Odyssey of your Columnist: Tribal with a Twist
By Al-‘Anqa
She’s also the primary founder of Tribal Odyssey Bellydance™, a group improv tribal format based on Egyptian beledi-style movement which combines all the reasons we love her into one fun, brightly colored package.
TOBD has over three dozen combinations, all unique to the format, spanning four levels of study. The combinations include veil work, skirt moves, and finger cymbal patterns. Pixie, another of Kawakib’s students, notes “Using zills for tribal taught me the basic techniques which are a stepping stone for advancement and a plus for any drum circle.” Galiyah, Kawakib’s longest running student, adds “One of the values of playing zills during Tribal Odyssey is that we hear the others playing and that reinforces the pattern in our brain and our hands. We build confidence because we are playing with others and not put on the spot.”
That spirit of community, bringing dancers together in dance, is one of the things Kawakib loves best about the tribal style of group dancing. “That is something that’s unique to group improv- the fact that dancers can so easily create together a little bit at a time,” she says. She expanded on this idea in a recent post in her blog at http://TribalOdyssey.wordpress.com.
Odyssey seems a fitting name, as Kawakib notes the style is “a work in progress” and that new props and combinations are still being added at Level Four. “I like watching FCBD do sword, and think we can improve on that. Sword is pretty easy after all, and the audience always really likes it. I'm getting lots of encouragement from students about developing some Tribal Sword, and I do have some moves worked out but not ready at this moment to bring out yet.”
When asked how many items/ideas have been discarded along the way while developing the format and what causes her to discard something, she replied “I'm guessing, 25%? I have no idea really. What causes me to discard something is either 1. It's not easily workable in the group improv format (for instance, regarding sight lines; differentiating cues, etc.) or 2. The idea is opposite to something we currently do in the format that is working well.”
Staging options that have passed these tests and been incorporated into TOBD include a crescent line (also called the chorus line), a circle, or a staggered line that allows dancing in any direction and any size space. Solos, duets, trios, and quartets of dancers can all perform in front of the chorus line. Kawakib’s favorite combinations? “The slow ones, many of which are in Level One, and used in the chorus line.”
Why bring out a new tribal style at all? After viewing some FatChanceBellyDance videos, Kawakib’s curiosity was peaked. She was strictly a "cabaret" dancer at the time, though she did do some folkloric dancing. She was moved to attend Kajira Djoumahna’s workshop on American Tribal Style bellydance sponsored by Artemis in Maryland, and what she found excited her. “Experiencing the group dynamic was a big eye-opener,” says Kawakib.
“When I saw ATS, I loved the energy of the group dancing but the required posture looked very “flamenco” and stiff to me. I wanted movements that felt more natural, more “beledi”, and I also wanted more variety of finger cymbal patterns. Creating short dance combinations (with different cues) that fit together well is not that easy but I have a talent for dance composition, for fitting dance to music- especially in terms of tempo and rhythm- so I enjoyed this challenge. Dancing with the music is a huge deal in the cabaret world. Musicians don’t want to play for dancers who don’t use the music and beat correctly. So having this skill and background of live band experience, I felt I could bring something valuable to the bellydance world, even if it was limited to my own community.”
From 2000-2002 she worked with the members of her troupe, Pearls of Rhythm, developing the combinations, cues, lead throwing, and group formations. She also collaborated with fellow dancer, Miramar from Winchester, Virginia, who contributed several combinations and staging ideas. “Without the active participation of my dancers,” says Kawakib, “I doubt that I could have developed this group improv format. Miramar also provided feedback and suggestions from working with her students.” Miramar has now gone on to develop her own flavor of the format, called Tribelle Chic.
What has emerged for Tribal Odyssey over the years is a style of group improv that fosters community and a group dynamic between the dancers while still feeling familiar to dancers used to Egyptian cabaret or beledi technique. As put by Nancy McAndrew, the head of Lynchburg Tribal, “Tribal Odyssey is a real gem”.
And of course, the costuming itself is a gem: colorful and jewel toned. When asked if the costuming style she uses for her student performing group, PRISM, is intended to carry across the format to other teachers of Tribal Odyssey Bellydance™, Kawakib explained:
“"Tribal Bellydance" traditionally had a certain look; in a nutshell, chiffon and sequins say "Cabaret", rayon and yarn say "Tribal". Much of our costuming was developed because of Kajira's "Tribal Bible" recommendations, as I really did look to her writings for guidelines on all things "tribal". You have to take into consideration what effect you'll have on your audience, what image you're getting across, as well. Teachers are always going to have their own ideas on what to do, for instance, I'm not a fan of Harem Pants, I think they're unsafe, so I recommend salwar instead. Our usual TOBD costuming is not really that formalized; except that the Tribal Veil moves were developed using a certain type of veil so that's what I recommend for my students. And the Skirt Combinations of course won't work in pants or a beledi dress, although I have some ideas on how to work around that, which we haven't implemented yet. “
At this time, there is both a DVD and instructional manual available for those wishing to learn more and incorporate Tribal Odyssey Bellydance™ into their dance practice. The Tribal Odyssey Bellydance Level One Foundation DVD is an instructional DVD for anyone new to group improv or teachers ready to add an exciting new performance option to their troupe. The Tribal Odyssey Reference Book covers all four levels of current combinations, cues, lead-changing techniques, stage formations, and finger cymbal patterns and includes step descriptions, staging diagrams, and costuming ideas. You can find more information at www.tobellydance.com or www.Kawakib.com.
“If this format moves into the larger bellydance world I’m sure other dancers will relate to this style, this feeling, and how it fits with the music,” says Kawakib. “I have no “conquer the world” agenda, I’m content to let things play out as the Creative Spirit dances through our lives.”
 Al-‘Anqa is also known as Cindy Marie Martin. She double majored in Broadcasting/Journalism and Theatre at Concord University. More on her exploits can be found at www.CindyMarieMartin.com. |
