Building up a step allows the movement to really shine. It takes the audience on a journey through the music and gives your fellow dancers a clue as to what may be coming next. Allowing you all to dance with more confidence and ease.

What is our Arm Posture when we dance FCBD® and why do we use it? Find out in this excellent article from the ATS® Magazine archives by Megha Gavin

I love learning how steps are created, and how they evolved before making it into the official vocabulary. After spending some time with SuperBeth of Tamarind last year, I had a greater appreciation for this “zippy” fun step which also happens to be a Tamarind Dialect step!!

Find out where it came from and why it is called this way

The Sunanda is a Modern Step, meaning it’s on Tribal Basics Volume 7 Creative Steps and Combinations. This step was created by my dear teacher, Megha, while she was living in New Orleans, Louisiana between 1998 -2003.

When, and how this beautiful (Arabic) Hip Twist variation was born!

Connect to our Dance History, and gain a deeper appreciation of this step

Learn the origins and influences of the beautiful WaterPot step in detail!

I’m sure many of you that have studied other belly dance styles have experienced movements that are similar, but not exact to ours.

This step was created by our beloved Megha Gavin, founder of Devyani Dance Company and is found on FatChanceBellyDance® Tribal Basics Volume 7: Creative Steps and Combinations so it’s considered a part of our Modern vocabulary…

The Pivot Bump is a fundamental steps in any style of bellydance. In fact, whether soft and bouncy or punchy and staccato, many dance styles have some sort of Pivot Bump.

In FatChanceBellyDance® Style, the Pivot Bump, along with the Choo Choo, is not only a foundational and Classic step, but we have an entire family of movements dedicated to this beautifully simple, yet diverse, hip movement.

I love chatting with Carolena about these topics because they always include stories or memories that take me back to photos, videos or articles I’ve seen and it feels like a little piece of the history puzzle fits perfectly in it’s spot to create the full picture.

These are vendors that we love, recommend and have collaborated with on our Monthly challenges. We value their brand and feel their offerings are a great fit for our worldwide FCBD®Style community.

Since we have so many new instructors. I thought it might be nice to do a blog series on what it means to be a Certified Studio.

Today, let’s explore the origins of the Wet Dog.

In November 2021, FCBD®U hosted legendary folkloric artist, Khyria Mazin for a live workshop from Luxor, Egypt.

After the workshop, we had the opportunity to sit down with Khyria, Shining and Heba, her translator, for a Q&A with the attendees. One of the many topics discussed was the naming convention and the term “Ghawazee”. Listening to Khyria explain why they no longer use the word “Ghawazee” was a moment I wished everyone could hear (well, the whole workshop really!).

This experience with Khyria inspired a deeper conversation regarding our FCBD®Style movement called Ghawazee Inspired Shimmy Combo.

Join us for a fascinating and inspiring interview with Puela Lunaris live from Spain and learn more about one of the huge inspirations of FatChanceBellyDance®Style...Flamenco!!

The extended puja was created by Megha Gavin, Director of Devyani Dance Company. Her inspiration was not only the FCBD®Style gratitude and the Woman Power Workout, but her love of India, her personal and spiritual connection to the deities expressed in the choreography and her Hindu “roots” of her husband, Vikas’ family.