American Tribal Style®
American Tribal Style® or ATS® for short is a modern improvised group dance with its roots in Middle Eastern, Flamenco and Classical Indian Dance. It is a foundation for many other styles of Tribal Fusion bellydance. This dance manages to combine improving overall fitness, core strength, confidence, posture and coordination, while toning the body, improving concentration and having fun all at the same time. Not to mention the delicious costumes and exciting music...
We are aiming first and foremost to create art for an audience to appreciate. Carolena Nericcio has created a beautiful improvisation format that in order to be successful requires you to communicate with the other dancers through your movements. We don't speak when we dance but there is a lot of information swapping going on and it is a workout for the brain as much as the body.
ATS® was created in 1987 in San Francisco by Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance®. Carolena wanted to differentiate it from traditional, Middle Eastern dance to avoid confusion - it was a modern, American creation. It is called Tribal because it is about dancing together as a group with a 'tribal' or ethnic appearance - kuchi jewellery, indian style choli tops, full gypsy skirts and coin bras.
Three elements make up the 'Style' in ATS®: The Dance > | The Costume > | The Music >