Silver Lotus is a dance school located in Woonona, a suburb in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Specialising in American Tribal Style (ATS) Bellydance and Tribal Fusion Bellydance, Silver Lotus offers a unique blend of dance cultures from Middle Eastern/Oriental, Flamenco, Indian, and other contemporary styles.
Dancing as a Tribe, Silver Lotus aims to share their passion and joy with both their Sisterhood and audiences. They achieve this through learning a common vocabulary of traditional ATS moves and cues, allowing them to join ATS dancers from all over the world in improvisational dancing.
The members of Silver Lotus Tribal are experienced performers who have showcased their talents at various public events, including the Illawarra Folk Festival, Viva La Gong, and Spring Into Corrimal. Additionally, they have performed at charity events and weddings, not only in the Wollongong region but also in Sydney and beyond.
ATS, an abbreviation for American Tribal Style Bellydance, derives influences from the strong posture and arm positioning of Flamenco dance, as well as the flow and grace of traditional Middle Eastern Dance. The evolution of ATS has seen it encompass a wide range of dance techniques from North India, the Middle East, Spain, and Africa.
The unique form of ATS dance was spearheaded by Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman, who continues to perfect and evolve classic ATS as the director of FatChanceBellyDance in San Francisco, California. Her contribution has been instrumental in shaping Tribal Style as we know it today.
Silver Lotus Tribal regularly performs at community and cultural events, such as Viva la Gong and the Illawarra Folk Festival. They have also participated in markets, including the Puckeys Twilight Market and Coledale Twilight Market. In addition, they have taken part in festivals like Tribal & Trance Festival and Bellicious.
The dance school also offers projects and workshops for their members, providing professional development opportunities. These workshops feature renowned instructors such as Kristine Adams, Evangeline Faery, and Devi Mamak.
With a diverse range of performances and a passionate group of dancers, Silver Lotus Tribal Bellydance invites all dance enthusiasts to join their unique dance community. Through their performances and events, they aim to spread the joy and beauty of dance to a wider audience.