Tarot
Fantasy Bellydance" is a collection of 20 dance performances exploring the symbolism and archetypal ideas associated with the cards of the Tarot deck. The performances represent nearly all the cards of the Tarot Major Arcana: Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Lust, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, Devil, Tower, Star, and Judgment.
A number of Tarot cards are portrayed through stories or mythological imagery: In "The Magician" the hero's shadow escapes and takes over; "The Empress" is the story of the goddess Parvati; "The Hierophant" is a ritual of the revelation and worship of the goddess Isis; "The Lovers" echoes the plot of Wagner's "Venus and Tannhauser"; "The Wheel of Fortune" makes two rounds through the stories of Cleopatra and Medusa; while "Judgment" recalls the medieval motif of the Dances of Death. Some of the performances approach Tarot symbolism through experiences of personal growth and mysticism: "The Star" is a story of a broken heart; "Temperance" is a seductive interplay of passion and restraint; "The Hermit" is a journey of learning and overcoming; "The Tower" is a warrior dance. Performed by a spectacular lineup of bellydance stars, "Tarot - Fantasy Bellydance" alternates solos with group dance compositions in a wide range of bellydance styles.
Contributing artists include Anasma, Andrea Anwar, Autumn Ward, Ayshe, Bellycraft, Blanca, Elisheva, Fayzah, Irina Akulenko, Michelle DeVine, Neon, Sarah Johansson Locke, Sarah Skinner, Tanna Valentine, Toshi Hamada, Yoshina
