Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Tribal Combo Creation

One thing I've noticed over the years of doing Improvised Tribal Style (ITS) bellydance is that people love to see a great combo being performed! Maybe not just great but something they've never seen before - something unexpected and unique. Combo creation isn't always easy for everyone so here are some tips to get you started.

Find Some Inspiration:  That could be anything. Really! Maybe there’s a particular move that you really like or a move that would normally be too complicated for improv – put it into a combo! Personally, when I’m building combos it’s not always the same process. Sometimes it starts with a move I like and I build around it, or I think of a cue that would work well and I build the combo in order from beginning to end. Sometimes I even name the combo first and then put together moves that I think describe it, and sometimes I’m inspired by a certain dancer and create a combo that emulates her style.

The Cue:  Simple, simple, SIMPLE! I can’t stress this enough! Your fellow dancers will probably appreciate a cue that is obvious, unique from other moves, and lasts long enough for everyone to see it. Think about where the leader is in relation to the tribe. For example, if the leader is towards the left of the performance space then obviously the tribe can only see the right half of the leader’s body so that’s where the cue should be. Consider the other moves and combos in you repertoire. Can the cue be confused for another move?

Make Some Rules:  Boundaries for when a combo is to be used in performance make it easier for your tribe to figure out what you are going to do next. For example, if the rule is that “Combo A” always starts from an Arabic basic so when the leader starts doing Arabic basic you *know* there is a good chance she is going to do Combo A next. Maybe you have 3 or 4 combos that start in Arabic basic – through process of elimination you know there are only a few possibilities for the next move. The use of the combo can also be limited to formation - some combos look better in a circle formation, some are better in a line, etc.

Add Some Dynamics:  The main difference between creating choreography and creating combos is that you cannot get your inspiration from the song to create you tribal combo. In choreography we take advantage of musical accents, tempo changes, etc. and “letting the music tell us what to do next”, but in tribal improv you never know what music you will be dancing to. The moves you choose for your combo must be versatile enough that they can be used regardless of the music, but interesting enough that your dance does not become boring for the audience. Taking moves that you know and doing the unexpected with them will spice up your combos - here are some ideas:
-          Change the timing – slow it down or speed it up! Change the timing half way through the move! Do the move twice – once at regular speed and once double time.
-          Take it for a walk – you’d be surprised how many moves you can travel with even if it’s only one step.
-          Turns and spins – the audience loves to see dancers spin! Adding a fast turn or a series of spins will get approval from the audience. Be careful not to over use, spins can get old really fast.
-          Take it to another level – level changes are almost always unexpected and look fantastic. This is another one that should not be over used and is usually only done once or twice per song so it doesn't loose it's magic.
-          Break the rules – this is *your* combo so don’t feel obligated to use the standard arm positions, foot patterns, etc. associated with a particular movement. Try to do your own thing even if it feels weird.
-          Formations – combos are a great way to change formations without the risk of people forgetting where they are supposed to move to as well as changing leadership.

Connecting the Moves:  Because a combo is really just a series of moves, make sure each move has a logical connection to the next move. And remember: simple, simple, simple! You want all dancers to be able to follow easily and all dancers to be able to lead it.

Everything in Moderation:  Less is more! Remember that loading up your combos with level changes, spins, and shimmy's will be really cool at first but will become less impressive and predictable as the performance goes on. Make sure your combos have quiet moments so the audience can appreciate all of the really cool things you are about to do.

Got Zills?:  This is a great way to really set your combos apart from those of other tribes. Some tribes play 3’s throughout their improv and some mix it up by changing the zill pattern for certain moves. When working within a combo you can use your zills to accent certain movements or accents and use zill patterns that you would be unlikely to hear in tribal improv otherwise.

Connecting the Combos:  The glue that holds your combos together are your “filler” moves, also known as stall moves or basics. Filler moves are important because they allow “breathing room” between the combos, time for the leader to cue the next move, and allows the leader to wait for a musical phrase that would work well with the combo. Filler moves should be simple and are always the best moves to start and end a combo.

Keep it SIMPLE!:  Combos that are overly complicated or awkward to start probably won’t get used much and will eventually fall by the wayside. There’s nothing wrong with including complex moves but remember that you don’t want to make it difficult for your tribe to stay synchronized.

Don’t Get Discouraged:  Choreography and combo creation does not come easily to everyone. And let’s face it – you will probably make a few combos that end up not getting used for whatever reason. Maybe the cue is too complicated, is not easy to read, or it’s just not a favorite of the tribe. It really doesn’t matter - just try again but don't forget to take a look at your "failed" combo at another time and see if you think of a better way to cue it of exicute it.

I hope these tips are helpful! I'm also curious if you have any tips and tricks to creating your own combinations for tribal improv!

~Carla
 

Here are a few videos of Silk Sirens Tribal improvising: