Unlike the glitzy style of Cabaret Tribal Belly Dance is performed in what could be called more ethnic-inspired costumes-- natural fiber elements, coin decorated accessories and which is performed to live drummers and unsynthesised music.

this moves us on to...........

"FatChance" Style ATS

FatChance and Carolena Nericcio were the ones who first garnered the label ATS (American Tribal Style)--an alteration of the term "California Tribal". 

 FatChanceBellyDance style of Tribal bellydance is the original format of group improvisational bellydance and the precursor to other forms of Tribal as we know it today.

ATS has now spread to other cities and has been interpreted by many different dancers and teachers. What this term encompasses is more to do with the FatChance specific dance vocabulary, such as body alignment, arm placement, accents, and cues, and costuming. For example the standard stretch choli/coin bra/banded skirt/full pantaloons/large turban/tassel belt style was created by FatChance, and is easy to spot.

and now............

Tribal Bellydance

Tribal bellydance's main focus is on a group improvisational style, as with ATS above. Participants learn a common vocabulary of movement, and through subtle cueing and a lot of practice to develop non-verbal communication, dancers can create a performance in the moment that, to the audience, appears choreographed. This dance draws also on some of the cultural conventions of the Tribal peoples it emulates, and many women find great camaraderie, comfort, trust, and friendship through the dance experience, and devote their time to the social and emotional aspects of the dance.

Tribal style movement is one important, and sometimes subtle, aspect to Tribal bellydance.

Discussions of the style has yielded a wide consensus that Tribal movement has a stronger emphasis on isolations. Specifically keeping portions of the body gently firm and still while other portions move with marked precision and a greater degree of repetition.

 While in other forms of bellydance, isolations are also part of the aesthetic, Tribal isolations are more severe and stillness is held in sharper contrast to the movement.

Costuming is often colorful and involves many layers, with large full skirts and/or full pantaloons, Indian-style cholis, hip scarves, tassel belts and/or long fringe, and some sort of detailed head wrap, decorations, or turban. Often, a coin bra or Tribal-decorated bra is worn.

( As the orginal founders of the ATS style have found that people are using their style and changing it, being slightly annoyed would rather other peoples interpretations be called ITS, Improvasional Tribal Style)...lost yet

And finally.........

Tribal Fusion Belly Dance.

     There are many interpretations of the concept of Tribal Fusion. Tribal Fusion, to me, refers to the marriage of choreographed and improvisational forms, while retaining significant emphasis on Tribal or ATS aesthetics and stylings; but can also refer to a fusion with significant recognizable elements of various ethnic dance influences, such as "Indian Fusion", "Flamenco Fusion", "African Fusion", and the like.

Tribal Fusion is the combination of Tribal bellydancing and costuming with influences of other bellydance and related dance styles which do not necessarily appear in the common Tribal bellydance movement vocabulary.

 For instance, the incorporation of predominantly Indian stylings, such as mudras and footwork might create a fusion (such as inFusion Tribal's Bhangra Fusion). The use of djembes in musical selections, and the addition of African shimmies and stomping could be called a fusion (such as Domba!).

 The combination of hip hop-inspired pops and locks with jazz floor patterns and Western music would create a fusion. So long as most of the basic elements which define Tribal  are still predominant in the performance, it could be referred to as a Tribal Fusion.