Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance: 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.

Unmata: UNMATA is a professional, multi-award-winning, bellydance fusion troupe based in Sacramento, CA .  Formed in 2003 by Hot Pot Studio’s artistic director Amy Sigil, UNMATA’s current members are  Shelly DeCant, Luna Taylor, Casey Staub, and Kari VanderZwaag.  The high-energy teamforce of UNMATA is known for extreme choreography, inventive Tribal improvisation, and for tapping into an unmistakable divine inebriation on and off stage. UNMATA’s 2007 agenda includes teaching and performing their distinct “Tough Love” style nationally and internationally, tri-hosting the first annual Tribal Throwdown in March, and producing the Seventh Annual Blood Moon Regale in Sacramento on Halloween weekend.  UNMATA holds the 2007 title “Tribal Fusion Group of the Universe.”

Gypsy Caravan: Paulette Rees-Denis is the Director of the Gypsy Caravan—Portland, Oregon's acclaimed contemporary tribal bellydance troupe. Having found her soul dance in the Tribal Style of bellydance, she has been teaching weekly classes in Portland, and workshops internationally since 1991. Her tribal styling is a fusion of several influences based on dances from different countries and modern day—urban, folk, ritual and trance, modern, among others. With a classical dance background, Paulette has created a rich blend of contemporary dance which is esthetically pleasing, spiritually grounding and physically rewarding. Having brought Tribal Style bellydance to the Pacific Northwest, Paulette continues to enrich the dance community in a variety of ways. In 2000, she opened her own dance studio, Caravan Studio - A World Of Dance, with her husband and fellow Gypsy, Jeff Rees. In her commitment to teaching and educating the community about tribal bellydance, Paulette brings other internationally recognized master teachers and styles of 'world dance' to Portland. She is the creator of Tribal Quest NorthWest, a five day festival of tribal inspired music and dance in Portland with teachers and performers from around the world. Since 1998 she has published a quarterly international journal, "Caravan Trails", with art, interviews, reviews, and more about tribal and related dance styles. Paulette collaborates on a regular basis with poets, storytellers, musicians, and actors, to create multimedia dance and theater productions, and produces award-winning videos and cd's.

Gypsy Fire: Gypsy Fire Belly Dance was formed in 1998 in Bend, Oregon, by director Quinn Donovan. Having studied since 1994 with FatChanceBellyDance in San Francisco, Quinnbrought this style of dance to Central Oregon, and began Gypsy Fire. The troupe finds continuing inspiration in our fellow dancers, and in the blossoming variations of "classic" ATS (FCBDformat). While our roots are firmly planted in the improvisational structure set out by CarolenaNericcio and FCBD, we have begun to adopt movements of various dance stylings, and have adapted them to our troupe's dynamic, much like the "Gypsies" (Roma) we honor in our name. Quinn has continued her study of Bellydance through workshops with such teachers and troupes as: Gypsy Caravan, Rachel Brice, Hahbi 'Ru, Ansuya, Urban Tribal, Ultra Gypsy, Zafira Dance Company, DOMBA!, Colleena and others. She is currently Level 1Certified in the Suhaila Salimpour format, and is working to complete her teacher certification in the FatChanceBellyDance format.
www.gypsyfirebellydance.com

Troupe Hipnotica : Troupe Hipnotica Tribal Belly dance is entertainment for today’s emerging global culture. Since forming in 2002 by director Adriene Rice, Troupe Hipnotica has been entertaining Seattle audiences at local venues as well as international festivals such as Folklife, TribalFest and TribalQuest. Founder Adriene Rice has been studying American Tribal Belly Dance since 1994 when she first discovered Fat Chance Belly Dance. As a member of the well known San Francisco troupe she had the opportunity to appear in instructional videos and perform in a variety of venues from international festivals to cafes and private parties.

inFusionTribal: Teacher Sharon Moore is a certified instructor of the Gypsy Caravan tribal style, having completed a mentorship with director Paulette Rees-Denis in 2002, as well as GS certified by Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellydance, and continues to enjoy exploring the nuances of various tribal group improvisational philosophies and aesthetics to create her own unique expression. She has had the honor of teaching workshops at some of the largest tribal events in the nation, including Tribal Fest, Tribal Quest Northwest, and 3rd Coast Tribal. 

Troupe Salamat : Terri Walden, began teaching tribal belly dance in Prescott, AZ in 1998. She is founder and director of Troupe Salamat, and has taught workshops nationally and internationally; including festivals such as Tribal Fest, World Tribe Festival and Belibeya, Troupe Salamat's annual bellydance "boot camp" in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. "Personal empowerment, improved health and being a member of an accepting, open and collaborative community are just a few of the reasons I love tribal bellydance! Who knew that 'fun and excercise' would so enrich my life." Her focus is the joy of improvisation and inclusion of many styles of Middle Eastern dance and music.

Read My Hips : Stephanie was the Midwest pioneer of American Tribal style bellydance. She began teaching in 1996 with a certification from Carolena Nerricio. director of FatChanceBellydance in San Francisco. Over her 10+ years as an instructor and troupe director of RMH, Stephanie has innovated a unique interpretation of tribal improv (ATS) and modern tribal fusion upon a solid foundation of basic bellydance movement vocabulary.

Read My Hips is located in Chicago, Illinois, and was founded in 1997. They perform at a wide variety of local clubs, special events, and private parties, and are also available for dance seminars and workshops