Spotlight Dancer/Troupe
Mountain Tribal Gypsies Troupe

Our troupe of 11 dancers, 3 drummers and a music man continues to evolve and grow. We have been dancing together for 2 years and we perform every chance we get. Art shows, parades, and local eating establishments, at least once a month. Performances keep us evolving.

Our style thanks to Carolena's vision of ATS makes for a playful atmosphere. The lead follow technique is worth every practice and drill session we did to get there. Gypsy Caravan movements are also an influence and we are even coming up with some of our own. Because we practice and drill twice a week we can be ready to perform in as long as it takes to pick music and get dressed. We have a great time performing, gone is the stress and repetition of choreograph.

As you can imagine with this many performers we are faced with all the trials and joys of any other community. We can't wait to gather each week and combine out strengths to see us safely through these times. Sometimes there is so much to share it is hard to get the practice session started, amazingly all it takes is one of us starting to zil, before you know it another dancer is following, the drummers start to drum, other dancers join in and within minutes we are all dancing in unison tighter than most performance choreograph. We look at each other, smile and all is well in the universe.

We encourage all Troupes to learn the basics of ATS as set forth by Fat Chance Belly Dance. This can become a global expression for women so we can all enjoy the life changing benefits of Tribal Dance. If you are ever in Julian and need to dance Practice is 6:30 Wednesday evenings. Our directive is to heal the planet one dance at a time.

Beryl

I am Beryl E M Warnes, 53 years young, Mother, Grandmother and full time production weaver. My granddaughter already shows signs of a 3rd generation Tribal dancer. Tribal Belly Dance brings strength, focus, courage and joy to my life and keeps me in touch with my inner child. It allows me to be part of a community of diverse women that I might never have known. A belly Dance student for 6 years, 4 of which have been devoted to Tribal.

ATS excites me so, I think because of Carolena's vision of lead follow perfected by Fat Chance Belly Dance I might meet and dance with other women wherever I find myself. It is my goal to actively encourage, share and promote this dance wherever I go. Thank you to my troupe members who are devoted to learning and honing these skills with me.

Poppy

Hello, I'm Poppy, Massage Therapist by trade, Belly Dancer by desire. One of the Senior Sisters, I've always been fascinated by Belly Dancing. About 10 years ago I took my first workshop...and the dance began for me. When I put on my costume, I am an ancient dancer in the temple, aglow with power and love.

I love our community of dancers. It has helped me through some hard times. I am delighted to perform and to share my joy with others. Bless the Tribal Dance.

Cath

I've been dancing with the MTG's for about 2 years. I love every minute I spend with them. The dancing is challenging physically and mentally. A great way for an almost elderly gal to keep everything in top shape! I'm Cath. !!

Toni

I took my first belly dance class down the hill many moons ago with Poppy & Beryl. After hearing how fun the actual class was, I decided that a 50ish very chubby girl could do this. 

What a surprise to find that I wasn't the oldest or the heaviest, that the music awakened my old brain stem cells of remembrance & passion, that I could stay on the beat & understood what the music was whispering, and that my muscles were misbehaving in a way that made me laugh. 

Now years later, I am part of an ATS belly dance troupe of compassionate, creative, artist, skirt swirling, fun loving women that continually fulfill my needs in this moment & in this time of my life. 

The music still turns me on, I am much lighter physically, much heavier spiritually and more in balance on all three levels, as I travel down this path of everyday living as wife, mother, small business owner, keeper of the books, life explorer, friend. I am Toni of Mountain Tribal Gypsy.

Chris

Hi my name is Chris and I first started going to belly dance classes because I had lost 102 pounds and I wanted to keep the weight off.

I continued coming to dance classes, and then we were asked by the teacher and troupe leader Beryl if we wanted to perform at a local art festival.

I did and I was hooked. What a blast.

I must say though, that I continue to dance because of the sisterhood that exists in our troupe. I know that I can totally depend on any women in the troupe.

If I come to practice feeling a bit low, I leave elated. We are there for each other to share the trials and the triumph, the laughter and the tears.

We are Sisters from another Mother.

I am proud to be a fellow dancer in the Mountain Tribal Gypsies.

Cyndi

I became a part of Mountain Tribal Gypsy in order to keep up with the need to dance that started with ballet at age 5. I was delighted to find that the camaraderie and sisterhood of the troupe to be equally important. 

Tribal belly dance gives a wonderful release from my busy day of raising the children and working with horses, dogs and birds. After all, a happier person can spread that happiness to her charges! 

I look forward to practice nights and performances with the troupe as the elixir for re-energizing my mind and body!

Karen

Hello, my name is Karen. I have been dancing for as long as I can remember: ballet, tap, jazz and modern. I hadn't danced in years when I saw the flyer for Mountain Tribal Gypsy belly dance lessons. After my first class I was hooked, and I never looked back.
 
The thing I enjoy most about tribal style belly dance is that you really get in tune with all of the dancers in your troupe. You notice when you need to take the lead, or perhaps some one else will notice that you don't want the lead. You don't have to be the lead dancer to enjoy this dance. 

We are like sisters who dance for our health, body, mind and soul. MTG! MTG!

