Aloha Dear Readers,

I'm fortunate to have an ongoing Question-and-Answer column in the international bellydance publication, Zaghareet! Magazine.

It's my favorite trade magazine because it has so much information, doesn't exclude any styles and gives voice to all who wish to contribute. It has articles tailored fro beginner to teachers and I always learn something new from its pages. It's by far the thickest magazine in this genre to boot!

The editor, Sharina, has graciously allowed me to publish my past columns here on my site. They may not be in order, though I did try my best. The important thing is that you can read them now, if you didn't subscribe to Zag! back then.

The columns began in 2006 and at first Sharina and I were stumped for a title. After much thinking and going back and forth, she finally said, "I'm going to call it 'Kajira Tells It Like It Is,' because you DO!" That's the story of how the column's title came to be. And I must say, that was quite a compliment to me, because complete honesty is something I always strive to present - "pretty" or "popular" notwithstanding!

No portion of this article may be reprinted without permission. Contact Kajira for inquiries.

“Hi Kajira!
I really love tribal style dancing, and what really attracted me in the first place is the whole ‘group’ concept - the community of women dancing together. Why, then, are there so many tribal soloists? ~ Sharon!”

Aloha Sharon and Readers of Zaghareet!
Good question! I agree that it does seem apparent that the very term ‘tribal’ connotes ‘tribes’ or ‘groups.’ Hhhmmm, as does my handy-dandy Webster’s dictionary, which states the definition of ‘tribe’ as: ‘1. A system of social organization comprising several villages, districts, bands, lineages, or other groups that share a common ancestry, culture, language and name. 2. A group sharing a common occupation, interest or habit.’ ‘Tribal’ is the adjective to the noun ‘tribe.’

As we have seen, the various dance-art expressions presented under the name, ‘Tribal’ and, especially, ‘Tribal Fusion’ often seem quite at odds with one another stylistically. So much so that the above definitions do not apply. ‘Sharing a common ancestry, culture’ - and even ‘language and name’ used to apply, as early on all tribal groups and soloists considered FatChanceBellyDance the undeniable Mother of All Things Tribal and Tribal Fusion. Therefore, we all did have that common ancestry in the beginning (waaay back about 10 years or so ago).

Now the expressions seen under the term ‘tribal’ at best seem to still adhere to definition No. 2 above, and at worst, have nothing at all in common. Unless you want to say that in the broadest general sense ‘dance’ is the ‘common occupation, interest or habit’ - but some of the dancers who go outside the ‘tribal box/set of definitions’ don’t use just the term ‘dancer.’ Instead, they call themselves ‘Tribal’ or ‘Tribal Fusion’ when nothing in their presentation is recognizable as such. Sometimes, producers of events and shows perpetuate myths and misnomers even when artists themselves are clear term-wise.

So, after taking all that into consideration, and according to definition, I’d have to say in answer to your question, ‘why are there tribal soloists?’, that there aren’t and technically cannot be. In my educated opinion, unless the soloist has stepped forward from an ATS or other tribal troupe presentation to present a short solo as a part of the whole group thing, with her (or his) group still onstage in a ‘tribal supporting role’ such as in a chorus or seated, but instead the dancer appears onstage entirely alone, then NO - that dancer cannot by any stretch of any definition - and if you don’t like mine use the dictionary’s - be a ‘Tribal Soloist.’ As we have seen, the very term ‘tribal soloist’ is an oxymoron.

However, add the word ‘Fusion’ and you get acceptably named ‘Tribal Fusion Soloists.’
I haven’t processed any performance applications for Tribal Fest from ‘tribal soloists’ in the recent years - only ‘tribal fusion soloists,’ so hopefully the individuals you’ve seen will soon also adopt that one little word that would name their style more correctly.

For the word ‘fusion’ tells onlookers immediately that at least one or more other influences, ideas or sources have been incorporated along with ‘tribal’ to create a new expression. Perhaps the artist’s only other idea is to appear as a solo dancer expressing the tribal group form. That would be the simplest ‘tribal fusion solo’ one could imagine, and indeed, was the first step in the evolution towards the tribal fusions we see today. One important reason that this came about was because of physical isolation. While researching the Tribal Bible, I corresponded with a great many individuals in isolated areas who were in love with ATS a.k.a. ‘Tribal’ in the original sense when speaking of bellydance. But they had no one to dance with and no classes in their areas. Some were snowed in or otherwise equally environmentally challenged and this really wasn’t their faults. So they became the first ‘tribal fusion soloists’ and I’m sure this is still true today though to a lesser degree due to the growth of all things tribal everywhere across the globe.

