Never short on inspiration, belly dancers Anaan, Farasha, Ozma, Henna, Suiren, Yoko, and Eshe are widely praised in the Tokyo belly dance scene for their creativity. When the septet come together as The Afet Collective, though, their passion and ingenuity seemingly skyrocket.
This was evident at tonight's Studio Cafe performance. A benefit show for Tokyo's HELP (Housing in Emergency of Love and Peace) Asian Women's Shelter, the collective went all out in hopes of building upon last year's successes. Holding three charity gigs for HELP in 2007, the ladies' sensual Middle Eastern-inspired movements raised over 170,000 yen for the charity. Anticipation for their first gig of 2008 was high as more than two dozen people eagerly awaited for the doors to open more than an hour before dancing was scheduled to start.After DJ B Krishta's hip worldly sonic treats, Suiren slowly snaked her way through the more than 100 bodies gathered at the venue and onto the brightly lit stage. Dancing to Niyaz's "Nahan (The Hidden)," the mixed crowd of Japanese and foreign spectators whispered praise amongst themselves as she performed her Indian-fused brand of hypnotic hip work. Each of the following performers would incite similar reactions leaving the crowd hypnotized by their stunning, Goddess like-incarnations. 
One of the best things about Afet gigs in the collaborations that take place between the different members. All seasoned solo performers, the positive vibes and laidback atmosphere makes the events the perfect opportunity to experiment and have some fun. Eshe and Farasha pulled this off in the first set as they mixed traditional sounds with Timbaland's modern club anthem, "The Way I Are." The two were joined by Ozma in the second set for The Coasters' classic "Down In Mexico." Inspired by Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof flick, the trio's cast aside their sequined bras and coin belts and replaced them with jeans and halter tops to capture the roadhouse bar feel that surrounds the song's scene in the movie.The evening's final set opened with touching dances from special guests Maiko and Tokyo legend Mishaal. Harissa's, a project featuring Anaan, Farasha, and Henna, way-too-cool tribal-inspired Amon Tobin number teased and tantalized before all of Afet emerged for the closing number. Each member showed off their individual talents, their skills enhancing one another's strengths and showing exactly why the eclectic stylings of this collective have become so widely respected in the city's thriving belly dance scene. With the final ambient track fading out, Afet struck a group pose in the middle of the stage as flashes from digital cameras filled the room. The Afet Collective's motto is "Dancing for a cause, a cause for dance." Diligently working to raise as much money as possible for HELP, their dancing netted the charity 150,000 yen on this cold February night. Look for them to try and surpass this total at their next event, which word has it will take place in July. |
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report by shawn and photos by hanasan |
 mag files : The Afet Collective A Cause For Dance : (08/02/08 @ Harajuku Studio Cafe) : review by shawn,photos by hanasanEverybody Dance Now : (07/05/22) : interview by shawn, photos by Nam |
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The official site The Afet Collective http://www.myspace.com/theafetcollective related albums  "Timbaland Presents Shock Value" (国内盤 / US import / iTunes)  "Yakety Yak: The Platinum Collection" (UK import / iTunes) |
related albums "Niyaz" (国内盤 / US import / iTunes) related DVD  "Niyaz" (国内盤) related albums  "The Foley Room" (US import / UK import + DVD / iTunes) check the albums? |
