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TRIBAL STYLE BELLYDANCE:

“Dancers seamlessly changing, leading and following, almost always improvising.
Movements borne of the new world with ancient roots in the Middle East, North Africa,
India and Spain. Music without boundaries. Simple folk tunes to modern club remixes.
Between the drumbeat and the heartbeat, Tribal is growing and evolving.”  (Lai Lee)
 
Belly Belly Hip is a Tribal Style Belly Dance troupe. We have been dancing our own unique blend since 2001, one of the first Tribal troupes in Canada.  Belly Belly Hip formed when Tonje, returning from living in Portland (and training with Gypsy Caravan), discovered there were no other Tribal Style dancers in Vancouver at all.  She soon attracted a small group of like-minded individuals, and Belly Belly Hip was born! Shortly after, she returned to Portland to earn her teaching certification and then started teaching the first Tribal classes in Vancouver, with the aim of building a local Tribal community. To the same end she is also writing a regular column in SAHDA, the monthly newsletter of MEDA (Middle East Dance Association) entitled "Tribal Page"
              
 
Troupe Director
Tonje 
Tribal bellydance has given me a great community of people I would never otherwise meet. Both locally, among my troupe mates and students, and across Canada and the US, I have made great friends and attended amazing events. Dance has gotten me through tough times and given me wonderful, life-changing experiences, challenging me to keep stretching my expectations of myself and those around me. Plus, I get to wear really, really cool stuff !!!








 

 

  Current Members



Kim
Once upon a time in a galaxy not so far away…my guy says to me...”Wow babe you should start belly dancing, that would be sooooo hot!”  Well, 5 and 1/2 years later, it looks like we have created a monster that doesn’t want to stop dancing!  I have settled into my dancing career with tribal style belly dance, which I love for the friendships I have formed, the costuming I can play dress up with, and the spirit of cooperative improv!









 




  

 

 
Stephanie
Sick of aerobics and missing the  camaraderie and team spirit that I once found in school sports I took a plunge - against my better judgment - and enrolled in a belly dancing class at a local community centre.  It was everything I was looking for and more!  Exercise for the mind and body, being part of a group working and playing together to create something beautiful.  It soon became apparent to me, that the Improv Tribal Style was the one for me!  Now I can't imagine my life without this art form or the wonderful people who are part of it.  I am certified in both FatChanceBellyDance General Skills Teacher Training level 1; teaching has opened up a whole new side of the dance to me!





 

 



Monika

After a year or so of Egyptian Cabaret style belly dance instruction, I found an interesting article on the internet on Tribal style belly dance.  I fell in love with the music, costuming and tattoos and had to give it a try!  I found tribal style lessons being offered at my neighborhood community centre, and after my first class I knew I had found my “tribe”!  Like my spirituality; Tribal dance is co created, sharing leadership roles and showcases the individual beauty and divinity of each dancer.  I can’t imagine Tribal dance not being a part of my life now, and I am honored to share the stage with this talented and beautiful group of women.




 

 

 

 
 
 
Vanessa

has been dancing around

campfires for 10 years or

more. After taking workshops

and learning bellydance

informally from friends for

years, she recently completed

the ATS General Skills

Certification. Vanessa loves

both ATS and Folkloric styles.

She is a little obsessed with

the costumes ...

 
 
 
 
 

 

Yvonne

I have always dreamed of dancing

and always loved watching dance. 

Many years ago, I took an afternoon

bellydance class and found that it

was fairly natural for my body to

move that way. I decided to try a

night school class and that took me

to Kim Pechet’s Thursday night classes.

Then I saw Fat Chance, Gypsy Caravan

and met Tonje. I love dance,  I love the

way ATS / Tribal evolves, I love dancing

with my sisters and I love the opportunity

to express myself creatively through

dance and costume.

 

 

 

      Past Members                   

 Juanita (on the right)

 Amanda

  Pat

 Libby

 Christine

 Athena

    Lai