Ariellah Aflalo
Encyclopedia
Ariellah Aflalo is a contemporary Dark Fusion belly dance
r, known for her dance technique and powerful stage presence. The signature dark flavor of her style, along with her skill as a dancer, has made her a legend in both the conventional and Gothic
belly dance scenes.
, raised in the traditions of her Moroccan
heritage. She began to study classical ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance of London at the age of three and continued the training for the next 12 years. Upon moving to the San Francisco Bay Area
, she took a hiatus from dance to complete her education and travel to Ivory Coast as a member of the Peace Corps
.
After returning to the United States, Ariellah began studying folkloric North African belly dance under Janine Ryle. Janine was a student of Magana Baptiste and the renowned belly dance institution Hahbi ‘Ru. Ariellah soon became a member of Janine’s troupe, Dance Maghreb, which performed authentic Algeria
n and Berber
dances. Seeing that the dance form was a natural fit for Ariellah, Janine encouraged her to seek instruction from the now-legendary Rachel Brice
. Ariellah began studying Tribal Fusion belly dance with Rachel in 2002 and, a year later, became one of the founding members of Rachel’s troupe, The Indigo Belly Dance Company
.
When The Indigo began touring worldwide with the Bellydance Superstars
, Ariellah chose to remain home where she could continue her personal dance projects and help nurture a fast-growing following of students. As the only stationary and locally accessible tie to The Indigo, as well as an innovator of Tribal Fusion
belly dance in her own right, Ariellah quickly grew in popularity.
scene in her teenage years. With an exotic background and appearance, she never quite fit in among her conventional peers but was embraced by the goth community. Ariellah began attending Death Guild — the longest-running goth club in San Francisco. There, the dance floor became an incubator for the personal style that she would later incorporate into belly dance. To this day, Ariellah continues to be involved in various artistic projects and events within the goth scene — locally, nationally, and across the world.
ern belly dance technique, with a strict emphasis on posture and muscle isolations of the hips, stomach, shoulders, and chest. Unique to the style is a distinctive expression of dark emotion, frequently presented in theatrical
fashion. The choice of music and costuming is often influenced by trends in the goth scene.
From Ariellah’s website:
In 2007, Ariellah founded Deshret Dance Company (DDC). Under Ariellah’s artistic direction, and with contributions from the troupe members, DDC became a vehicle for further exploration of Dark Fusion belly dance in the arena of group choreography and performance.
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
r, known for her dance technique and powerful stage presence. The signature dark flavor of her style, along with her skill as a dancer, has made her a legend in both the conventional and Gothic
Gothic bellydance
Gothic Bellydance is a recent and rapidly growing dance art movement, currently becoming very popular in both the amateur and professional dance communities of the United States and Europe. -History:...
belly dance scenes.
Biography
Ariellah Aflalo grew up in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, raised in the traditions of her Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
heritage. She began to study classical ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance of London at the age of three and continued the training for the next 12 years. Upon moving to the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, she took a hiatus from dance to complete her education and travel to Ivory Coast as a member of the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
.
After returning to the United States, Ariellah began studying folkloric North African belly dance under Janine Ryle. Janine was a student of Magana Baptiste and the renowned belly dance institution Hahbi ‘Ru. Ariellah soon became a member of Janine’s troupe, Dance Maghreb, which performed authentic Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n and Berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
dances. Seeing that the dance form was a natural fit for Ariellah, Janine encouraged her to seek instruction from the now-legendary Rachel Brice
Rachel Brice
Rachel Brice is a contemporary performer in Tribal Fusion Style Belly Dance based in Portland, Oregon. She is the artistic director and choreographer for The Indigo Belly Dance Company and a frequent performer with the Bellydance Superstars....
. Ariellah began studying Tribal Fusion belly dance with Rachel in 2002 and, a year later, became one of the founding members of Rachel’s troupe, The Indigo Belly Dance Company
The Indigo Belly Dance Company
The Indigo Belly Dance Company is a tribal fusion style belly dance company based in San Francisco. It was founded by Rachel Brice in 2003. Its members include Brice, Mardi Love, and Zoe Jakes. Past members include Sharon Kihara, Ariellah Aflalo, and Michelle Campbel...
.
