I put these in a post on orientaldancer and wanted to share them here, too.
If you want to cover your tummy, here are some ideas.
1. Wear a leotard, alone or under a top.
2. Buy panty hose that are at least 2 sizes too big, that are NOT control top, and that have as few seams as possible. Pull them up all the way to your bra and pin them thoroughly (use about 8 pins or more). Wear a top over the bra and improvised bodystocking. You can cut off the legs if you want. (Flourish of the veil to Scheherzade for that one!)
3. Wear a long fitted shirt.
4. Wear a tank top -- but, I recommend pinning it to your underwear so that it does not ride up as you dance. Again, use about 6-8 pins.
5. Wear a shirt that can be folded / tied up. Then embellish with a "tummy drape": a pretty necklace, crocheted scarf, or other pretty, dangly thing hung beneath your bra line
And whatever you do, SMILE! It will draw their eyes up.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Checklist for performing
You may have seen these on other middle eastern / belly dance / raqs sharki sites; but, it always seems to be quick list or product promotion event rather than a how to. So, here are some suggested questions to help YOU build YOUR list. Then, I’ll share my own.
Questions to ask yourself:
1. Where will I be performing? (Can I finish getting ready there or should I leave my home in full costume? Will you need shoes? Was there a special request that requires something I need to bring, like zills, extra hip scarves, etc.?)
2. What will I do when it is my turn to perform? (Do I have my music? Do I have a backup plan? So I need props like a veil, cane, etc.? Is this a group number that requires specific costume parts or accessories?)
3. Am I in charge? (Do I need to bring a CD player? What about an extension cord? Will I need glasses to read those nicely labeled CD’s the dancers will bring? Do I need to bring anything for my dancers, like water, band aids, etc.?)
4. What will I do after the show? (Do I need a change of clothes? Oh, yeah – do I need a real bra, then? Do I need a bag to hold all of this stuff? And, do I need a UHAUL to carry it?)
Ask yourself these questions every time you get ready to perform and you will cover 90% or more of what you need.
Then, one time, allow yourself an extra 10 minutes to get ready for a gig. As you get ready, have a way to write down EVERYTHING that you use or need for the performance. I put my list on the last page of my student notebook, which I take with me when I go to classes, to out of town workshops, etc. This list will help you not only when you are getting ready for your ordinary halfa, it will also be very useful if you have to pack to travel for a performance.
Here is my comprehensive list, which reflects my priorities, now that I look at it!
Costume items:
Cover-up
Bra / top
Belt / scarf
Skirt / pants
Veil
Shoes
Underpants that don’t show
Bra that doesn’t show
Earrings
Necklace
Bracelets
Rings
Anklets
Zills
Hairclips / bands
Hair accessories
Props: cane, sword, fan, candles
Cosmetics:
Powder
Mascara
Lash comb
Eyeliner
Brow makeup
Lipstick – base
Lipstick – top coat
Glitter
Hair brush
Hair spray
Styling paste
Styling tools
Eyelashes
Lash glue
Tweezers
Toothpicks (for the item below and the lashes)
Bindis
Mirror
Eye shadow
Eye makeup remover
Qtips
Cotton balls
Baby oil (the only thing that takes off my lipstick!)
“Insurance Items”
Double stick tape (a wonder on a roll!)
Sewing kit
Safety pins
Bobby pins
Does anything need batteries? (for cameras and candles, people!)
Music
Backup music
3rd choice!
Bag to hold it all
Hangers
Bodystocking
Lint roller
Razor scissors
Pain meds
Bandaids
Nailfile
Sharpie marker
Camera and film
Change of clothes and shoes
Tampons or pads
Now, I don’t use every item every time, but I do review this list and the questions above every time. Make your own list that works for you – it is the creation and the review of the list that makes the difference, not just what’s on it!
Happy dancing!
