Welcome to the website for the dance troupe Eclypse! This is a work in progress with pictures and video forthcoming.
 
 

Troupe Eclypse

Troupe Eclypse combines the passionate traditions of authentic Middle Eastern Dance with the open hearted creativity of modern American Belly Dance.  With an understanding of the traditional dances of  North Africa, Turkey and Central Asia, they make cultural dance accessible to all.   Their family oriented performances bring the joy of  dance to all ages.

Performance

Skilled in all areas of belly dance, and making the impossible look easy these are the hallmarks of a professional troupe.  Imagine the swirling veils, the resonant zills, or the perfectly timed canes, and you have Troupe Eclypse.
Hire us for a cultural event, and we will bring our love of  Middle Eastern Dance and music to your audience.  Hire us for a party, and we'll have your guests up and dancing by the end of the performance.

Teaching
Eclypse is available to produce educational demos as well.   With their emphasis on dance as a means of cultural and emotional expression, Troupe Eclypse is uniquely suited to introduce your school or business to the joy of
what Americans call 'Belly Dance'.  From the Ghawazi tribal Dance to classical Egyptian Cabaret Dance, we bring fun to the expression of cultural diversity.  Asha Pollem, co-founder of Troupe Eclypse, has been performing Middle Eastern
Dance for over ten years. Her classes focus on the connection between mind, body and self esteem.  All ages and body types are welcome in her classes, which are a part of Dancers Supporting Dancers Ethnic Arts Studio.

What Is Belly Dance?

The dances of North Africa and the Middle East have come together in America to create a new art form commonly known as 'Belly Dance'.  In it's most authentic form, this dance is known as Raks Sharki (Eastern Dance), which is the Egyptian  Cabaret style of Belly Dance we are most used to seeing in the united States.  Many other dance forms have come to be associated with Belly Dance in the U.S., for instance, Katak dance from East India, and the dance forms of the Turkish Rom (gypsy) people.

Dance exists in many forms in these countries.  Folk style dance is often done in groups during  festivals and celebrations, whereas modern or classical Raks Sharki is usually done in formal settings with elaborate costuming and full orchestras.  Dance also exists in the home, as a way to pass the time with other women.  Mothers and daughters, sisters, grandmothers pass the dance from generation to generation.  Many of the same movements are used in all of these venues. Dance is about the expression of emotion, and nowhere is this more true than in the cabaret dance of Egypt.  Emotions such as joy, sorrow, or passion are evident with every move the dancer makes.  The face is often the most important method of expression in these dances, and the goal is to bring the audience to a complete understanding of the dancer's immersion in her art.