• Group improvisation helps dancers learn graceful transitions, finger cymbals, confidence, rhythms, music interpretation and more.
• Memorized choreographies often result in stale and liveless performances, but group improv bellydance is fresh and unique every time.
• Scheduling shows is easy because all the dancers know the same structured improv format, whereas only some dancers may know the same choreography. Knowing this group improv method gives us more performance opportunities.

Our Tribal Odyssey began in the year 2000...
   After viewing FatChance's videos and studying their "Improv & Choreography" video, I attended Kajira Djoumahna's workshop on American Tribal Style bellydance aka ATS (sponsored by Artemis in Maryland).

   I learned a lot from Kajira's workshop. I let the information percolate for a while, then asked my dance friend Miramar (Winchester VA) if she wanted to work up a common repertoire that we could both teach to our students.  That was in late 2000. Now I teach our Tribal Odyssey format in every class in addition to the curriculum I've always taught: classic bellydance technique, finger cymbals, props, and various folkloric styles of Mideastern Dance.

   Since we began working with this structured improvisation format in late 2000 we've enjoyed it immensely and look forward to dancing together whenever we can!

Tribal Odyssey Level One DVD is coming in 2009 - see  Moving to the Muse (student newsletter).

  She further defines applications within ethnic dance, and ITS seems to fall into the category of the "creative neoclassic or renaissance" or even "creative departures".

  Of the former she writes, "...the scope is broader and more difficult to define. The artist may take liberties with costume, music, and form. Only techniques remain constant. The creative artist stays within tradition in style and motivation."
  The latter category is much the same, only "certain liberties are taken. Techniques remain traditional but may be mixed as to school or handled more freely. The music may be completely alien, but the general aura of motivation is kept intact."

  Thanks, La Meri, for having the foresight to envision how future generations might experience and adapt the dance of their mothers!