Questions to ask yourself:
1. Where will I be performing? (Can I finish getting ready there or should I leave my home in full costume? Will you need shoes? Was there a special request that requires something I need to bring, like zills, extra hip scarves, etc.?)
2. What will I do when it is my turn to perform? (Do I have my music? Do I have a backup plan? So I need props like a veil, cane, etc.? Is this a group number that requires specific costume parts or accessories?)
3. Am I in charge? (Do I need to bring a CD player? What about an extension cord? Will I need glasses to read those nicely labeled CD’s the dancers will bring? Do I need to bring anything for my dancers, like water, band aids, etc.?)
4. What will I do after the show? (Do I need a change of clothes? Oh, yeah – do I need a real bra, then? Do I need a bag to hold all of this stuff? And, do I need a UHAUL to carry it?)
Ask yourself these questions every time you get ready to perform and you will cover 90% or more of what you need.
Then, one time, allow yourself an extra 10 minutes to get ready for a gig. As you get ready, have a way to write down EVERYTHING that you use or need for the performance. I put my list on the last page of my student notebook, which I take with me when I go to classes, to out of town workshops, etc. This list will help you not only when you are getting ready for your ordinary halfa, it will also be very useful if you have to pack to travel for a performance.
Here is my comprehensive list, which reflects my priorities, now that I look at it!
Costume items:
Cover-up
Bra / top
Belt / scarf
Skirt / pants
Veil
Shoes
Underpants that don’t show
Bra that doesn’t show
Earrings
Necklace
Bracelets
Rings
Anklets
Zills
Hairclips / bands
Hair accessories
Props: cane, sword, fan, candles
Cosmetics:
Powder
Mascara
Lash comb
Eyeliner
Brow makeup
Lipstick – base
Lipstick – top coat
Glitter
Hair brush
Hair spray
Styling paste
Styling tools
Eyelashes
Lash glue
Tweezers
Toothpicks (for the item below and the lashes)
Bindis
Mirror
Eye shadow
Eye makeup remover
Qtips
Cotton balls
Baby oil (the only thing that takes off my lipstick!)
“Insurance Items”
Double stick tape (a wonder on a roll!)
Sewing kit
Safety pins
Bobby pins
Does anything need batteries? (for cameras and candles, people!)
Music
Backup music
3rd choice!
Bag to hold it all
Hangers
Bodystocking
Lint roller
Razor scissors
Pain meds
Bandaids
Nailfile
Sharpie marker
Camera and film
Change of clothes and shoes
Tampons or pads
Now, I don’t use every item every time, but I do review this list and the questions above every time. Make your own list that works for you – it is the creation and the review of the list that makes the difference, not just what’s on it!
Happy dancing!
Your Performance CD
“Wait,” you say, “I thought this was a costuming blog!”
Well, it is; but, it is also a blog about organization and saving money. And, when you take a whole CD full of songs (store bought or burned) with you to perform, you will not appear organized and you will risk losing money (especially if it is a CD you purchased).
So, let’s talk about the CD you take with you when you perform. Please do not take an original. Performances are tense for everyone – and, the person who runs the music gets the jitters, too. Any of the following things could happen:
- you are so full of adrenaline after the performance that you forget to get your CD back after the show
- you get it back, but then lose it while you changing out of your costume
- the person running the music keeps it
- or, they accidentally give it to someone else
- someone takes it (intentionally or not)
- it breaks
- it gets stuck in the player (This happened to me the FIRST time I performed at a hafla. The venue came with a player, but no one knew how to use it. 2 CD’s got stuck in at the same time – luckily, no permanent damage happened!)
If you take a COPY versus the ORIGINAL, then you will still have the ORIGINAL at home even if something happens to the COPY. That is how the advice below will save you money.
Now that we have covered the virtues of using a COPY, here is why it is important to label it: If you do not label your music, it looks like everybody else’s music. And, that means the emcee could put the wrong disc in, causing another dancer to hear your CD when it is their turn and just keep dancing. (I have seen this happen!) Or, you hear the wrong song from your multi-track disc and just keep dancing. (I have seen this happen, too!)
