Tribal

Look up Tribal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Tribal can refer to someone (for example, a Tribal chief), a culture (i.e. the Cherokee culture) or a society (for example, the Inuit tribal government) based upon or relating to, tribes or clans. Tribalist as an attitude emphasizes ethnic identity or pride in a cultural sense, as opposed to folkish ideologies focused on race.

In popular culture, tribal refers to a type of design or image that is loosely influenced by artwork of indigenous peoples. Often "a tribal" has reference to a tattoo.

Tribal can also refer to tribal house, a subgenre of house music.

There is a recent movement in American Bellydance entitled Tribal or "American Tribal". A fusion of ancient dance techniques from North India, the Middle East and Africa, tribal is characterized largely by a blending of group choreography and solo dances that give the impression of improvisation with a building of rhythms. Dancers often use finger cymbals, have solos within the group, call-and-answer performance with another dancer (duos), or as a whole group. It is also characterized by costumes derived from many "authentic" sources and is often composed of large tiered skirts or 10 meter/yard skirts, a short choli often with a plunging neckline, a visible bra decorated with coins and textiles, turbaned head, hip scarf with yarn tassles or fringe, and a heavy layering of oxidized silver jewelry. The jewelry commonly originates from Central Asia, from any number of nomadic tribes or empires (e.g. Kuchi, Turkoman, Rajasthan) and is often large and set with semi-precious stones or, when mass-produced, with glass. Dancers frequently "tattoo" their faces with kohl or kajal. Make-up is usually eye focused with heavy kajal.

This is a style of belly dance that focuses on synchronized group improvisation and an earthier tone. The creation of this style is credited to Carolena Nericcio, founder and director of the San Francisco troupe Fat Chance Belly Dance.

This vocabulary article is a stub about definitions or usages of words or phrases. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it, or considering moving it to Wiktionary.