (FCBD) of California. Examples can be found in costuming, the addition of moves borrowed from other forms of dance, the use of different styles of music and  the use of different types of props as well as in the manner in which those props are used.

Okay…so what is Fusion? By definition, fusion means the union of light atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei with the release of huge quantities of energy. In belly dance the term is used to refer to a mix of dance moves either created or derived from other cultures and then brought together to create a style of dance that can only be described as  explosive and powerful!

Now…what is Tribal or Tribal belly dance? Tribal belly dance is generally used to describe a mix or accompaniment of various styles of dance derived from the styles of troupes such as (but not exclusively) Gypsy Caravan and Fat Chance Belly Dance as well as from individual soloists such as Rachel Brice.

Can anyone do this style of dance? Absolutely! There are no limits in Tribal belly dance. There is a firm belief amongst Tribal dancers that you can be any age, any weight, any ethnicity as well as any gender. Physical impairments may bar some individuals from certain movements but would certainly not impair them in other aspects of the dance because the dance can and does involve so much more than a basic style of moves. Maybe you can't do a shimmy or roll your belly but perhaps you can beat a drum, play the zills or make beautiful movements with your hands or some other part of your body.

I never knew there were different styles of belly dance! Most people don't but there are and they are all beautiful and mesmerizing to watch. It is good to explore all types of belly dance as well as learn from many different instructors. Enlightenment opens the doors to many possibilities!

Where can I found out more information? There exist some wonderful links on the World Wide Web that serve to guide and educate. Some of our personal favorites are listed in the side bar.

Where can I meet fellow dancers, instructors and friends interested in Tribal belly dance or see dancers perform? Rakkasah is a wonderful event to go to and see performances and meet dancers and instructors of all styles and backgrounds. There is Rakassah East which takes place once per year in New Jersey as well as Rakkasah West that also takes place once per year in California. See our side bar.

Another great place to meet the people involved is through a web service called Tribe.net. There is a Tribe for everything, so go in, have a look and find like minded people who share your passions.

Common Misperceptions

"I don't have the right body type" or "I think I am too overweight" or "I am too thin to belly dance." There is no prescribed perfect body style for Tribal dance and any belly dancer will tell you exactly this. For those who feel they are overweight I always say " Hey...you gotta have it to shake it!" And...if you feel that you are too small or thin then there are always embellishments that you can add to accentuate the areas you may feel need a little boost. All body types are beautiful and Tribal not only acknowledges this but celebrates these differences.

Belly dance causes one to have a 'belly'. This perception probably came about because many ethnic dancers as well as performers from the earlier parts of the 20th century did not have what we (here in the U.S.) commonly refer now to as a flat stomach. Belly dance does not cause one to gain a larger stomach, in actuality it does the very opposite. The movements of the dance actually cause the muscles to become very firm and strong over time giving one a more well defined appearance.

Belly dance is a seductive form of dance and is often tied to exotic dancers and is not deemed morally acceptable. It is seductive if you tend to view it as such but most dancers feel that it is a form of dance that displays one's strength, confidence and capabilities. We entice the audience with our strength as opposed to the differences that were given to us defining our gender.  Do exotic dancers perform belly dance? Absolutely, but there is a clear distinction between being an exotic belly dancer and a belly dancer, they are not one in the same. Is it deemed morally acceptable? Because our society has varying views on morality there is no one true definition. As an individual, one should decide for themselves. Fringe Benefit not only holds the belief that what we do is moral but also believes that we show a positive example for what women are truly capable of. I can also tell you that our classes consist of students from all walks of life, sizes, capabilities, spiritual paths and ethnicities who are united with the common thread of a passion for our style of dance.

Belly dance is for women only.  Absolutely not. Men can and do perform belly dance and there are quite a few talented male dancers who perform on a regular bases. Men also become involved in other areas of the dance such as drumming or through the accompaniment of other musical instruments and prop use such as swords or poi dance.

"Oh...I could never do belly dance!"..."I am not flexible enough", or "I can't dance."  First of all, flexibility comes with practice and from performing exercises that allow you to stretch and strengthen the muscles. It is not what was previously believed to be 'something you are born with'. Secondly…being born a natural dancer (if there is such a thing) has never been a requirement nor would having a dance background. Barring certain physical limitations, anyone can do anything they wish if they work hard enough. The only two things you need are an open mind and a desire to learn.

How does one get involved with a troupe or become a member of Fringe Benefit? Each troupe has their own guidelines of what they feel a member should possess. Fringe Benefit puts more empathize on passion and dedication then they do on ability. We have student members as well as troupe members. Our troupe director makes all final decisions on who is a good candidate and who is not based on a variety of factors. Ideally, a troupe member should be able to perform the basic moves that our troupe performs, attend most practices, get along with the other members, be willing to accept advice on improvement and prescribe to a group mentality on decision making. There are many other troupes throughout the country and world and there are many solo dancers, each prescribing to a different set of characteristics and styles. New troupes are cropping up all the times along with refreshingly new and creative dancers to add their very own brand of Tribal style.

And finally.....

 How do I get started? The side bar web sites are a great place to start! If you are interested in taking a class or workshop with Fringe Benefit, contact information is provided within our site through our troupe director. If you do not reside in Central or Northwestern New Jersey or have any additional questions, please fee to contact the web administrator (me) via the contact page and I will be happy to help or you can post a question on our forum for our dancers to answer.  We regard no questions as having obvious answers nor do we regard any question as 'stupid'.