Labeling ensures that your music is ready when it is your turn. Having only one song on the disc helps, too, because the more songs on the disc, the greater the likelihood that the wrong one will be queued up. On your COPY disc, include ONLY the song you are dancing to. Then, label the disc with the following information, in this order
1. YOUR DANCE NAME
2. (Your real name)
3. The song name
4. The duration of the song
Here is why:
1. YOUR DANCE NAME should be in all caps, large font, so that it can be read in dim light through false eyelashes.
2. (Your real name should be in parentheses, in case that is the only way others know you and so you don’t get introduced that way.)
3. The song name is there because you will develop a collection of these and you want to quickly sort through and find the one you want when a last minute opportunity arises.
4. The duration of the song should be there because sometimes you want a longer number, and sometimes you don’t!
These simple steps will help you be (and appear) more organized. A little organization prior to the performance will greatly contribute to how your actual performance goes!
- this post was inspired by recent events. ;)
Well, it is; but, it is also a blog about organization and saving money. And, when you take a whole CD full of songs (store bought or burned) with you to perform, you will not appear organized and you will risk losing money (especially if it is a CD you purchased).
So, let’s talk about the CD you take with you when you perform. Please do not take an original. Performances are tense for everyone – and, the person who runs the music gets the jitters, too. Any of the following things could happen:
- you are so full of adrenaline after the performance that you forget to get your CD back after the show
- you get it back, but then lose it while you changing out of your costume
- the person running the music keeps it
- or, they accidentally give it to someone else
- someone takes it (intentionally or not)
- it breaks
- it gets stuck in the player (This happened to me the FIRST time I performed at a hafla. The venue came with a player, but no one knew how to use it. 2 CD’s got stuck in at the same time – luckily, no permanent damage happened!)
If you take a COPY versus the ORIGINAL, then you will still have the ORIGINAL at home even if something happens to the COPY. That is how the advice below will save you money.
Now that we have covered the virtues of using a COPY, here is why it is important to label it: If you do not label your music, it looks like everybody else’s music. And, that means the emcee could put the wrong disc in, causing another dancer to hear your CD when it is their turn and just keep dancing. (I have seen this happen!) Or, you hear the wrong song from your multi-track disc and just keep dancing. (I have seen this happen, too!)
Labeling ensures that your music is ready when it is your turn. Having only one song on the disc helps, too, because the more songs on the disc, the greater the likelihood that the wrong one will be queued up. On your COPY disc, include ONLY the song you are dancing to. Then, label the disc with the following information, in this order
1. YOUR DANCE NAME
2. (Your real name)
3. The song name
4. The duration of the song
Here is why:
1. YOUR DANCE NAME should be in all caps, large font, so that it can be read in dim light through false eyelashes.
2. (Your real name should be in parentheses, in case that is the only way others know you and so you don’t get introduced that way.)
3. The song name is there because you will develop a collection of these and you want to quickly sort through and find the one you want when a last minute opportunity arises.
4. The duration of the song should be there because sometimes you want a longer number, and sometimes you don’t!
These simple steps will help you be (and appear) more organized. A little organization prior to the performance will greatly contribute to how your actual performance goes!
- this post was inspired by recent events. ;)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
If the shoe fits . . . dance in it!
Our choices as to what we wear when we dance are personal, and they are a reflection of our personalities – our taste and our needs. When performing, many dancers go barefoot, whether out of a sense of “tradition” or out of a desire to control movement. There are times, though, when shoes are a very good idea. When I perform, I will often take along shoes I can perform in, just in case there are hazards on my stage.
