| Since the creation of FatChanceBellyDance by Carolena Nericcio in 1987, the troupe has fascinated audiences worldwide with their exciting improvisational technique. Carolena has refined a montage of different "tribal" elements into what has been coined American Tribal Style bellydance. The range of Carolena's comprehensive instructional videos, her interactive video consultation with remote students and teachers, as well as FCBD's commitment to out of town workshops have spread FCBD's American Tribal Style technique and philosophy around the globe. Through their participation in dance festivals, collaborative productions with other artists, and benefit shows for community events, as well as private performances, FCBD has established a strong professional reputation in and out of the Bay Area for performing as well. In January 2000, Carolena opened the FCBD Studio, Store and Resource Center in San Francisco. Beginning through Advanced classes are offered weekly and the company hosts several Student Salons thoughout the year. The studio is also home to a variety of dancers for professional rehearsal and private rental. Carolena Nericcio and FatChanceBellyDance have become respected innovators in the belly dance community as well as the San Francisco dance community through their dedication to performance and instruction. Archival resources about American Tribal Style belly dance Bellydance is both a celebration of the female spirit and a physical display of the strength and beauty of women. Its roots can be traced back to the ritualsof past matriarchal cultures and to the secular entertainments that evolved as the itinerant performers traveled through India, Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Spain. With these traditions in mind, Carolena Nericcio created FatChanceBellyDance in 1987.
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