AUTUMN WARD - MEDIEVAL BELLYDANCE :: neon

Watching the YouTube clip of Autumn Ward’s “Rose of Damascus - Medieval Bellydance” number from our last week’s Fantasy Bellydance Concert NYC, I recall my initial impression of this gorgeous dance when I saw it in our rehearsals: I am struck by how stylistically solid and modern it is. LOL, not only because in the age of fantasy fiction and arts, “medieval” IS cutting-edge, but also because Autumn’s work is amazing as a combination of technique and flair that will go far. Autumn nailed something that many dancers and amateurs seek - a modern form of original dance expression of superb integrity - free of stylistic “pose,” free of any shallow glitz or of “trying too hard” to showcase technique. It just emerges from the dark and unfolds like a rose - impeccably technical, yet what you notice is expression, not mechanics.

The richness of Autumn’s dance vocabulary transcends any technical style. The overall look and spirit of “Rose” is very earthy, relaxed, and dream-like. The word “tribal” occurred to me, in that Autumn’s “medieval” style (and subtle costuming) easily achieves the original tribal bellydance “ideal” feel of grounded effortlessness and evocativeness - the quality so attractive in many variations of tribal styles, but it also developed this precious quality to where it touched on the ethereal, giving it a very modern edge.
Good job, Autumn - you have something valuable, attractive and innovative on your hands. Your rose will be in demand in many a garden!

And thinking of Fantasy Bellydance in general, what gives it such a “contemporary” flair is that it turns up the volume of evocativeness and eloquence of dance as an act of communication. In an age when communication expectations, as well as the focus on a plot, a story, are so intense, Fantasy Belldyance brings us another step closer to our audiences. Another great thing about it is that Fantasy Bellydance embraces the entire world of technical styles (cabaret, tribal, folk ethnic and fusion dance techniques), encouraging cross-pollination of styles in our gardens.

“Cultivated since antiquity in Central Asia and the Levant, the beautifully perfumed Rose of Damascus was carried from Persia in the saddlebags of returning crusaders, arriving in Europe in the 13th century.”

Comments

[Naia]

Autumn's numbers were the absolute highlights of the show for me. While there were many terrific performances and spectacular sights (e.g., Sarah's Mata Hari costume and Blanca's light costume), Autumn's dances played over and over in my mind as I walked to the subway after the show.

[Blanca]

Autumn truly personifies a damask rose in this performance... so utterly beautiful :)