Storm welcomed us to her workshop in her inimitable style, by first enquiring of us who were ‘tribal virgins’! The majority of the class were, including a gentleman! Unphased, Storm explained her plan for the lesson, time allowing. There were two other tribal teachers in the class, Becky from Storm’s class and Becky! from London who teaches ATS (American Tribal Style). These kind ladies afforded the class with two extra bodies to watch, as we began Storm’s tough warm up. We giggled and grumbled our way through it with Storm’s words echoing in our ears, endorsing stretching for all, help for our cellulite and encouraging us to push ourselves to achieve strong and supple bodies, vital for successful dancers.
A large part of the workshop was based on layering, moves performed at different levels so, we began with Storm’s Arabic walk (ATS camel walk); piston up (right up on our toes!), side stretch, tribal fusion arms into half satellite. We practised each move, built up the combination and then danced it over and over to the music. We enjoyed practising ‘gloopy’ and strong arms and powerful stretches and were warm and ready to learn more. We practised torso rotation (vertical as opposed to the belly dance horizontal), with hand florés while layering up and down. I found it impossible not to floré on every rotation! Storm moved around the class, constantly offering verbal encouragement and offers of demonstration for anyone requiring more help, while the rest of us practised with Becky and Becky to follow, to keep us in time. Cobras were next! Layering them with hip shimmy was also a big challenge for me but really fun and definitely homework to practice! For the last part of the lesson, we took partners and listened to Storm’s valuable and funny experiences from dancing with Tree, her tribal dance partner. We practised choo choos and choo choo turns using eye contact and signals and moved onto back bends, on our feet and on the floor. I was lucky enough to dance with Storm’s Becky and we started to improvise with basic Egyptians, Arabic and choo choos, focussing on the dance as a duet. Her patience and love for tribal filled me with confidence and we soon had Storm commending us on our synchronicity, for which I was chuffed. Finally, time ran out, no one wanted to stop but, after a stretch out, class was unfortunately dismissed.
I took my first ever tribal workshop with Storm, at Bodies & Beats in February last year, took a Wendy Marlatt class at Fantasia in the winter and joined a regular Tribal beginners class in January with Sarah in Basildon but, Storm was my initial inspiration. I spoke to four ‘tribal virgins’ after the class and they were thrilled to have learnt so much about the mood and feel of tribal fusion, as well as the moves and combinations, in such a short time. They’d come to learn moves to enhance their group’s dances and were fully satisfied with the knowledge they had gained.
Storm began her dance training in Amsterdam with Yonina before going to Toronto to train with Diana Calenti. She became a member of the Diana Calenti Dance Company in the early 80s where Diana specialized in the classical Egyptian dance form. Storm learnt classical Egyptian ballet, folkloric and faronic dance with Diana. In 2004, Storm began training in ATS with teacher Mandy Barnes, who heads the tribal group Jesambe. Storm has done workshops with Wendy Marlatt, Rachel Brice, Urban Tribal and Unmata. She is half of the tribal dance duo Stormtree. Their style encompasses ATS, Tribal Fusion, Gothic Bellydance and is fused with a unique Stormtree style of their own. Tree teaches Tribal Fusion and bellydance in London and sells Shisha jewellery and tribal costumes, all of which she makes herself.
Storm’s vast and varied experience in dance is leading her into new ventures, culminating in May 2007 with lectures in costuming, hair and body adornment and make up for the very different styles of Egyptian Cabaret, Tribal Fusion and Gothic Bellydance and, in August 2007, hosting dance events in her home town of Horsham, West Sussex, as well as teaching workshops all over the country in Tribal, Tribal Fusion, Gothic Bellydance, veil and Isis wings. So, if you are over here, and want to join Storm or Tree for a class or you are interested in unique Tribal clothing and jewellery, give them a call!
Wendy Cook
May 2007