Site
Notes:
This site was established in November 2003. As of April 2004, it went
through it's second emergence, more than tripling in size, and more
links, photos, and material has been added regularly since then.
Coming into 2007, the site will continue to expand and evolve. The world
of Gothic Belly Dance has grown immensely since the birth of this site,
mainly as a result of the site's mere existence. Having completed a
cross-country tour of the United States in 2006 (The Durga Tour), with
plans to hit Europe later this year, we've been able to see the growth
and the faces firsthand. DVDs have been released--with more on the way,
shows, festivals, workshops and other events have been focused just
on this genre alone, and yet, there's still so much more to come. Journey
with us.
About
This Site:
It is interesting to note that this site can be one person's greatest
delight, and another person's most distressing nightmare. For those
of an alternative and/or artistic nature, it is a niche and a place
of discovery and inspiration for THEIR dance. To the "ethnic police"
of belly dance, it's a sign of disturbing desecration and defilement
to THEIR dance. Who is right and who is wrong? Well, the close-minded
are always so open about their thoughts, so there has to be a balance.
Tradition has a time and place in all things --innovation as well as
preservation. One can honor the past AND invoke the future. To those
who may wish for us to "cut our roots", I ask for you to take
a second look at yourself. Every breath, every moment, every step moves
us beyond "tradition" and "authenticity". A change
in location, culture, society, costuming---all of these things signify
an alteration to the genetic structure---not to mention the dancer herself!
If you justify cutting one branch, where do you stop? Until the tree
is overpruned, damaged, unable to grow? Rather, it's better to implicate
form and structure---guidelines if you will, to encourage positive growth,
even if it's in a different direction. 
-Laura Tempest
Schmidt,
web
mistress, designer, and primary author of the Gothic Belly Dance Resource.