5-Week Performance Project with Despina
Explore the dynamic group improvisation style formerly known as American Tribal Style® (ATS®), now FatChanceBellyDance® (FCBD®), a belly dance format created by Carolena Nericcio. This powerful style is rooted in cued movement, deep connection, and rich cultural inspiration.
Message from Despina:
“Bring your finger cymbals and your appetite to dance a lot!”
Despina began her ATS® journey in 2005 and completed her ATS® Teacher Training at Homecoming in San Francisco in 2015. In 2013, she began training in the Salimpour School and continues her studies to this day. Through the Salimpour format, she deepened her understanding of the foundational movements, many of which trace back to Jamila Salimpour’s groundbreaking documentation of dances from the SWANA region.
In this project, you’ll focus on:
Classic FCBD® vocabulary
The art of cueing for group improv
Playing finger cymbals confidently
Plus: Despina’s signature combos and deeper insights into step names inspired by Jamila’s teaching & archival work
Finger cymbals are required. Never played before? Perfect! This is a great chance to start.
Sample movements & combos you'll learn:
Egyptian Basic (with dynamic hip technique) + Egyptian Basic with turns
Walking ¾ Shimmy on the Up + ¾ Shimmy to 4 Corners
Arabic Step + Arabic with Turns
Shoulder Shimmy Combo
Ghawazee Combo (a.k.a. Mazin Combo, inspired by the legendary Mazin family)
Tifonas – Despina’s signature fast barrel turn combo (Greek for “typhoon”!)
WHEN:
5 Week Course:
Thursdays 7.30-9pm
June 19 - July 17
Sat July 19
3pm: Tech Rehearsal
6pm + 8pm: Summer Elixir - 2025 Belly Dance Showcases
WHERE:
5 Week Course: Bellyqueen School @Playwrights Downtown
440 Lafayette St, 4th Floor, Studio 4D, New York, NY 10003
Press "Playwrights" on the intercom to open the front door and activate the elevator
Show: Speyer Hall, University Settlement, 184 Eldridge St, 2nd Fl, New York, NY 10002
INVESTMENT: $165, $150 unlimited pass members
- Includes tech rehearsal
- Professional photos + video
- Costume is extra
- Invite at least 2 friends to see you perform
Thursdays 6.30-7.30pm: Open Belly Dance Technique + Combos with Finger Cymbals (Studio 4D)
Begins June 19, 2025
Study Finger Cymbals with Despina at Bellyqueen!
In-Person | 1 Hour | All Levels Welcome | Drop-In
Bring your finger cymbals and your appetite to learn a lot!
Join Despina for an energetic and educational class rooted in the Salimpour Method—a time-tested, structured approach to playing finger cymbals while dancing.
Class Includes:
- A finger cymbal warm-up paired with basic movement
- Introduction to syncopation—aka anything other than the downbeat
- Drills around the room paired with weekly featured cymbal patterns combined with movement.
Experienced dancers will be given extra layering.
Whether you’re new to finger cymbals or looking to sharpen your technique, this class is for you! You’ll leave with practical tools for improvisation and choreography.
- Perfect companion class if you’re taking Despina’s Group Improv Dance Performance Project!
- Dancers of all belly dance styles are welcome!
WHO: Innovative instructor and virtuoso performer Despina is obsessed with belly dance. The rich sounds of music from her Greek childhood and the tantalizing movements of belly dancers in the Greek night clubs awakened a passion within her to study the dance. Despina’s belly dance adventure started in 2005 in Fat Chance Belly Dance Style, now also described Global Fusion belly dance. She later on discovered the Salimpour Institute through her teacher Irina Bellyrina Wen. Her connection to the dance fueled her to continue her training and exploration by joining world renowned choreographer's Dalia Carella’s classes.
Despina's unique dance style seamlessly blends modern and vintage belly dance influenced by her Greek heritage, Dalia Carella and the Salimpour format. You can find her performing and teaching in NYC and at various belly dance festival's within the US. Despina is also a proud member of the Dalia Carella Dance Collective.
Teaching in Astoria, Queens and Manhattan Despina creates a dynamic and enjoyable learning environment for her students, who attest to her ability to challenge them to dance safely with ease, grace, and power.