Marianne

Hi I'm Marianne and I really enjoy being part of the troupe.

I also enjoy making jewelry, which gives a chance to lend my talents to the more exotic side.

Michaeline

Michaeline: I confess, I am hopelessly addicted to belly dancing with the Mountain Tribal Gypsies. The music, the laughter, the craziness, the groups hugs and the true meaning of sisterhood is what keeps me energized and ready to dance. Yes, we all share a love of dressing up, oohing & aahing over the sparkly and shiny, having a head full of dreads and jingling when we move. But what is truly precious, is the acceptance and respect given to each & every member. This time in my life, through ATS belly dance, has given me the gift of accepting my body and accepting myself.

My dance history shows that I have dabbled in many forms of performance art. Of which, classical Russian ballet is the one I have studied most intently. But ATS and improvisational troupe belly dance has won my heart and I have been studying it for a bit over 2 years now. Prior to discovering ATS, I studied cabaret, folkloric & oriental belly dance for 3 years.

When I am not dancing, I am the proud mother to three wonderful preteen sons (two of which are identical twins), wife to my husband who puts up with all my eccentricities, mommy to Poppyseed, aka "The World's Cutest Little Dog" and many other assorted beasties. I am also a professional soap & candle maker running a manufacturing & retail shop in Julian since 1999. This is why my costumes always smell so good! I am also an artist who works in multiple mediums, a student of tarot and a beginner learning to play the dumbek.

Michelle

My name is Michelle and I am the newest dancer of the Mountain Tribal Gypsies and have been belly dancing for about one and 1/2 years. 

I love to dance and have always been fascinated with belly dancing. After moving to Julian and discovering that there were belly dancing classes I signed up right away and love it!!!!! 

When asked to join the Troupe I felt very honored to dance with these amazing women. They have all taken me under their "veiled wing" and have given me the guidance and great friendship. It has been a wonderful experience and I will be belly dancing for the rest of my life.

During my day life I am a buyer for an Aero structures company and can not wait to go home and dance!

Sean

Hi. My name is Sean Smith and I am a drummer with the Mountain Tribal Gypsies.

I have been drumming for about 22 years, and I joined the MTG a little over a year ago because I love their tribal and ethnic style.

My background as a rock band drummer, guitar player and music lover attracted me to this style of performance.

I live in Escondido CA. with my wife Hayley where we co-own Reverie, a boutique featuring organic and fair trade gifts and clothing. We have a six year old daughter, Sadie, and I am step-dad to Colin (16) and Marina (12).

I make a living doing all phases of construction work. I am a jack-of-all-trades including auto mechanics and plumbing. I have background and knowledge in solar power and all aspects of building.

I am a free spirit living a free life and music/drumming is apart of my life that I love. I thank Mountain Tribal Gypsies for being in my life.

John

Though I appear to be a humble troupe slave drummer, I am in fact a liberated city man escaped to the mountains to practice his art and livelihood. That would be astrology, listening to the deep heart beat of the heavens pulsing out the living music of our souls.

As destiny would have it, I had just taken to the study of the Egyptian tabla when I fell to the spell of the Mountain Gypsies performing at a local art festival in the town of Santa Ysabel. Strange how I felt a part of them before I was part of them. 

I inquired if they might welcome the addition of some live drumming to supplement the fine array of exotic recordings they were employing. Maybe . . . perhaps . . . we'll see . . . was the subliminal reply. Over a year would pass before they and I were ready to wed rhythms of feet and hands. 

I consider myself a dancer too, only it is my palms and fingers which do shimmy and sway beside the lithesome limbs of my companion performers. Now by day my thoughts track the lighted orbs of the sky and by night my eyes the lighted smiles of these stellar tribal dancers. Heaven and earth have met in these mountains, and I am grateful beyond words and beats.

Skylar

Skylar is the newest member to the troupe. Like John & Sean he is one of the drummers.

Skylar has been drumming for a year and he joined MTG 4 months ago.

It is a real pleasure to have Skylar with us. He has wonderful energy and he is a great complement to Sean & John.

Chris

No conversation about Mountain Tribal Gypsies would be complete without talking about Chris Warnes our photographer and videographer.

He faithfully sets up and, beautifully photographs & videos all our performance.

There are times when that is not an easy job because of the venue. He always manages to make us look good, and capture the heart of tribal belly dance.

Like the cobbler son having no shoes we apologize that we do not have a photo of our photographer.

Penny

My name is penny and these women are truly my tribe. 

We are friends, fellow dancers and crazy women who love dancing together.

My real joy comes from the community of women we are together. There is power, grace, wisdom, acceptance, and joy as well as creativity and compassion.

We express our hopes for our lives, and for the planet in our love and commitment to each other and through the language of dance.

Belly Dancer by night and Life Coach by day I consider it an honor and a blast to be a part of this powerful circle of women.

Michael

Michael is our music man, our roadie, our best critic, our # 1 supporter, and biggest fan.

He knows as much about Tribal Style Belly Dance as anyone in the troupe and we would be lost without him.

Thanks for everything Michael.

To contact Mountain Tribal Gypsies:
email: penny@redbarncoaching.com

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