Raks Geek

Raks Geek is a bellydance, flow arts, and fire performance company based in Chicago, Illinois. They were the first professional group to successfully combine bellydance and firespinning with geek themes in a consistent manner. They are most known for a viral YouTube video[1] featuring a Wookiee bellydancing to a Klingon band playing original music in Shyriiwook, which was listed on UK Channel 4 TV's "50 Funniest Moments of 2012."[1] They are the most well-known example of fusing bellydance with geek themes.[2]

Raks Geek combines professional bellydancers and firespinners with geek themes.[3] They were originally a collaboration between Read My Hips tribal bellydance and the Chicago Fire Tribe, but eventually grew into their own company.[4]

Raks Geek is the brainchild of director/producer Dawn Xiana Moon, who formed the company after a late-night internet search for "geek bellydance"; she was disappointed by the artistic and technical proficiency of examples she found. As she was already a professional dancer, she decided to do the topic justice by creating a show by geeks, for geeks. Every performer has been raised on science fiction: Moon was raised on Star Trek and has given talks at C2E2, Google, the University of Chicago, DePaul University, and Chicago Comic Con on issues surrounding women in geek culture, and other members of the group are scientists and organize Chicago geek community gatherings, in addition to being professional performers.[5]

The name of the group means "Dance of the Geeks" or "Geek Dance"; "raks" is an Arabic word (translated "dance") traditionally used by bellydancers.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 UK Channel 4 TV "50 Funniest Moments of 2012" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  2. ↑ MSN.com "Never seen a sexy Wookiee belly dance? This can be remedied" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  3. ↑ dailymail.co.uk "When Star Wars Meets Star Trek: Female Wookiee Belly Danced to Klingon Band in Ultimate Geek Mash Up" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2014-10-31.
  4. ↑ Chicago Now "Raks Geek Belly Dancing and Anime World Chicago" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2014-10-31.
  5. ↑ Another Castle "RAKS GEEK: An Interview With a Dancer Who Fuses Fandoms" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2014-11-01.
  6. ↑ Loot the Room "Higgs Boson and the Dance of the Geeks" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2014-10-31.
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