So where does British Tribal Style come from and what does is mean? Well essentially it is heavily influenced by and based on American Tribal Style Belly Dance in particular the Fat Chance Format devised by Carolena Nericcio, Goddess of all things Tribal. My first tribal Classes were with Nicola Atkins, who has studied with Carolena and who is troupe director of Bodhaia Tribal. I fell in love with improvised tribal style and went home tired, confused but full of enthusiasm for a dance style that incorporated moves from the Middle East and India. Moves that were familiar from my Egyptian Style classes (with Troupe Director of ABC Dance School and respected Nottingham based teacher/performer Tati Hafsa) but also new and exciting moves that were multi layered, dynamic and challenging.

After a while however, I wanted to incorporate other styles. I was constantly attending workshops with teachers from all over the world, picking up Romani moves, Shaabi moves, Khaleeji moves, even Street Dance and Hip Hop moves and wanted to include these in my repertoire. I was dancing with a small group of girls from our ATS class and enthused about these new ideas, only to be told 'but that's not ATS!" After a few unsuccessful attempts to rebel, I finally let out a frustrated yell of "Well bugger that then, I'll do BTS, we're in Britain after all, I'll do British Tribal Style!!!!!"

My hubby/drummer Asif looked at me deadly serious and said "you know what, you might be on to something there" and British Tribal Style was born.

Borrowing heavily from ATS, we started to develop our own moves, cues and combos, incorporating all the funky stuff I have learnt (and continue to learn) and began performing locally in Nottingham and Derby. I started my first class in Nottingham and attracted a whole host of like minded rebellious and anarchic women who loved the idea of breaking the mould, whilst still working hard to perfect technique and respect where the style had come from.

Asif and I were adamant from the start that BTS would include drumming and offered both dance and drum classes. We developed cues between dancers and drummers and vice versa. Dancers learn rhythms as a matter of course and drummers quickly recognise combos and moves, asking for them with cues both verbal and visual. The drummers are an integral part of the tribe.

BTS workshops are now in demand throughout the country. Audiences and students alike love the vibrant and anarchic energy of BTS performances and classes. Subsequently we have formed several tribes in Nottingham, York and Lincoln.

We never fail to acknowledge our debt to American Tribal Style and Carolena Nericcio, Middle Eastern Dance and percussion forms, but we also keep our eye on the dance styles of the British Isles and of modern culture.

Middle Eastern dance styles have developed along the Silk Route, starting out in India and traversing though the Middle East, the Balkans and Europe. They have adapted, grown and incorporated influences as they met other tribes and cultures. We hope that we echo this, as we borrow from here and there, add something new, show something we have learnt somewhere along the way and then make up our own interpretations. It is this that links us to the tribes and villages of the Middle East, rather than a set pattern of steps or moves.