Originally Shared to Reddit by myself:
Voluntary Fantasy Storytelling Project Seeking Dancers of All Styles, Especially Belly Dancers, Plus Voice Actors and Creative Participants
I hope this is all right to post here. I wanted to respectfully introduce a creative project I have been developing called Lord of War & Heartache / Tales of the Caravan, and ask whether anyone in the belly dance community, or the wider dance and performance community, might be interested in hearing more about it.
The project is a medieval steampunk/fantasy storytelling series set within a world of travelling performers, musicians, storytellers, nobles, rogues, scholars, merchants, and mysterious figures moving through a richly developed fantasy setting. One part of that world is The Caravan, a travelling performance troupe where dance, music, theatre, character, and story all play an important role.
Within the Caravan, Belly Dance is very much the heart and soul of its artistic identity. It is central to the atmosphere, culture, rhythm, and character of the troupe. However, it is not the only form of dance or performance within the wider project. I am also open to other dance styles, movement traditions, theatrical performance, folk-inspired dance, fantasy performance, character work, and other creative interpretations that could naturally exist within a travelling fantasy troupe.
I am currently looking to see whether anyone might be interested in voluntarily portraying belly dancer characters, dancers of other styles, performers, or other roles within the Caravan and the wider world.
To be completely clear and transparent, this is a voluntary and unpaid creative project. It is a passion project built around storytelling, performance, character work, and collaborative imagination. There is no financial payment involved, but contributors would receive full credit, creative respect, and the chance to help bring a character and a world to life.
For practical and creative reasons, this project is intended for adult participants aged 18 and over. The storytelling is not built around explicit content, but the world itself contains mature themes, complex characters, danger, intrigue, and darker fantasy elements, so an adult creative space is the most appropriate fit.
Participation is also fully remote. Nobody would need to travel or meet in person. Contributions can be recorded from home and sent digitally.
I would be very happy to hear from both amateurs and professionals, as well as people who may not consider themselves dancers but are interested in acting, voice acting, fantasy storytelling, character performance, or creative collaboration. Prior knowledge of the project is not required, and I can write and provide scripts on request. Improvisation is also welcome if someone prefers to shape their own character voice and performance.
There are two main ways someone could take part:
Video performance:
For anyone comfortable appearing on camera, this could involve portraying a fantasy belly dancer, another type of dancer, a travelling performer, or a Caravan character through movement, costume, dialogue, atmosphere, or character performance. Traditional belly dance attire is not required. Costuming can be modest, fantasy-inspired, medieval, steampunk, theatrical, simple, elaborate, or whatever feels comfortable and appropriate to the performer.
Voice acting:
For anyone who does not wish to appear on camera, or who is not ready to record video, voice acting is equally welcome. A dancer character in this world does not have to be represented only through visible dance. They can be a storyteller, teacher, retired performer, cultural figure, travelling artist, informant, mentor, rival, noble entertainer, or someone whose relationship with dance is expressed through memory, dialogue, and character.
There are also other roles available beyond dancers. The wider world includes nobles, merchants, rogues, spies, scholars, healers, mages, guards, servants, artisans, musicians, side-show performers, travellers, and many other fantasy character types. If someone is drawn to the world but does not feel that a dance role is right for them, there may still be a place for them within the project.
When I mention side-show performances, I do not mean that other artists or dance forms are side-lined or treated as lesser. In the context of the Caravan, these are additional performance spaces within the troupe, where different artists, dancers, actors, musicians, and storytellers can bring their own style, identity, and atmosphere into the setting.
My aim is to treat Belly Dance with respect as an art form. Within the project, it is not presented as a joke, a gimmick, or something purely decorative. I am interested in dance as musical interpretation, storytelling, discipline, expression, cultural atmosphere, and performance. The same respect applies to other dance forms and movement traditions that may become part of the Caravan’s wider creative world.
I want any dancer, performer, actor, or voice artist involved to feel respected as a creative collaborator, not treated as a prop or spectacle.
I have tried sharing this project in different creative spaces before, and I have learned that finding the right audience for something unusual and character-driven can take time. That experience has made me want to approach this more thoughtfully and respectfully. I am hoping this may be a good place to ask, because the project’s use of dance is intended to be sincere, artistic, and appreciative.
If anyone is curious, interested, or would simply like to know more, please feel free to ask questions in the comments. I will do my best to answer any comments posted on this thread, especially if people have questions about the project, the roles, how remote participation works, or what kind of contribution would be suitable.
You are also very welcome to message me privately if you would prefer to ask something directly. I can provide further details, including links to the YouTube channel, the project Wiki, the Discord server, character information, role options, and examples of how participation would work.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I appreciate the skill, history, and artistry within Belly Dance, and I would be grateful to hear from anyone who feels this project, whether as a dancer, voice actor, performer, or creative participant, might be of interest.
