“Dance is the hidden language of the soul” ― Martha Graham

          
Topaz Tribal is a Gypsy Caravan Tribal Bellydance® troupe from Abergavenny, South Wales. Gypsy Caravan Tribal Bellydance® is an eclectic style of bellydance, which draws it's influence and inspiration from many cultures around the world, including Indian, Spanish, African etc. The roots are firmly planted in the Middle East, using historical and traditional bellydance moves to create combinations which pay tribute to and acknowledge the past history of bellydance. The dance, which is mostly improvised, has a modern bohemian style of it's own, with a free and spirited gypsy-like feel, this powerful but elegant and feminine dance is for everyone. It's inclusive. Your age, size, weight or fitness level is not important, but YOU are. Tribal bellydance will help to improve your stamina, core stability, balance and flexibilty, plus the benefits of helping to develop confidence, self-esteem, inner strength, and an all-round 'feel good' factor, to achieve personal satisfaction, in yourself, your abilities and in your daily life.
Topaz Tribal love to dance to spread the joy, the power & the passion of this dance, to have fun, to laugh, to share and just enjoy the moment of dancing with your sisters.
 
Topaz Tribal  follows the Gypsy Caravan Tribal Bellydance® format.  Topaz Tribal are a group of like-minded women and love to dance together. laugh together, support each other. We dance because we can.
Gypsy Caravan Tribal Bellydance® was founded by Paulette Rees-Denis in the 1980's, a style of tribal bellydance that allows solo dancers, duets, trios and/or a chorus of dancers to dance together in an improvised style of tribal bellydance, through a language of unspoken words, using movements, step and combinations to express their love for the dance through music and the connection with each other. Topaz Tribal remain true to the Gypsy Caravan Tribal Bellydance®  format, incorporating their own style of 'gypsy' in their costumes, by layering 25yard+ (around the hem) skirts, over an underskirt or petticoat and layers of frothy lace on wide leg pants or  big 4 yard, voluminous pantaloons in their bright and colourful costuming.

We meet on a Tuesday evening to drill, practice, develop, learn and share. Following the GC format, we dance, using both sides of the body, that may sound strange, but it means we use the left and right hips/feet to lead the move or combination. It causes much mayhem and laughter whilst learning and drilling, sometimes your brain refuses to acknowledge that your body has a left side. But that's good, because it makes you think....   about  what you're doing, how you're doing it, & why....... weight placement, your centre core - all comes into play.  It helps you build confidence in yourself and your fellow dancers, you learn to trust your instincts and those of others.
And then we dance in a circle, to include a soloist, duets, trios, we can dance in a chorus, but we dance for the sheer joy of it, we dance for each other, and most importantly we dance for ourselves.

Topaz Tribal welcomes new members.  If you have any GC knowledge, or have attended any workshops/classes previously with Wendy and want to be part of this vibrant troupe, then please get in contact, we'd love to hear from you

“Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.”
― Martha Graham