About

About ATS

American Tribal Style is our dance home. It represents an American journey through roots that stretches back even before time. we have found ATS to be the perfect synthesis of community, art, and exercise. Our mission now is to share with others the joy and vitality that the dance has given us. The improvisational structure of the American Tribal Style format offers a way to stay connected with the dance community no matter where you happen to live or be traveling through. The style is practiced worldwide, and once the basic structure is learned, you can dance with any other group of dancers, even if you have never met before… perfect for modern gypsies! Indeed, ATS is a prime example of the continuation of the gypsy trail into the modern, global community. Our stylistic roots trace these trails as our dance gives life to their histories. The primary roots of our style are Middle-Eastern bellydance, Spanish Classical Flamenco dance, Classical Indian dance, and North African tribal dance, among others. ATS is a method of improvisational choreography, using a vocabulary of natural movements and non-verbal cues. The effect is a vibrant thread drawing the audience into the tapestry.

ATS dancers play percussion with finger cymbals or zills as they dance.  We also utilize the tambourine, baskets, sword, fire props, the veil and more as we dance.

Over half our troupe members in the Ladies of the Lake are certified in general skills and teacher training for American Tribal Style.  We became a FatChance Bellydance Sister Studio in the Summer of 2012.

History of the Ladies of the Lake

Ladies of the Lake started in the Fall of 2010, and was the brainchild of Jerikaye Maria Magdalena, the group’s leader, teacher, and founder. Rebecca Troy-Horton is another member of the group who helped Jerikaye establish and spread the word about the group as well as form its online/web presence. Other “founding” members included Ingrid Pete, Ashley Chafin, and Tiffany Knight.
Jerikaye was working training in the American Tribal Style format when she founded the Ladies of the Lake. As she traveled to take classes from Carolena Nerricio and other ATS® practitioners, she would bring home everything she learned to the growing numbers of Ladies of the Lake.
It was not long before local resident bellydancers in the Lake area began walking the American Tribal Style path as well. As fate would have it, Sarah Ford was to open a dance studio in Lake Charles called the International Dance Company as a home for dance teachers and students who practice a multitude of dance styles from around the world.
Now that the Ladies of the Lake had a home, they picked up the pace on their ATS journey. More members were able to join, including Sarah Ford, Marygayle Browning, Rebecca Lewis, Margherita Orset, Jennifer McHaffie, Heather Browning and Anne Lillyquist. In June of 2012, Jerikaye, along with several troupe members, received their general skills certification and American Tribal Style® Teaching Certification from Carolena Nerricio. It was on this day in June of 2012 that a big dream was realized as the ladies earned the Fat Chance Belly Dance® Sister Studio Status.  Joined to the Fat Chance Bellydance mothership, the Ladies of the Lake continue to explore the frontier of the ATS galaxy. We are proud to be Louisiana’s first ATS® Sister Studio, bringing the dance style straight from the mothership to the swamps of Louisiana. Jerikaye teaches and performs ATS all over the state and country at workshops, festivals, and more. Current performing troupe members of the Ladies of the Lake include Jerikaye, Rebecca Lewis, jennifer McHaffie, Sarah Ford, Courtney Reeves, Tammy Johnson, Katie Eardley,  Patricia Horvath, Margherita Orson, Tiffany Breaux and Kayla Bruce. Interested in becoming part of the Lake area sisterhood? Jerikaye teaches ATS® Levels classes on Tuesday nights at the International Dance Company in Lake Charles, Louisiana (530 W. McNeese St., Lake Charles, LA). Contact us for a current schedule of classes or for private lessons or to book a gig.