WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF NEO BELLYDANCE!
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WHAT IS NEO BELLYDANCE? Neo Bellydance is a modern expression of an ancient dance form. It connects a powerful, traditional art with the context of the contemporary entertainment industry. Neo Bellydance honors traditions of the past, while innovating concepts for a new generation to experience. Belly dance is a vibrant movement art form full of sensuous undulations, and complex isolations.Neo Bellydance takes the study of this technique seriously and methodically, while expanding to include innovative fusions with street and club dance styles, ballet and jazz, and more.
Belly dance was born in small, intimate spaces, as a self-expression, a community tradition, a rite. As it has been evolving in modern eras, it has been finding its place on the stage and in film. Neo Bellydance honors that emerging shift with an updated approach to movement, phraseology, and aesthetic. Keeping the beauty of the musicality and breadth of emotion intact, it adds variations in athleticism: new complex footwork patterns, dynamic arm variations, powerful lines, spins, and leaps. Modern entertainment contexts require fresh choices in the presentation and distribution of dance. Larger stages call for new presentations in costume, make-up, props, and size of movements. Being relevant in commercial/film industries means presenting and promoting in totally new mediums and media platforms. Being able to cross train in commercial dance studios or fusion technique classes, means needing to be able to work as a fully rounded athlete, with knowledge of anatomy, strength training, and the support structures to help you move at a faster pace, take big risks, improvise, and choreograph. Being a professional belly dancer today also requires knowledge of modern markets, social media platforms, and branding. Neo Bellydance addresses the profession of belly dance in modern ways, while honoring its roots. When belly dance is portrayed on screen, having actual educated belly dancers representing it is crucial in giving general audiences an informed idea of the style’s potential. The aim of connecting belly dance to modern contexts is not to “dilute” it, but to give more opportunities to represent this incredible style to more groups of people today, and for generations to come. Neo Bellydancecontinues the journey of generations of belly dancers adding something unique to the art through their cultural/political context. Neo Bellydance acknowledges the historical roots of this powerful art, while confronting need for modern awareness: welcoming dancers of multiple genders, diverse backgrounds, and addressing cultural appropriation versus “educated fusion”. Neo Bellydance is a genre; a new definition of belly dance that Karolina Lux is spearheading. However, it is not a FORMAT. Anyone that associates with the movement, can create with the concepts, and continue the dialogue. Karolina Lux is a primary teacher of Neo Bellydance, sharing her personal fusions, athletic specialties, and unique movement experience. [“What is the difference between Neo Bellydance and Tribal Fusion?” See bottom of page!] |
NEO BELLYDANCE TRAINING W Karolina LuxKarolina Lux offers courses in Neo Bellydance for all styles and levels of student, as 2-hour workshops, daylong intensives, or 2 or 3 day intensives. MORE INFO & BOOKING HERE!
ABOUT CLASSES: Karolina Lux has trained in traditional Middle Eastern dance as well as fusion belly dance styles, for 15 years with teachers from around the world. She also trains in street and club dance styles, and jazz/ballet. All styles that she integrates into her teaching she honors the roots of, incorporates in her curriculum, and pushes the boundaries to make fresh, new shapes, feelings, and stories in dance. In Neo Bellydance, cultural history of styles will be taught, leading into proper and safe technique, alignment and strengthening, musicality, and finally choreography. Class will move fast but questions are welcome. All levels, genders, and genres of dancer are welcome. Belly dance is an ancient art form with sensuous shapes and muscular expressions...we will expand upon that with complex footwork variations, challenging arm and hand shapes, and athletic, clean lines. Expect to push your mental and physical boundaries, sweat, and have a blast! ALL GENDERS, AND STYLES OF DANCER WELCOME! WHAT TO WEAR: Shoes are fine. Bare feet are also welcome. Something that makes you feel amazing, comfortable, and want to sweat hard. It's ideal if I can see your torso area, so bras or crop tops are great. Low-rise pants are best, but come in what makes you feel excited to train! |
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NBD & TRIBAL FUSION BELLY DANCE?Tribal Fusion is an Americancreation of belly dance evolving in the 1990’s fusing ATS (American Tribal Style belly dance, an American belly dance incarnation evolving in the 1970’s/80’s) with other dance styles such as popping or flamenco. Neo Bellydance and Karolina Lux celebrate Tribal Fusion and Tribal Fusion dancers! Karolina has trained with some of the top Tribal Fusion dancers in the world and sees them as respected colleagues and mentors. However, Karolina and many of her peers were simply no longer focusing on fusing Tribal Belly Dance into their dance. Instead they were focusing on the concepts described in detail above. “Tribal fusion” seemed inaccurate as a catchall phrase to describe “any modern belly dance”, and a revised definition of belly dance seemed more relevant to what her and many peers were doing. While travelling in many areas in the world where there is oppression of indigenous tribes, issues with cultural appropriation, and First Nation misrepresentation, she and other peers felt uncomfortable referring to their style as “Tribal”. This by no means indicates that people using the phrase Tribal Belly Dance are implying disrespect, are indifferent to indigenous suffrage, or representing appropriation…it just was her personal choice to utilize a different phrase.
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