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Bellydancing troupe highlights women’s natural beauty through movement, without nudity, says manager.
By Sue Thoensen
Exotic music, elaborate, colorful costumes and lots of bare midriffs.
Sounds like a rock concert, right? Well, not quite.
The multifaceted art form known as belly dancing will be taken to new heights as east meets west in the Bellydance Superstars’ production of “Babelesque” Friday night at the Orange County Performing Artscenter.
Miles Copeland, who founded the group in 2002, said managing a troupe of beautifully exotic belly dancers is a welcome change from the rock ’n’ roll legends he managed in the past like the Police as well as Sting and Miles’ brother Stewart Copeland solo. Miles Copeland has also worked with the Sex Pistols, REM and Blondie.
“I’ve dealt with some of the world’s great stars,” Copeland said, “and I’m surprised and very gratified that our dancers equally have as much star potential and commitment to what they’re doing.”
While his show incorporates certain aspects of the more traditional belly dance music and choreography, Copeland said “Babelesque” is fast-paced and fast-moving, so before audiences have a chance to get bored, the performance is “moving on to the next thing.”
That next thing includes a Tribal belly dance, a Polynesian belly dance and a ballet belly dance.
Copeland described the tribal dancing as “gypsy meets God knows what,” with dancers sporting tattoos and body piercings dressed in deep red and black costumes.
Regardless of what types of costumes the dancers are wearing, Copeland said audiences are being shown the beautiful, feminine and sensual side of a woman without nudity.
“They can see the beauty of a woman in its purest form. Simple beauty is partly what we’re selling,” Copeland said.
The other message Copeland said the show sends is that there’s more to the Middle Eastern culture than terrorism. He feels the girls and the company are good ambassadors in other countries.
“This gives us some kind of bridge between the two cultures, and we need some kind of a bridge. Dancing is a neutral forum — we’re not waving a flag,” he said.
Jallina is a choreographer and dancer who has been with the company for the past 15 years. With a dance background in jazz, hip-hop and ballet, Jallina said belly dance is her calling.
Many women, inspired after seeing the dancers perform, enroll in belly dancing classes themselves, Jallina said, and she finds that gratifying.
“If I can get people to see and appreciate that belly dancing is a beautiful art form, I’ve accomplished something, and it paves the way for the next generation of dancers.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Bellydance Superstars present “Babelesque”
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Orange County Performing Artscenter’s Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center drive, Costa Mesa
COST: $23 to $52
INFO: Call (714) 556-2787 or go to www.ocpac.org.
SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.
