Unmata fusion belly dance
Unmata (U.S.A)
The tribal fusion dance troupe Unmata from Sacramento, California, won in 2007 the title "Tribal Fusion Group of the Universe." The Unmata members, Amy Sigil (Director), Shelly, April Rose, Kari Vanderzwaag and Sarah, are teaching and performing at major festivals and events across the country and around the globe. The tribal-fusion power of UNMATA's high-energy brand of dance has not much oriental elements left in their music choice. Unmata uses has their own kind of approach using theatrical elements in their performances, full of surprizes. The accent is rather on heavy techno, sometimes spiced with some malfuf rhythm line under it. With their version of tribal fusion bellydancing using fire, swords, or just the sweat off their own bodies, Unmata puts down an original performance.
Director Amy Sigil of Unmata has been one of the driving forces behind the troupe. This brilliant dancer studied Turkish court dance as well as Bharata Natyam, a classical Indian dance style, Amy started to make her own brew of fusion belly dance.
Another driving force behind Unmata, Kari VanderZwaag, has been teaching and performing Tribal Bellydance since 2000. Kari has a background in ballet, tapdance and jazz dance. Her bellydance career launched with "Invaders of the Heart", an American Tribal Style troupe in Davis, CA. "Invaders of the Heart" is the rough translation of Ghawazee the famous Egyptian dance tribe. Kari VanderZwaag performed with the Invaders of the Heart for four years, as well being co-director of the troupe for one year.
In 2004, Kari formed Sacred Ground but kept she studying other dance forms of dance like Flamenco, Hula and Tahitian dance.
In 2005 Kari disbanded Sacred Ground after receiving the highly honored invitation to join Unmata. She travels both nationally and internationally to perform with Unmata and assist Amy Sigil in teaching workshops. Kari VanderZwaag is teaching the Intro to Tribal class at Amy Sigil's Hot Pot Studio in Sacramento.
Urban style tribal fusion or even industrial fusion belly dance might be the exact label but also American Tribal Fusion bellydance (A.T.F.). American Tribal Fusion bellydance is mixing traditionnal oriental dances with western contemporary influences and and other forms of dances but also theatre. Another example of this dance style is Ultra Gypsy
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Amy Sigil of Unmata is doing a pair of patented workshops in Rotterdam and will appear in the Tribal Umrah festival in France as well giving workshops
http://unmata.com |