|
 My
name is nina and I have been on the gypsy path for
around 13 years. Coming from a basic cabaret start in
1996- Cairns, I was quickly influenced by yearly
workshops held by Terezka. Terezka brought us folkloric
dance styles from morocco, turkey, tunisia
and egypt. These moves we kind of fused together with
our growing interest in American Tribal Style (ATS). We
called it “gypsy fusion”. We danced in circles, did a
lot of skirt swooshing and had choreographies that changed leaders within our dance. We had great fun
but needed more.
In 2004 Leela and I did our first workshop in ATS with Devi from Ghawazi
Caravan. We finally “got’ it and understood the basic dynamics that make
ATS special. From there we studied and studied our Fat Chance Bellydance
dvds but still found that something was missing in our presentation and
style.
I knew we needed some hands on intensive work and energy, and one day
out of the blue, Alaine from Gypsy Trail dance rang me. She offered very
generously to come over and teach for the price of an airfare, so we
jumped at the chance to have a master teacher in our midst. Alaine spent
nearly a week teaching and refining our technique. Drilling, drilling,
drilling. I think that once the cues are mastered you can truly start to
understand what you are doing.
We loved how she taught us about the fcbd format, and the elegance and
control of Carolena and the fcbd troupe, however Alaine kept dropping
hints about another woman that was influencing dancing around the world,
Paulette from gypsy caravan. Somehow Paulette has managed to capture the
romance of the folkloric style and marry it with ATS elegance to create
a vibrant, original style.
And once again the path is slowly shifting.
I think this dance we do is like a living force, that draws women from
all corners of life into a vortex of colour, passion and devotion. Once
you start on the path it’s a heady spiral up.
13/03/2006
The last 6 months has seen a great change in
our dancing and tribal philosophy. After our initial workshop with Alaine in
April 2005, we were keen to improve our improv technique, posture and general fcbd ‘frame’.
We had booked spaces in Carolena’s workshop
for Perth oct 2005, and were very much excited about meeting the great Lady of
Tribal. What I learnt most about her workshop was drill hard, keep it simple and
dance till you no longer know you’re dancing. You become an instrument of the
dance. You are at one with yourself , the tribe and the music……..
.
I actually had a one on one with Carolena.
What an honour. I think I stood there for 20 minutes just getting my posture
right. Then I was so worried, my arms went wonky, my neck stiff, I had to leave
it there. However I haven’t forgotten her sound advice of dancing with a coconut
pushing into the middle of my back.
In December Alaine came over to Brisbane
for another fabulous workshop. It was wonderful to see most of the qld tribes
and their teachers attending. I think Alaine brought home the idea that with our
common tribal language we can be a great big tribe. Alaine was also very good at
defining the origins of moves whether they were fcbd/caravan/romani/domba/urban
and how to cue them into our format. Because we do fuse these moves into our
dance, I think it is important to recognize the rise of our own Australian
style. We no longer need to copy other dance groups in total, we need to find
our own ‘frame’.
Then along comes Paulette, from gypsy caravan.
She and Jeff stayed with us for four days, I’m still pinching myself, she was so
cool and awesome.
You know you can never get the real vibe out
of a dvd etc. it really is important to do workshops, from the total
beginner to the most advanced just to feel the essence of what someone has to
give .
She seemed to be talking Italian where we were
speaking French, our language was similar yet there was this difference, hers
seemed warmer, sunnier. Her frame is different, her count is different, her
philosophy is different. Her philosophy of dance is very community minded, it's
about everyone in the group being special- everyone with their own grace to
share and be appreciated.
It was so good I went and did her level 1
teacher training course. Didn’t really know what I was getting myself into,
except as the days wore on things got harder and harder. Every tribal teacher
out there should do this course, it focuses on the beginner, it focuses on your
strengths and weaknesses. It’s not to say I’m only doing Caravan moves, far from
it, however it seems to have softened our approach, its not quite as fierce,
rigid and cool in approach. She has added a big pinch of spice and happiness
into our dancing.
well...sooo much has happened in 2006!! loads
of workshops, tribal and trance festival, and rachel brice. i think i have
finally found my frame...after rachels workshop i really understood the
importance of posture and how to get into it.
the 1st ttf was a real treat for our troupe,
its so awesome having hundreds of like minded women all dancing , feeling the
power and strength of the dance......here's to 2007!
june 2007
The year so far has been about practicing and
teaching. The focus has been our posture and frame as well as developing new
tribal formations to spice up our performances......
The highlight of teaching this year, was going
to tassie and hanging out with the girls down there....they were great.
December 2007
Sue Erokan was coming to Brissy....and
i had heard so much about her and her troupe- Clandestine. What a sassy
and innovative dancer she is....her workshop showed the importance of
playing a little[alot] to the audience, incorporating fusion to suit
your style and generally to have a lot of fun when you dance!!
Dee, Me and Sue -Brisbane 2007-Cheers!
May 2008
At the start of this year we completed our dance
studio -The Temple....it is one of the best decisions I have had to
make!Add to that an amazing group of women that have turned up for class
this year, I didn't think it could get much better....then of course,
Paulette came to town. Our workshop in Cairns was wonderful, made so by
the local girls and our sister tribes from Brisbane and Hobart.
Paulette once again showed us her brand of tribal
which we love for its subtle simplicity and collective philosophy.
2 weeks before i had travelled to Ararat in Victoria to attend
collective soul 2- which i passed , with much sweat and
tears......thanks to leslie and chris for all their moral support!!
June...2008
The girls and I had been messing
around with swords for a while, however we just couldn't get the vibe of
it....so i invited Dee from Tribal Blossoms to the Temple for a
workshop. Dee is an accomplished sword mistress, she showed us the
correct ways to hold a sword, how to move without it tumbling to the
floor, and how to make it your own. I would recommend anyone starting
out or needing inspiration with their sword to attend one of Dee's
workshops or check her out on youtube.
Thankyou Dee for a very special day!
July 2009
This year i have been consolidating my
gc format and working on our gypsyrain
style.......missing out on seeing Paulette in February
was devastating ......but i have been studying
youtube for her new moves and visiting Dee, for a great
breakdown of the workshop moves.......Dee had invited me
down for a workshop .....and its kind of strange to see
how we are doing the same moves but in our own unique
style.....its interesting how we started out very
similar but now present , dress and interpret the dance
quite differently.......i think each tribe needs to
develop and define their own look even if it takes years
to do so.....
 Street
performance....Innisfail...march 2009
       
|
