When I first set up this website, I included a comparison between Raqs Sharqi and Bharata Natyam. Meanwhile there are a lot of people who want to know the difference between Raqs Sharqi and Oriental Tribal Style. Is OTS simply Oriental dance with a turban?

In this descriptions I have used the most common versions. Of course certain points (like costumes) could be handeled in a different way by other dancers.

More information about my own Tribal Style group: www.weiberwirbel.ch

Middle East - From Egypt to Lebanon, from Syria to Turkey this style is danced by everyone - Women, men, children, grown ups.
In it's presentation as a performed art (about which I will write in the following) Raqs Sharqi is done by women (with some exceptions in Turkey) who have a low social position.

California, USA - By the end of the 1960ies Jamila Salimpour founded the dance troup Bal Anat of which Masha Archer emerged who created a special style for her own group. Her student Carolena Nericchio continued to work on it and finally founded FatChanceBellyDance, the best known Tribal Style group today.
It is a fusion dance style which draws its inspirations from tribal dances in regions from North Africa to India.

Basically a solo dance, improvised or choreographed.
If groups perform, they follow a choreography.

Group dance, mostly done through "improvisational choreography", which means that certain steps and movements that have been agreed upon before are combined spontaneously.
Parts with duo or solo dance (and a chorus) are possible.

Classical Oriental dance music is complex with changes in rhythm and tempo as well as accents. Nowadays dancers also use Oriental pop music that is simpler.

Simpel, folkloristic music with only one rhythm throughout the whole piece. Besides Arabic music some groups also use Indian or medieval European music.

The dancer expresses the music, she follows the instruments and accents. Her movements can be just as complex and layered as the music.
Arm movements are soft and fluid and mostly follow the up-down direction.

The music is only partly expressed. Movements are kept simple and danced in groups of 2, 4 or 8 repetitions.
Arms are kept clear and away from the body.
Movements are powerful and executed synchronically in the group.

One or two-piece costumes made of shiny materials and decorated with pearls, sequins and rhinestones.
Accompanied by glittery jewellery.
Hair is worn open, eventually with a matching hairband.

Wide skirt, pantaloons, hip scarfs, tassel belts. Cholis (short blouses) for the upper body. The head is wrapped with a turban. The materials look more natural.
Accompanied by a lot of ethnic jewellery.

Some dancers (especially in Turkey) accompany themselves with finger cimbals while dancing. Veils are used for the entrance or a longer piece of music. For the folklore part (Saïdi) dancers use a cane.

Finger cimbals are more or less the norm with most groups, they are worn throughout the whole performance. Some also use swords, pitchers, baskets etc.

"Look at me, I am dancing for you!"
According to her personality a dancer can be coquette, dramatic, temperamental or elegant. Focus is on the audience or during slow pieces towards the dancer herself.

"We are dancing together and you may watch!"
The group is powerful, demanding respect, full of mutual energy.
Focus as well on the audience as on the other dancers.