In 2003 Samantha was re-inspired by a Fat Chance Belly Dance performance in Glastonbury , and later by personal encouragement from Rachel Brice in the UK. There was a dignity and strength in Tribal Style that has Samantha hooked ever since. Her own signature style includes strong posturing, sharp locks and 'liquefied' arms. She loves the interaction between dancer and audience, and is happiest on stage.

Largely self-taught and self-funded (for a long time her day job was as a construction worker), Samantha is a committed teacher as well as performer. Her great ambition is to raise respect for bellydance as an art form in Europe and to help raise the standard among practitioners there.

Samantha is the only British member of The Bellydance Superstars and features in the new Tribal Fusions DVD. She has performed widely on stage in Canada, the UK and Ireland. In 2005 she joined Wendy Marlatt's Dublin based performance troupe Rashani International. In 2007 she was nominated for Zaghareet Magazine's annual Best Kept Secret Award.

ABOUT TRIBAL FUSION BELLYDANCE
Tribal Fusion Bellydance is a form of modern belly dance generally referring to a combination (fusion) of many dance forms. It frequently incorporates elements of Popping, Hip Hop, Breakdance, 'Egyptian' or 'Cabaret' belly dance, and modern, but often draws from many traditional forms such as Flamenco, Kathak, Bhangra, Balinese, and other folkloric dance styles. In tribal fusion, dancers expand on the elements previously fused to form American Tribal Style, also referred to as ATS, to make their style unique and more relevant to their contemporary experience.

The roots of tribal fusion lie in American Tribal Style, also referred to as ATS, created in San Francisco by Carolena Nerriccio and her dance company FatChance Bellydance. The ATS dance is based on improvisation as a group through the use of hand cues and movements. One of the founding members of FCBD in 1989, Jill Parker, can be regarded as starting tribal fusion. After leaving FCBD, she formed Ultra Gypsy Dance Theatre in 1996. Under Jill Parker's direction, UG expanded on the ATS movement repertoire, using choreography and incorporating elements of burlesque, cabaret, and 1920's. The group also progressively deconstructed the classic ATS costume (choli, coin bra, turban, tassel belt, skirt, pantaloons).

Another early pioneer in tribal fusion is Heather Stants, who formed Urban Tribal Dance in San Diego in 1999. Initially, Urban Tribal was heavily influenced by hip hop and street dance styles, though their current style borrows many elements from modern dance. They are also known for their minimalist costuming, in contrast with many other tribal fusion performers. Their costuming effectively complements their sleek lines and smooth style. Mardi Love was an early member of UT, who later joined the Indigo and became one of their major choreographic and costuming influences.

Tribal Fusion was largely popularized by Rachel Brice and the Indigo (formed in 2003), who became internationally renowned as they toured with the Bellydance Superstars. [1] Rachel Brice describes her dancing as a combination of Suhaila Salimpour technique and FCBD style, along with a heavy dose of Mardi Love. She also popularized the use of movements similar to "popping," though she credits Ariellah as the source. Initial members of this group were Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Michelle Campbell, Sharon Kihara, Shawna Rai, Janice Solimeno, and Ariellah Aflalo. Both Rachel and Sharon were members of Ultra Gypsy and credit Jill Parker as a major inspiration. Currently, the Indigo is composed of Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, and Zoe Jakes, who toured their own show "Le Serpent Rouge" in 2007.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
TRIBAL FUSION COMBINATION FOR IMPROVISATION
Sunday March 28th, 2010 (11:00am-2:00pm)
THB 2,700 at door (THB 2,400 before March 15th)
Play with Tribal Style movements through practicing short combinations with varying tempos. Slow and strong, fast and fluid. Including cues to signal the combination thus enabling the dancer to add it to an improvised group performance piece. Bring a yoga mat and drinking water.

TRIBAL FUSION CHOREOGRAPHY
Sunday March 28th, 2010 (3:00pm-6:00pm)
THB 2,700 at door (THB 2,400 before March 15th)
Samantha fuses her short distinctive combos in an original choreography. Strengthening techniques and drills for these combos will be included, utilizing concepts and inspirations from her Tribal Style training in the USA and past Martial Arts experience in the UK to better support the core and enable isolations of key muscle groups for Tribal Fusion choreography. Including breakdown of her signature articulated locking technique plus spins turns and twists aplenty. Bring a Yoga Mat and water.

REGISTER FOR BOTH CLASSES BEFORE MARCH 15TH, ONLY THB 4,500