Both at the show and during the week after, I spoke with several people who enjoyed the performances and asked for more information. They wanted to know where to take classes; how long Maren and I had been dancing; what kind of music we use; and when did we find time to choreograph.

That last question is a perfect segue into expounding the virtues of tribal-style dance.

Tribal-style belly dance is group improvisational dance, in which individuals learn a common movement vocabulary and eventually - with a lot of practice and trust - are able to perform the same moves at the same time. The end result appears choreographed, but is really a sophisticated form of communication between dancers.

This might imply that it's easy or that anyone can just jump in and do it, but I can assure you it is not. Although people are welcome to dance with any group at belly dance gatherings, developing a polished look requires a lot of practice and a good rapport with the other dancers.

The same concept is applied almost every day in each of our lives. There are all kinds of nonverbal, physical cues that we use to communicate with other people. As we walk down the street, a slight turn this way or that, or a flick of the eyes lets the oncoming person know which way you intend to go to avoid walking into them. When we meet a familiar face and stop to chat, the way we hold our shoulders and arms and the direction of our stance indicates if we are at ease or in a hurry.

And in the same way that those cues are interpreted, they are sometimes misread and the result is that you bump into someone or they launch into a long story when you've only got a few minutes to get your shopping done.

Gallery Walk, with its crowded streets and shops, is actually a good example of how we all "dance" with each other in a tribal-style way during our daily lives.

I saw several interactions involving people using nonverbal cues with each other as I made my way to the restaurant that night, and it eased my underpracticed mind. Even though Maren and I could have used more preparation, we still speak the same physical language, and we danced as though we did.