When The Indigo began touring worldwide with the Bellydance Superstars
Bellydance Superstars
Bellydance Superstars is a professional American bellydance troupe formed in 2002 by producer and manager Miles Copeland. In its first six years of touring, it presented 700 shows in 22 countries....
, Ariellah chose to remain home where she could continue her personal dance projects and help nurture a fast-growing following of students. As the only stationary and locally accessible tie to The Indigo, as well as an innovator of Tribal Fusion
Tribal Fusion (dance form)
Tribal Fusion Belly Dance is a modern form of belly dance which has evolved from American Tribal Style belly dancing, blending elements of ATS with any other style of dance...
belly dance in her own right, Ariellah quickly grew in popularity.
Goth scene influence
Ariellah was drawn into the gothGoth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
scene in her teenage years. With an exotic background and appearance, she never quite fit in among her conventional peers but was embraced by the goth community. Ariellah began attending Death Guild — the longest-running goth club in San Francisco. There, the dance floor became an incubator for the personal style that she would later incorporate into belly dance. To this day, Ariellah continues to be involved in various artistic projects and events within the goth scene — locally, nationally, and across the world.
“Dark Fusion” belly dance
Ariellah’s personal adaptation of Tribal Fusion belly dance gave birth to an offshoot style that she refers to as Dark Fusion. It preserves the fundamentals of traditional Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern belly dance technique, with a strict emphasis on posture and muscle isolations of the hips, stomach, shoulders, and chest. Unique to the style is a distinctive expression of dark emotion, frequently presented in theatrical
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
fashion. The choice of music and costuming is often influenced by trends in the goth scene.
From Ariellah’s website:
…in dark fusion belly dance performances, a deep emotion is invoked in the audience and there is a sense of the audience being brought into the performance. The energy that flows from the dancer is strong and piercing and draws the audience in with its expressiveness.”
In 2007, Ariellah founded Deshret Dance Company (DDC). Under Ariellah’s artistic direction, and with contributions from the troupe members, DDC became a vehicle for further exploration of Dark Fusion belly dance in the arena of group choreography and performance.
Projects
- Founding member of The Indigo Belly Dance Company
- Founder and artistic director of Deshret Dance Company
- Founding member of Noor Belly Dance Projeckt
- Original member of Danse Maghreb
- Co-founder and co-promoter of Shadow Dance
- Former co-promoter of Gothla US
- Performer and workshop instructor at numerous belly dance events across the world
- Guest performer at various goth clubs and underground events
Instructional
- Contemporary Belly Dance and Yoga Conditioning with Ariellah. Produced by Neon and World Dance New York, World Dance New York.
- Fantasy Belly Dance: Magic. Produced by Neon and World Dance New York.
Performance
- Gothic Belly Dance: The Darker Side of Fusion DVD. Produced by Neon and World Dance New York, World Dance New York.
- Gothic Belly Dance Volume II: Revelations. Produced by Neon and World Dance New York, World Dance New York.
- Bellydance Underworld. Produced by Hollywood Music Center, Peko Records.
- Tribal Revelations. Produced by Neon and World Dance New York.
See also
- Tribal Fusion (dance form)Tribal Fusion (dance form)Tribal Fusion Belly Dance is a modern form of belly dance which has evolved from American Tribal Style belly dancing, blending elements of ATS with any other style of dance...
- The Indigo Belly Dance CompanyThe Indigo Belly Dance CompanyThe Indigo Belly Dance Company is a tribal fusion style belly dance company based in San Francisco. It was founded by Rachel Brice in 2003. Its members include Brice, Mardi Love, and Zoe Jakes. Past members include Sharon Kihara, Ariellah Aflalo, and Michelle Campbel...
- Rachel BriceRachel BriceRachel Brice is a contemporary performer in Tribal Fusion Style Belly Dance based in Portland, Oregon. She is the artistic director and choreographer for The Indigo Belly Dance Company and a frequent performer with the Bellydance Superstars....
- American Tribal Style Belly DanceAmerican Tribal Style Belly DanceAmerican Tribal Style Belly Dance or Tribal Style Belly Dance is a modern style of bellydance created by FatChanceBellyDance director, Carolena Nericcio. American Tribal Style Belly Dance is clearly defined and documented with the primary characteristic being that of group improvisation...