The main gymnasium of the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center was transformed into a festival of undulating hips and flowing, tinkling skirts Saturday with the opening of this year's Tribal Caravan.

The event centers on tribal belly dancing and will continue today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"It's our second year and two days long now," said Elizabeth Mahina, a member of the belly dance troupe She'enedra, one of the groups organizing the event.

Vendors offered belly dance wares, including clothing, jewelry, incense and music. Mediterranean food was served and dance workshops for all levels were held throughout the day at the center and at a nearby dance studio.

Through it all, continuous belly dance performances by individuals and groups were held on the main stage.

Some of the performers lived locally and others traveled from out of state to participate in the caravan. The dances ranged from traditional belly dancing accompanied by live musicians to small troupes of three or five dancers performing more modern interpretations.

The performers also were diverse, including all ages, shapes, sizes and nationalities.

"We have a lot more performers," Mahina said, counting about 70 performers in all for the two-day event.

Nisha, a dancer from Las Vegas, was dressed in layers of black velvet and white lace with a thick black leather belt holding the skirt to her hips.

Her cropped top, also black velvet, showed off her belly, an essential feature of Nisha's belly dancing costume. There was a Gothic touch to Nisha's hair and makeup.

While many of the dancers used more traditional Middle Eastern music, Nisha's selection was from an industrial band and had a more techno flavor that she translated into her dancing.

Nisha, 27, said her dance was a "gothic tribal fusion dance."

"It's the darker side," she said.

"The first time I heard about Tribal Caravan I wanted to come," she said. "It's indescribable to be here and accepted by so many people."

Jody Wright traveled from Los Angeles to see the dancing.

"It's an explosion of color and music and the uniqueness of it," said Wright, who has tried belly dancing.

"It looks a lot easier than it is," she said.

Many dancers, like Mahina, who used to be a cabaret dancer, started dancing in one discipline only to switch to belly dancing.

Naomi Dowler, owner of Masala Imports, one of the event's vendors, said she used to do Polynesian dancing but turned to belly dancing after moving to Santa Cruz, where it was harder to connect with Polynesian dancers.

"There's definitely a growth in belly dancing in California," she said.

Tribal Caravan continues today until 4 p.m. at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center, 27040 Malibu Hills Road. Admission is $10 for adults and children ages 3 to 10 are $5. For more information on the Web go to http://www.tribalcaravan.com.

Jake Finch's e-mail address is alljake@hotmail.com.