What hazards, you ask:
1. Splinters on a wooden stage
2. Beads or coins from a prior dancer
3. Broken glass on the floor of a restaurant
4. God knows what else on that same floor (ewwwwww!)
Most times, a pair of ballet slippers will suffice. If that is all you want, I highly recommend a pair with at least one strand of elastic across the instep and a split sole; these traits will increase your flexibility and keep your shoes on and comfortable when you are in relevee. However, sometimes, you might want something that can easily transition from the parking lot to the dance floor, and that is where repurposing shoes comes in handy.
When you look for footwear that can become dancewear, the things to look for are: a slick sole, a good fit, and a flexible color that will blend with your wardrobe. Pretty similar to how you buy shoes anyway, right? – except for the slick part, so let’s start there.
Slick: When you dance, you actually want your foot to slide easily. A slick sole will pivot easily on carpet and keep you from putting too much torque on your knee. This is one time where a slick sole is a good thing. Look for smooth soles, preferably made of leather.
Fit: If the shoe is uncomfortable when you buy it, it will be downright miserable when you are anxiously waiting to dance in the evening. Most shoe shopping advice cautions that your feet swell during the day; so, shop in the evening, just as you would for regular shoes. Look for something that moves with your foot, allowing you to goe up on your toes without coming off. And, there is no rule that you cannot add a small piece of elastic just as you would to a pair of ballet slippers.
Color: If you look at your dance wardrobe from a distance, what color links most of the pieces? Chances are, you are either a gold or a silver person. Looking for shoes in one of these colors will not only allow you greater flexibility in how you partner them with costumes, the colors will also blend better with most skin tones than, say, black, red, etc. Most dancers want a shoe to blend with their skin tone, lengthening the leg. So, pick a color that works with you clothes and your goals.
Once you have a pair in hand (or, on the foot as the case may be), practice in them! Get very used to dancing in them before you perform. (This is good advice for any costume piece, by the way.) Modify them as needed to make them comfortable and functional. And, if you add trim, remember that the more you add the more you narrow how you can match them.
What hazards, you ask:
1. Splinters on a wooden stage
2. Beads or coins from a prior dancer
3. Broken glass on the floor of a restaurant
4. God knows what else on that same floor (ewwwwww!)
Most times, a pair of ballet slippers will suffice. If that is all you want, I highly recommend a pair with at least one strand of elastic across the instep and a split sole; these traits will increase your flexibility and keep your shoes on and comfortable when you are in relevee. However, sometimes, you might want something that can easily transition from the parking lot to the dance floor, and that is where repurposing shoes comes in handy.
When you look for footwear that can become dancewear, the things to look for are: a slick sole, a good fit, and a flexible color that will blend with your wardrobe. Pretty similar to how you buy shoes anyway, right? – except for the slick part, so let’s start there.
Slick: When you dance, you actually want your foot to slide easily. A slick sole will pivot easily on carpet and keep you from putting too much torque on your knee. This is one time where a slick sole is a good thing. Look for smooth soles, preferably made of leather.
Fit: If the shoe is uncomfortable when you buy it, it will be downright miserable when you are anxiously waiting to dance in the evening. Most shoe shopping advice cautions that your feet swell during the day; so, shop in the evening, just as you would for regular shoes. Look for something that moves with your foot, allowing you to goe up on your toes without coming off. And, there is no rule that you cannot add a small piece of elastic just as you would to a pair of ballet slippers.
Color: If you look at your dance wardrobe from a distance, what color links most of the pieces? Chances are, you are either a gold or a silver person. Looking for shoes in one of these colors will not only allow you greater flexibility in how you partner them with costumes, the colors will also blend better with most skin tones than, say, black, red, etc. Most dancers want a shoe to blend with their skin tone, lengthening the leg. So, pick a color that works with you clothes and your goals.
Once you have a pair in hand (or, on the foot as the case may be), practice in them! Get very used to dancing in them before you perform. (This is good advice for any costume piece, by the way.) Modify them as needed to make them comfortable and functional. And, if you add trim, remember that the more you add the more you narrow how you can match them.
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