Blending many elements
By Isaac Toporek May 23, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Dance
Tribal Style Bellydance Show
Sat, May 31, 9pm 
El Viejo Topo Café-Teatro
Stirling Dickinson 28

Tribal Style Bellydance is a fusion of bellydance styles echoing the Romani Trail. Blending elements of costuming from nomadic tribes of Pakistan and India lends an earthy, ethnic feel to the timeless and challenging art of bellydance.

Passionate turns and flowery hands are reminiscent of flamenco while the music, like the moves, spans the globe. This is a rare opportunity to witness a stunning display of feminine beauty, strength and mystique creatively spun into an unforgettable performance.

Tribal Style Bellydance, about 30 years old in the US (originating, where else, in San Francisco), was relatively unknown in Mexico until Elsanne Barrows arrived in San Miguel over seven years ago.

Since that time, Tribal Style has become more popular as women discover the spiritually nourishing aspect of dancing in community and Elsanne has become a highly sought-after teacher for workshops throughout Mexico. For more information on workshops, classes and festivals, contact elsasunshine@yahoo.com. 

The 15 dancers for this show come from all over Mexico—DF, Guadalajara, León, San Luis Potosi, Querétaro, Guanajuato and Celaya.

These women, teachers in their own right, are learning to teach and perform Tribal Style in an intensive workshop with Elsanne and this is the first of their three monthly performances. Also in the show will be five local students from the US, UK, Egypt and Mexico.