Our Origins
The Free Spirit Gypsies are a loveable bunch of beautifully connected, like-minded, Tribal passionatas who just love dancing for fun, freedom and friendship.
The majority of us have evolved from Belly dance into the Tribal Bellydance realm through Ayesha Watson, our first teacher and mentor.
In 2005 Ayesha Watson attended some workshops with the amazing Paulette Rees-Denis and was so blown away by the Gypsy Caravan style that she had to share this fabulous secret with the others. So she arranged with Alaine Haddon-Casey for Paulette and Geoff to give a workshop at Sheik to Sheik and that was the night it all began - the bellydancers became gypsies!
It was as if we had uncovered some ancient treasure known only to a few select devotees and we have been flying ever since.
The Gypsies use the Gypsy Caravan Tribal Format as per Paulette Rees Denis as their grass roots, but have also been influenced by many other tribal goddesses such as Devi Mamak, Rachel Brice, Mel Rogers, Sue Erokan, Carolena Nericchio, Heather Stants, Sharon Moore, the list goes on! These influences have also introduced other flavours and styles into our own unique and eclectic dance style.
In the beginning we were very focused on "choreography", but as time went by and our confidence grew... and through the use of floorplans, we have all decided we much prefer improv now!
A statement by Paulette sums it all up, she says: "Over time, and under the overall structure of the dance, I have been able to offer a common language to unite women of the world, community by community, tribe by tribe, hip by hip!!!"
Our Tribal Philosophy
Is to celebrate diversity. In dance, in each other and in the world.
Is to celebrate in dance a spiritual energy, a beautiful connective force, a celebration of life. The sense of community/tribe/family that is created when we dance - the beauty of the female, the power, the sadness, the joy and the depth of an ancient connection that goes far beyond our conscious memories.
Our Logo
Represents the moon which governs life cycles and nature. The three moons represent the three stages of the feminine: the maiden, the mother and the crone; and air which represents freedom of spirit. Both elements are surrounded by concentric circle which represents us living harmoniously on this planet.
Our Vision
Is to continue to learn and grow as a tribe and as individuals and to pass and gift the information on to other beautiful women.
In Tribal bellydance everyone is part of the community, and it takes each person's strengths and contributions to the group to complete it. We complement and support each other in an "ego-less" way with our similarities and differences.
So we all are mindful of others in the group and are aware that there are still some girls who are not happy to lead. We consider everyone's feelings and are open to suggestions and comments in a supportive manner. We can then release our egos to dance next to each other, with each other, synchronised, leading or following all in the moment, creating magic in our lives and in the world. United we Dance!
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