There had always been dancers who have had access to actual group tribal classes or troupes but who simply prefer solo dancing. But they liked many of the aesthetics of tribal so borrow ‘flavors,’ costuming and influences from that parent form.

And of course you have the choreographed tribal fusion troupes and soloists as well. These dancers obviously enjoy troupe work but also wished to add other influences - sometimes the only other influence being the choreography itself, since the original ‘tribal’ in this sense is improvised. This does matter as it changes everything in a very fundamental manner. Along those same lines, others I’ve chatted with like the ‘look’ and the ‘feel’ of tribal but don’t feel at all comfortable with the idea of no choreography to count so don’t try it at all. They haven’t given group improv enough time to understand that that often is the secret ingredient to the look and especially the feel of what they’re attracted to.

Other reasons (still in answer to the ‘why’ part of your question) include the fact that there are very few DVDS in this genre compared to Oriental dance, and no matter the quality of instruction, some dancers have trouble working on the improvisational aspects of the form without live instruction. And this is something that cannot be done without other dancers, making practice and coordination of schedules another thing to consider. Sometimes working on the group improvisation together with others is just too much to ask.

Furthermore, not everyone lived in California or Oregon where the only live instruction outside workshops in tribal for many years was located. With nothing in their dance experience prior to this to fill in gaps in attempts at self-teaching, much of the joy and importance of the group dynamic and the improv was not imparted.

Those are more reasons why we see the huge variety of styles under one term today.

Part of the popularity of Tribal Fusion for groups or soloists is that dancers can feel free to incorporate any number of other dance and life style ideas to their individual dance-art expressions and still be correctly called ‘tribal fusion soloists’ as long as some element of ‘tribal’ is included, so it’s an easy term to adopt. Sometimes today, the only vestige left of ‘tribal’ is posture, other times it’s just the fact that there’s some ethnic jewelry present on the costume or that the music is associated with ‘tribal.’ Other times the tribal connection is much more clear.

So we have seen that by definition, ‘Tribal Fusion’ soloists or groups now can be - and are - absolutely anything at all. Being recognizable as related dance-art forms is not necessary. It’s become an ‘umbrella term,’ a ‘catch-all’ for anything.

I am not alone in thinking that’s why the term is so utterly confusing. This whole tribal thing, in one form or another, started and spread and evolved faster than anything in the dance world I can think of from recognizable to unrecognizable as related.

But some artists actually prefer this because they balk at ‘labels.’ I attempt to present a show that fits the criteria for Tribal Fest each year, so in the performance application process dancers are asked to tell me what style of dance they plan to present. This helps me to build a better show. But you may be surprised at the huge number of ap.s I get where the dancer/s refuse a ‘label.’ The most common reasons cited for this are ‘fear of being boxed in,’ ‘I do my own thing’ and ‘artistic freedom.’ I don’t have to agree with or understand their reluctance to tell it like it is, but it’s a fact. So these guys invariably decide ‘tribal fusion’ is the best name (why not fantasy, or interpretive, I don’t know, and I do offer lists of suggestions including those). Maybe because ‘tribal fusion’ sounds cooler?

I hope I’ve given you much to think about in regards to why there are ‘so many tribal soloists’ and why the term ‘tribal fusion troupe or soloist’ has become so confusing in today’s world of dance. But ya, know, Sharon, I don’t think there’s anything we can do about it. Much as it pains me to acquiesce, ‘tribal fusion’ troupes and individuals are easily today’s most rapidly growing bellydance genre in the world. I think we’ll just have to stay educated and have fun while we wait for it to sort itself out. Helping others by keeping up with the seemingly ‘little things’ like I do with my work for the alternative dance world at Tribal Fest also adds up. I’m already seeing more awareness in names, so it’s happening.

Thank you for asking!

With aloha,
Kajira Djoumahna

Winner of 2 awards for Favorite Instructor (IAMED & Zaghareet!’s Golden Belly Awards), 2 awards for Favorite Event and Promoter for Tribal Fest (Zaghareet!’s Golden Belly Awards - thanks to all of you readers!) and some honorary awards for DVD content and outstanding achievement. Author of the Tribal Bible, 2 instructional DVDs, producer of Tribal Fest and Maui Intensives, global workshop teacher and director of BlackSheep BellyDance CA & HI. www.BlackSheepBellyDance.com