Profiles

It’s not often you walk into a hall or small theatre or visit a community festival in Staffordshire and face a group of women in what seem to be Moorish costumes twirling and chanting away, all in a blur of colour and song in front of you.
The even stranger thing is that they all have local accents…

Tribal

The women you have just encountered so surprisingly are the ‘Zazu Tribal Dancers’, and their story is, by contrast with their appearance, almost straightforward.

The women came together through attending lessons in Middle Eastern dance, led by enthusiast Lesley Foulkes, at a community based centre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
Lesley, having attended training sessions with the Urban Gypsies in Manchester, Pedralta and a number of other highly skilled teachers, wanted the ladies to experience this “wonderfully free and breath-taking style of dance!”

She began encouraging the ladies to embrace their spirited side.....and so, as they began to gel as friends, the “gypsy tribal” group were formed.

Influences

The group wanted to embrace their roots from dance styles such as Arabic, Flamenco and American Tribal Style Belly-Dancing amongst others....

The chanting they use stems from a specific Tuareg based vocal blessing; not only have the group learnt the Tuareg wording - from north Africa - but have also learned how to make the fascinating Zaghareet sound, making their singing sound quite authentic.
(Zaghareet / Zagroota is a very fast semi-shrieking or “ululation”, which is practice by women at celebrations in the Middle East and parts of India. It’s definitely exotic, Lesley explained it is done by the quick vibration of the tongue against the teeth and each persons sound is unique to them. Very difficult to do!)

What is even more fun is the way the group plays with their costumes. Using scraps of ethnic clothing, using whatever is at the back of the cupboard, and also the real thing (when they can find it!), they make their own outfits and headdresses, as well as belts, which are made up of coins and small metal discs.
It makes for an incredibly colourful sight…

Zazu

Since having formed in 2004, the group has become very practised in what they do – and they are regularly invited to take part in local festivals, where you will see them leading parades, holding displays, and, if you are lucky, giving lessons to puzzled youngsters.

The success of the group has led to a firmer commitment from members, and more rehearsals, so for the time being Lesley’s classes are closed to new comers. The choreographies are difficult to become skilled at and the ladies all know practice means perfect!

Lesley explains. “The original ‘gypsies’ came from India before migrating into Egypt and then spreading across the world as Romanies. In these gypsy societies, the women were very central and held much of the power.  So, Zazu Tribal is partly a project about returning power to us as women, which is why we have to be so committed.  But we have fun too!”

Fans of The Lion King will recognise the name Zazu, of course. However, the importance to the group is that the word means ‘crazy’ – and that is quite descriptive in its own way…

Future

As Lesley says, the group has been amazed by the success and plaudits it has met whenever it has turned out at an event.  For an essentially amateur troupe, that has been a welcome surprise.

The big event of the year for them is always their own Annual Celebration, when the stops are really pulled out. An eastern-style Souk, or Bazaar, is laid on as part of a dazzling evening of Middle Eastern Dancing.
If you would like tickets for this event in December then get in touch with Lesley.

If you want to experience something of the mysterious East right here in Staffordshire, Lesley would be happy to hear from you.

To find out more about Zazu Tribal Dancers, or where they are appearing, email  lesleyfoulkes@aol.com

Click below for pictures of Zazu dancers