Photo provided by Alyssa Gehris
By Marissa Massare, Arts & Entertainment Editor
The Susquehanna Belly Dance Circle closed out the semester with their final performance Il Rukus, a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, that featured non-English and non-traditional belly dance music, on Nov. 16 in the Weber Chapel Auditorium.
The theme for the performance was chosen among the executive members of the Belly Dance Circle. Senior Belly Dance Circle member Rebecca Wagner said the group agreed upon the international theme.
“We’ve been wanting to do something inclusive such as that or body positivity for the past few shows,” Wagner said.
Junior captain Joanna Messineo added, “We think international was a good choice because our school focuses so much on preparing students for a ‘global world’ that we wanted to show that in our dancing. Good music isn’t just in English and from America, and belly dance can be done to any kind of music.”
During the performance members from various levels performed group and solo routines. Each choreographer also had the choice of doing a solo dance.
After each level performed their routines and choreographers had the chance to perform solos, small groups and other solos were also encouraged for Il Rukus.
Level one is for beginners, level two is intermediate and level three is for advanced belly dancers.
Wagner mentioned, “We try to organize the dances [during the performance] in a way that eliminates the most quick changes and back-to-back performances,” to make sure the show runs smooth.
The Belly Dance Circle performs in Weber Chapel Auditorium, but also in smaller areas, such as Charlie’s Coffeehouse located in the Degenstein Campus Center.
Messineo preferred Il Rukus compared to the group’s smaller performances.
“The Charlie’s performances are much more intimate and a good place to experiment with some really unusual music or styles. I tend to prefer the big ones though. It’s just so exciting to be up on that stage under all the lights. And I get less nervous when I can’t see my audience. It’s the product of a whole semester of work and I love showing it off,” Messineo said.
Il Rukus and the Belly Dance Circle gives members the opportunity to express themselves through dance and try something new.
Messineo joined Belly Dance because “When else in my life am I going to have the opportunity to do something like this,” she said. “It’s hard to get over the mentality of ‘my body just doesn’t move like that’ and the body insecurity that comes along with having to look at your stomach in the mirror for an hour. But everyone was so welcoming and encouraging that I really felt accepted.”
The Belly Dance Circle at Susquehanna was founded in 2008 by Gabrielle Tompkins. According to Messineo, the group is “a self-taught performance group focused on learning both the practical side of belly dance (the moves and the style) along with the history and culture associated with it.”
Members of the Belly Dance Circle will begin choreographing their next performance, Hafla, after students arrive back on campus from winter break.
