Kelley Beeston - Kalash Tribal
FatChance® style belly dance
Kelley Beeston - Kalash Tribal
In 2007, after attending Egyptian belly dance classes, Kelley discovered American Tribal Style® (ATS) now called FatChanceBellyDance®style and embarked on the most amazing journey of self-discovery. She fell in love with this dramatic and eclectic dance form - the cultural roots, rhythms and music together with the camaraderie, costumes and ethnic jewellery encompassing her love of all things tribal – the people, cultures and history.
Kelley’s passion radiates through in her weekly online classes and in person live workshops both at home and abroad, for her there is something magical and empowering about this style of dance which she absolutely loves to share.
She is well known for her inclusive, approachable teaching style often structuring her workshops holistically around a theme or concept. Her innate ability to break things down and simplify the most difficult steps and ideas has earned her a reputation as a thorough and knowledgeable teacher. As a self-confessed FCBD®style ‘geek’, she loves to explore the intricacies of group dynamics, communication/interaction, connectivity and confident
performance – in other words delivering our dance – from dramatic entrance to rapturous applause. Over the years Kelley has nurtured a growing tribal family from her Oasis workshops to Panacea, an online performance collaboration with international dancers during the Pandemic
Based in SW England Kelley became a Certified Teacher and Studio in 2010 and was a frequent visitor to the mothership in San Francisco, attending classes with Carolena and her troupe teachers. She has completed General Skills and Teacher Training certifications several times, as well as Technique for Teachers, and was handpicked by Carolena and her Tribal Pura International partner Megha Gavin as one of only ten teachers worldwide to undergo their first ever Advanced Teacher Training, graduating in June 2015.
Subsequently she was invited to become a FatChance Continuing Education (FCCE) Instructor and is honoured to be part of the FatChanceBellyDance teaching team for General Skills, Teacher Training, Technique for Teachers and the new Advanced Teacher Training which she helped develop alongside Carolena and Deanna Padron Freeman. Kelley is also a regular contributor of workshops to the FCBDU training resource since its conception in 2020.
Serendipity Workshops
"Curiouser and Curiouser"
14.00 - 16.00 Saturday
"Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on till you come to the end: then stop."
In this workshop we will work on putting together a performance using improv but exploring several unusual ways of choreographing our formations to add a taste of the unexpected for our SHOWBACK performance at the evening haflah.
All welcome, with no pressure to be a part of the feature groups if you are happier to be part of the equally important chorus.
Costume is whatever you have chosen to wear for the evening but do bring zils.
Cheshire Cats
9.30 - 11.00 Sunday
'Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,' thought Alice; 'but a grin without a cat!
It’s the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!'”
Sometimes our face lets us down, it’s weird to see a dancer shimmy without a smile. Dancing makes us feel good, it brings us joy and that’s exactly what we want to convey to the audience but, what we practise in the classroom is what we will take on stage.
We’ll be exploring our smiles and pleasant facial expressions and we’ll be playing cards to create a pleasant poker face to ensure we don’t give the game away when things go wrong. Using lots of drills, hints and tips, fun games and exercises we’ll create a lasting ‘performance face’ for great stage presence. Absolutely guaranteed to put a smile on your face, otherwise it’ll be “off with your heads!”
Through the Looking Glass
14.00 - 15.30 Sunday
“Why,"' said the Dodo, 'the best way to explain it is to do it.”
Perfect synchronisation is a skill we need whether following our leader in different formations or dancing face to face. It’s so easy to fall into the habit of always dancing the way you dance rather than tuning in to those you dance with.
We come in all shapes and sizes so synching up with someone much taller or smaller than yourself can be a challenge
Using the big mirror and each other we will work on our reflections, spatial awareness and timing to perfect the technique of synchronisation