Stark...sublime...intense. The
phenomenon of Gothic Bellydance or Raks Gothique is a multitude of
poetic visions born out of the Goth, or Gothic, subculture, music,
imagery and fashion, and expressed in the language of
Bellydance.
Modern "Bellydance" is an amalgam of historical dance styles
coming from both East and West. Its diverse vocabulary allows the
dancer to experiment with the widest range of creative movement,
musical trends and cultural elements. A century after its arrival in
the West, the art of Bellydance is emerging as a new world of
unconstrained creative experimentation. No longer bound by its
ethnic origins, it is one of the fastest-growing and most
artistically-open contemporary dance forms.
“Gothic
Bellydance” incorporates many Bellydance styles and
motifs: Cabaret, Tribal Fusion, modern dance, echoes of Gypsy dance,
Flamenco, Asian, and Indian dance – all called to express the
darkness of the unknown, and the mysteries of life, death, and
eternity that have inspired Goth philosophies and lifestyles.
This first of its kind, groundbreaking collaborative project
brings you the work of innovative and uncompromising “dark fusion”
artists including a number of the recognized pioneers of Gothic
Bellydance. The DVD features Tempest, and Ariellah of California;
Asharah, Ya Meena and Raven of Washington, DC; Jeniviva, Ayshe,
Jehan, Tanna, Blanca and Neon of New York City, as well as music by
outstanding composers and performers including Solace, Jehan,
Collide, Knossos and Gypsy Caravan.
Enter our dark labyrinth and meet an exotic array of striking
characters and creatures: Souls possessed by an ancient evil spirit;
a black-winged fallen angel; an incarnation of Kali and Isis; a
leopard-woman from the island of Dr. Moreau; a tormented silent
movie vamp; a Gothic “Lolita” in love with Death; a wanderer in
spiritual exile; a snake morphing into a woman; a seeker violated
and redeemed by divine domination; a Siren exercising her lethal
charms; a worshipper of a winged serpent; a flame whose deadly
habits are all-too-human; a run-away gargoyle; a maiden transforming
into a warrior sorceress; a haunting deja vu where victim, violator
and avenger merge into one... and
more.
Ayshe New York belly dancer Wings of
Isis