Tribal Belly Dance and Beyond

The art of Tribal Belly Dance is usually shrouded in mystery. Although American Tribal belly dance is modern and imaginative in style, its foundation is based on ancient dance techniques and the communion of tribes. Tribal belly dance is generally characterized by a unique fusion of costumes and folkloric inspired dances from various nomadic tribes across the Middle East and Northern India. Costuming is distinctive and generally composed of tiered gypsy skirts, pantaloons, decorated coin bras, choli tops, belts dripping in long fringe and tassels, and a heavy layering of vintage jewelry. Dancers feel free to explore unique styles that compliment their individual creativity and artistic expression.
Tribal belly dance costumes utilize a diverse range of elements. Multiple layers of fabrics, contrasting patterns and rich tones and textures are used to create the overall look. Make-up is dark and exotic and hairstyles are enhanced with flowers, braids and hair extensions. Dancers frequently "tattoo" their faces with facial markings and add bindis to bring extra emphasis to the eyes. Costumes and jewelry are sourced from various nomadic tribes, such as Kuchi, Turkoman and the Banjara gypsies of Rajasthan.
Over the years Tribal Belly Dance continues to evolve, and now includes an even wider variety of unique styles and interpretations. One of the fastest growing and most popular being Tribal Fusion. Tribal fusion dancers incorporate many of the same elements used in American Tribal Style Belly Dance with the addition of costumes and music that are influenced by the art of the fusion such as flamenco, burlesque, steampunk and goth. Apparently, not everybody wants to conform to the twelve commandments set forth in the Tribal Bible!
Tribal fusion dancers tend to be a bit more dramatic, with stylized representation of individual movements, pop locking, and a hypnotic flow that draws viewers in. Costuming generally consists of flared leg pants, overskirts, halter tops, shrugs, feathers, colorful cowrie falls, beaded medallions, decorated bras and fringe belts. In contrast to the big tiered skirts worn by ATS (American Tribal Style) dancers, Tribal fusion belly dancers generally prefer to wear pants that are characterized by big bell bottoms or ruffled tiers. Tribal fusion costuming is a combination of such items worn together to transform each dancer into a unique and individual character.
Tribal Belly Dance continues to evolve into a personal kaleidoscope of assorted dance styles and genres. Dancers tend to push past boundaries and experiment with many different looks and styles. Popular styles dominate the scene until a new and exciting trend emerges.

Gina Cabrera is the owner and founder of Scarlet's Lounge, a unique online boutique specializing in custom made Tribal Belly Dance Apparel and Accessories.

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Top Secrets On How To Be A Mentalist

Ever look at the famous mentalists such as David Blaine or Dynamo as they preform these seemingly impossible mind trick, and just say to yourself "How on earth did he do that?" Could it be an extra ordinary or some super natural power.
Well the answer to this is quite simple, No. What these guys have done is simply mastered the art form known as Mentalism.
Now mentalists have been around for centuries, when it was earlier thought that it was indeed a form some magical and super natural power. Nowadays we know that's is not, and that mentalism is an art form that can indeed be learnt by almost anybody who is willing to try.
Learning the art of mentalism, although not the easiest art form to master, can bring some great benefits and joy to peoples lives.
As an aspiring mentalist myself, I know of the fun it bring to myself, friends and family, As there hasn't be a social gathering within the last 2 years that I haven't been asked to SHOW MY MENTALIST POWERS. We have a good laugh and I haven't been caught out yet.
The simplest form or the best way to get started I found was with Card Mentalism. And there's quite a good number of simple tricks out there to get you started quite easily for free. A good point to note now is that you should never reveal your secret on how you preformed your mind reading feat, as it rarely has the same impact the second time if people know how you have exactly read their minds.
You will find that some of the most famous mentalist around today such as Dynamo and David Blaine have mastered the methods and techniques of:
- mis-direction
- facial expressions
- body language
- concealment
- Visual effects
- Predictability
- The power of suggestion
and there are plenty more. And thankfully these methods and techniques can be learnt quite easily, and with practise you you too can have the ability to READ PEOPLES MINDS.
Now having the power to read peoples minds may not be exact, but these guys use a number of carefully chosen tactics:
- There are a certain group of questions which can be asked
- Following the chosen questions, there are certain answers to watch for
- and combining these answers with other elements such as body movements, reactions, and some other visual responses
the mentalist can come to a very accurate conclusion to what his subject is thinking about.
In conclusion, mentalism combined with aspects of illusion and mis-direction can be very entertaining, whether it's for fun at home with family and friends or other social events. Remember if you want to learn the secrets to becoming a mentalist, you can. And I've included the link to a pretty cool site below which offers some really cool free tricks, tips and videos on "How to become a Mentalist".

