In May of 2006, or roughly thereabouts, two young women came together with a plan for world domination and global conquest by means of the cunning use of flags. Unfortunately, flags as a means of conquest hasn’t really worked since Great Britain conquered India, and even then less than judicious use of violence had to be involved.

Not really being fond of guns (with the quiet exception of ray-guns), the two thought that perhaps a better plan might involve charming the hearts and stealing the secrets of everyone they encountered. They immediately began work on the project, using their skills and powers in the ancient art of bellydance to put together the most fantastic raks sharqi show that Kansas City had ever seen.

The plan worked a little too well. Early in 2007 they realized that in order to conquer Kansas City (and later the world) they would need back-up. Good solid backup. The kind of backup that would pick you up when you were down, come to your aid when you were in trouble, and help formulate the kind of hair-brained schemes they would need in the their quest for world domination.

After a host of disasters including plague, flood and a well-spring of stupid ex-boyfriends, they succeeded in recruiting four young ladies who are currently undergoing training in the fine arts of espionage, deception and ARTS (American Revival Tribal Style) aka Boxcar Fusion.

Initially found as the Persian Reconnaissance Project, the name was changed on the second anniversary of the group for something a bit more encompassing of what they were doing - Anahita Tribal Fusion was born, bringing along with it a neccessity to name their show: the Tin Penny Opera. Anahita now acts as an umbrella for the individual dancers in the group, as well as the Bella Studios student dance troupe, Ish!

Technically it's a form of tribal fusion, but to be cute and pedantic, we've been calling it Boxcar Fusion of late - due to an increasing influence in our work of Depression Era themes, and Vaudeville-esque Burlesque.

You can take classes through Bella Studios, where M'chelle, our Creative Director teaches Tribal Fusion weekly on Wednesday nights. Also available around town are classes through Siham Ali (Egyptian and Folkloric Style), and Christine Ferhat (Egyptian and Morrocan Style).
There are others, but these are the teachers we're familiar with and recommend.

We make all our costumes, but there are a host of vendors on etsy.com and ebay.com who would be happy to help you. Heck, even M'chelle's got a shop, but she's currently specializing in Bindi's.

M'chelle used to be a member of Massive Tassel, but left the group in 2006.
Along those lines, Satowi used to be a member of Kundalini Dancers and Rasa B'adia. But no more...

Kansas City Society of Burlesque

Quixotic Performance Fusion

Massive Tassel

Alacartoona

The Steampunk Workshop

Absinthe

The Absinthe Buyer's Guide

Mata Hari

Josephine Baker

Notorious Women

Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Cirque

Cirque du Soleil

Circus Historical Society

Jim Rose Circus Sideshow