About Tempest | Gothic Belly Dance | Nouveau Noir Dance | Other Work by Tempest

What is Nouveau Noir Dance?

Well, it's an offshoot of Gothic Belly Dance that particularly focuses on and revels in turn-of-the-century inspirations, and is a term coined by Tempest. Since she began dancing, Tempest was greatly inspired by the art, culture, and history of this time period, and sought to incorporate into her dancing. A more simple way to describe her style in bellydance terms is "Gothic Oriental" - blending the Gothic aesthetic and drama with oriental dance and inspirations.

Nouveau comes from "Art Nouveau" - a movement of art throughout Europe and the United States that cherished the organic, the naturally beautiful, and the intricate. It later morphed into the "Art Deco" movement, which was influenced by Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun (Egyptmania spread throughout the world as it marveled at the treasures revealed), as well as the more "sophisticated" advancements of the Industrial Revolution.

Noir speaks to the darker side of things, the drama of early silent films all the way through "Film Noir" in the early mid-20th Century. It alludes to danger, from being in danger to being dangerous.

Also, there is a definite homage to "Orientalism" (which thrived and blossomed in the early part of the 20th century), the 1920's and 30's, and even into the 40's in Nouveau Noir Dance. It depends on each piece and the story in which the artist wishes to portray and enthrall her audience with. Nouveau Noir also subscribes to the Steampunk & Neo-Victorian mentality of "take something old, make it new - take something new, make it old." Works for us - ingenuity, fashion, and fantasy colliding in a most fabulous way!

All in all, Nouveau Noir simultaneously pays homage to the past while moving forward into the future, new merges with old, sacred meets profane, oddity and elegance co-exist. It exists in the realm of Neo-Victorian, Steampunk, and the Punk Flapper.

Discover more about just some of these inspirations:

Art Nouveau: Mucha | Beardsley
Art Deco: Erte
Ruth St. Denis | Mata Hari | Theda Bara