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How To Start A Career In Art

If you have always had an affinity with art supplies then you may want to consider where studying the subject can take you.

Art students can sometimes find it difficult to map out a career plan after their studies have been completed because they are not being prepared for specific jobs compared with other vocational subjects such as law and science.

If you are dedicated to a life in art, then you should be prepared to put all of your efforts and spare time into studying the subject as it takes a big commitment to become a professional artist.

One way to enter a career in art is through taking a university degree and it typically takes three years to achieve such a qualification which aims to provide students with the creative skills for an arts-related jobs

The majority of professional art positions will require the applicant to have a degree qualification or higher so it may be essential to have such training if you truly aspire to achieve a top position in the arts sector.

Once you achieve a degree in art then there are plenty of possibilities for career progression as employment opportunities will open in the fields of art buying, creative direction, exhibition curation and of course independent art.

To really enhance your chances of getting a career in the arts sector you may want to study for a Master's degree as this will demonstrate that you truly are committed to the subject.

This qualification will take approximately two years to complete and is likely to significantly increase your salary if you are aiming for high level teaching and museum positions.

Studying art at any level is ideal for anyone looking to develop their abilities with art supplies even if they are not certain it is what they want to do for the rest of their lives.

If you are keen on becoming a professional artist then college and university training will provide you with the skills to learn how to host exhibition of your own work and how to justify the art you have created.

Telling a room full of fellow students about why and how you have created your art may seem daunting but it is an important skill to learn if you want to enter the highly competitive world of professional art.

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Learning Art At Any Age

Even if you did not enjoy using art materials at school, taking pleasure from paintings can be achieved at any age.
Studying art at school may not have been the most exciting of subjects especially if you took no interest in learning about the history of the different genres such as impressionism and surrealism.
Although you may not have benefited from learning the subject in your formative years, it is true that people can discover how to use art materials at any age or period in their life.
There are numerous examples of people leaving a lucrative career in order to develop their abilities with art materials especially if they have a burning desire to explore their creative side.
Sometimes all it takes to ignite an interest in art is to start taking classes at a more mature age while other people feel more comfortable experimenting with painting and drawing by themselves.
Not everyone is suited to taking art classes as some people may not like being spoon fed information although others may thrive on the structure and direction that is being provided to them.
You will never know whether further art education is for you until you try so if you feel that you may benefit from some teaching then enrol into local art classes immediately as you will have nothing to lose.
If you know that art classes are not for you, then I would recommend taking time to learn by yourself and there is no better way to explore the art world then visiting museums, galleries and exhibitions.
Educating yourself about the different types of style will enable you to appreciate art and the effort required to make such paintings at the same time as encouraging you to experiment with your own technique.
You may even want to replicate your favourite famous paintings as this is a great opportunity to take part in a colour exercise which will help you attempt to match the original colours in the picture.
Before you reacquaint yourself with painting, you will need to discover where to purchase the finest art materials at discount prices as getting creative is often an expensive pursuit.
Often the best discounts can be found online as it is easier to compare art materials prices between websites as opposed to going down the high street and popping into various shops.
It is always worthwhile contacting an online retailer to see if they can provide any special offers on your orders as you may be given some pleasing prices.

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