Generally speaking, the dancers in a Venus Uprising show use a base of Middle Eastern dance moves (adding other styles, too) in order to tell a story or define a character. The theme is usually an exploration of "darker" feminine archetypes - dancers in "Objects of Desire" depicted, among others, Eve, Helen of Troy, Cruella de Vil, a "dominatrix" and a group of taxi dancers (performed to "Hey Big Spender" from Sweet Charity). The soloists are all top-quality professionals, generally a generation or so removed from the veterans that performed at the Lafayette Grill show, although each Venus Uprising show usually includes one "Old Guard" NYC dancer (the honor for this show went to Elena Lentini, who also performed the week before at the Lafayette Grill).
So, does Venus Uprising represent a radical departure from traditional bellydance? Not so radical - the dance style still has a Middle Eastern basis and the costumes are generally some variation on the traditional bra-and-belt look. Is it as enjoyable for the audience as it is to be at a restaurant show clapping along to the music? Yes, but in a different way. What you lose in the sense of shared communal experience is made up for by seeing dancers design creative performances that go beyond the bounds of what you'd see in a restaurant show - the "dominatrix" performance by Elisheva was one of the highlights of the show (and it didn't involve leather or whips, either!). I would like to see a bit more thematic variety in future shows, but otherwise, Venus Uprising is a great example of how Middle Eastern dance forms can be used in creative ways to develop a new art form that doesn't represent a complete break from the old.