 2008Out Of This World : Björk (19th Feb. @ Olympic Hall, Seoul)No Rust On This Machine : Rage Against The Machine (9th Feb. @ Makuhari Messe Kokusai Tenjijo)A Cause For Dance : The Afet Collective (8th Feb. @ Harajuku Studio Cafe)Music Makes The Perfect Gift : Swinging Popsicle (26th Jan. @ Baekam Art Hall, Seoul)At The (Co) Core, It's Still Rock N' Roll : Cocore (19th Jan. @ Blue Spirit, Seoul)Good Ol' Fashioned Hardcore Workout : Terror and The Geeks (5th Jan. @ Skunk Hell, Seoul)2007Shirt N' Tie Affair : Oh! Brother and Cabinet Singalongs (22nd Dec. @ Velvet Banana Club, Seoul)The Blues : The Zoobombs (10th Oct. @ Starlight, Waterloo, Ontario)Girls Just Want To Have Fun : The Pipettes (9th Aug. @ Harajuku Astro Hall)For Those About To Rock : Metalchicks (16th Jun. @ Shibuya O-Nest)Great Expectations : Asakusa Jinta (12th May @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo)Interview : Everybody Dance Now : The Afet Collective (22nd May.)Thank You For Not Being White : Think About Life (3rd May @ Harajuku Astro Hall)Too Good To Resist : Bleach with Midori, Electric Eel Shock, Detroit7 (23rd Apr. @ Shimokitazawa Shelter)History Repeating : Flogging Molly (16th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)The Self-Proclaimed World's Third Best Punk Band : Converge (7th Apr. @ Shinkiba Studio Coast)Don't Forget Your Manners : Converge (16th Mar. @ Shimokitazawa Club 251)They Don't Build Them Like They Used To : Yo La Tengo (19th Feb. @ Shibuya O-East)Smoking Hot : Isis with These Arms Are Snakes, Boris (29th Jan. @ Shibuya Club QuattroHot In Herre : Calexico with Iron & Wine (27th Jan. @ Shibuya Club QuattroYou Can Always Come Back Home : Deerhoof (20th Jan. @ Shinjuku Loft)The Untouchables : The Roots (15th Jan. @ Shibuya O-East)Dream A Little Dream : The Album Leaf (13th Jan. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)2006Here Today ... Gone To Hell : Arab Strap (11th Dec. @ Shibuya O-Nest)Mo' Mo' Mo' Mo'some : Mo'some Tonebender (2nd Dec. @ Shibuya AX)Good Things Come In Threes : Bleach with Ni-Hao!, Watusi Zombie (5th Nov. @ Yoyogi Zher the Zoo)Glitter And Mop-tops : The Zutons (2nd Oct. @ Shibuya AX)Twisting Minds And Tanning Behinds : Asylum Street Spankers (17h Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)DVD review : I Know I'm Not Alone : Michael Franti & Spearhead (4th Oct.)Melodic Metal Monday : Dark Tranquility w/ Galneryus (1th Sept. @ Daikanyama Unit)Give Me Something I Can Dance To! : Fangsanalsatan Extra feat. The Stars, Boris, Guitar Wolf (22nd Jul. @ Shinjuku Loft)Melting Everything In Their Path : Melt-Banana (9th Jul. @ Yokohama Club 24)Never Too Old To Party : Shonen Knife (8th Jul. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)An Early Summer Night's Dream : Belle and Sebastian (3rd Jun. @ Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball)Zoobombcrazy : The Zoobombs (6th May. @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo)F-U-N : Limited Express (Has Gone?) (2nd Apr. @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo)Full CCCIIIRRRCCCLLLEEE : Cave In (25th Mar. @ Shibuya Club Asia)The Perfect Storm : Mono (18th Mar. @ Shibuya O-Nest)School Of Rock : The White Stripes (6th Mar. @ Zepp Tokyo)Far From Extinct : Dinosaur Jr. (27th Feb. @ Shibuya AX)Vintage Valentine : Showa Genroku Crazy Tangoku feat. Thee 50's High Teens, Salome no Kutibiru, The 50 Kaitens & The Captains (13th Feb. @ Shimokitazawa Club 251)Walk The Line : Afrirampo (29th Jan. @ Higashi Koenji UFO Club)Every Girl's Crazy About A Sharp Dressed Man : Kaiser Chiefs (23rd Jan. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)All That And Looks Too : Tristan Prettyman (22nd Jan. @ Shibuya AX)-->...and more |