Drom Beats

Fans of belly-dance troupe Ultra Gypsy might not get educated about Romany culture, but the troupe's dramatic range will keep purists from nit-picking about the "gypsy" in its name. Ultra Gypsy's shimmy shakers consider themselves nomads of the moment -- creative wanderers who straddle the line between "modern and primitive, urban and tribal, Medusa and machine." Voluptuous undulations are their forte, but this ain't regular belly dance. True to their wanderlusty spirit, theatre, cabaret, live music, and other art forms have made the company's performances mandatory viewing among a diverse swath of people, including circus-a-holics and Burning Man pyromaniacs. At the monthly "gypsy punk dance night," Baxtalo Drom (which translates to "lucky road"), choreographer and director Jill Parker and dancers present a multicultural extravaganza that also includes DJs spinning Bhangra, Latin, and Balkan music. Special guests, dive-bar decadence, an opportunity to shake your own shimmy, and lotsa libations make the exotic vibe that much cooler.