Belly Dance Stuff

[LadyStitch]

I'm actually doing sourcing for an upcoming show I'm doing.  My director saw the belly dancers at Scarby last year and loved how they looked.  He was curious how much a good quality belly dance costume runs. He would love to have 3 in our show.  I told him that it would be out our budget.  He thought that headress, tops skirts/pants, and belt he thought max it would be $50. I told him he might get JUST the top or bottoms for that if he was lucky. 

I have a feeling I'll end up making them, but i would love some imput on how much a nice set would cost.  He wants the coins, he wants the frindge, everything. I need a second option so he doesn't think I'm just blowing smoke.

[raevyncait]

First, the costumes that The Wings of Isis & The Stardancers wear at Scarby are designed to be worn all day long, outside, they're often macrame with pony beads (cotton cording, I believe). My BFF bought a cabaret set (bra & skirt with an attached beaded belt) in 2006 to wear to Scarby. That was a terrible mistake, the beads chewed her skin something terrible I honestly don't know what the cost of those run, but I can tell you that the fancier styles with the finely detailed, fully beaded with tiny little beads costumes are significantly more expensive. $50 might get you a couple of hip scarves.  The bras & belts I've seen for sale new START at about $300.

That being said, if you have an Earthbound Trading Company nearby, they sometimes have hip scarves for around $15 each. They're budget quality, but I think they would definitely work for a stage production.

The skirts that many of the Wings & StarDancers wear on stage are pretty much a 25-yd skirt, with a sort of ruffly tier or two at the bottom, made out of cotton, and would be easy and inexpensive to make, for an experienced seamstress.

Here is a link to Belly Dance Treasures (Isis' Boutique) shopping http://www.isisandthestardancers.com/BDT/Shopping.htm

[LadyStitch]

making a 25 yard skirt isn't a problem for me, espeically since I got the auto ruffler.  Ruffle AND sew at the same time.

[Rowan MacD]

 There is a vendor that shows up at nearly all the midwest fairs....He always has racks of the heavily embroidered bead encrusted bras and beaded/mirrored hip girdle ensembles (made in pakistan, etc) for sale.
   I was surprised that none of them were priced more than $70.00 and some as low as $30.00.  I've never seen set with price tags higher than $100.00 that didn't include the top, bottom, coin belt and a set of flowing silk pantaloons.

   I can also find these and the coin belts at Next Millenium mystic store here in Omaha. The prices there run around $50.00 for the top, an entire set will go for about $120.00 (including ankle bells and a set of zills)

Maybe some thing like this?  Worth a shot. 

http://www.bellydance.com/SPECIAL-DEAL--Gold-Butterfly-Bra_p_1200.html... $26.99 

http://www.bellydance.com/Sequin-Beaded-Belly-Dance-Bra--FUCHSIA_p_2532.html....$19.99

[isabelladangelo]

My guess is you are looking for the modern stuff.  :-)   Given that, I've seen a lot of ladies wear Moresca for Belly dancing stuffs.   I bought a Moresca bodice before a long time ago and it was a good bodice.   I know several people on the boards buy from them still.   

[Rani Zemirah]

Stitch, if you do end up making them, Simplicity 5359 has a variety of pieces that will work perfectly for modern tribal belly dance.  I would put a second tier on the long skirt, though, and make it a circle.  Other than that, I'm pretty sure it's got most everything you need except the bra and belt sets, and those are fairly easy (just time consuming).  There are lots of youtube tutorials on how to embellish a sturdy bra for dance, and making a matching belt for it is pretty basic.  It just takes a lot of trim! 

Here's a site with a simple pattern for making a belt... and there are lots of other great articles there, as well. 

[LadyStitch]

Thank you for the links.  He said I'm to make it look more "Herrihousan" in feel.  The good princess' outfit in act 1 I want to make look very nice and royal.  Especially since she is to spend the the 2nd act in a flesh colored bra, and bottoms, that are covered in a faux sheep skin that is sprayed gold.  The idea is the only clothing she could find was the golden fleece. I'm trying to play the modest show some goods, then when she is pulled aboard the ship clad only in the golden fleece.... well you get the idea.

I'm thinking decorated bra or short bodice, belt and 25 yard skirt OR 1.2-2 circle skirt. The a purchased coin headress (saw some for $15), and a matching veil.

The trick is that any item I make them has to be sturdy enough to make it through 30 shows of drunken revelers, and chase scenes. The concern I have about using an actual bra, is that you know some drunkern yahoo with try to unhook it as the actress walks by them. (The actors go into the audience at times.)

[raevyncait]

Perhaps on the back, you could make a cover type piece that hooks separately, and if someone manages to grab & unhook, all they get is the cover. 

Also, you could make an open front choli, then tuck the edges on the front under the edge of the bra, which would serve to cover the back of the bra and hid the hook. 

A couple of examples:
http://www.pbase.com/paul42/image/135519257

http://www.pbase.com/paul42/image/135026111

[LadyStitch]

I'm thinking of doing something like this for the Caliph's wife.  http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/sinbad-the-sailor-maureen-ohara-1947-everett.jpg 
Then for the princess do something simular but with the choli for the princess and hand maiden.
None of them have quick changes so that shouldn't be a problem. They are going to be wearing the outfits in July and August so Cottons will be their friends.  (But I'm going to sneak some sparklies in there somewhere  )

[raevyncait]

That's lovely LS, I would think you could make that top short to expose some ribs/belly, and add some sparkle by adding a row of beading/coins as fringe along the bottom edge.

The major thing will be making sure that the fabric is sturdy enough to handle the weight and movement of that weight of the trims.  The coins themselves aren't that heavy, but when you have a hundred or so on there, it adds up.

[Adriana Rose]

www.moondancebellydance.com

they have some really goos prices on belly dance clothing, when I was in a troupe that was the one that we used for some of our costumes. They have good prices and have styles from caberet to tribal.


and that dress is beyond great!

[LadyStitch]

I may be able to get the accessories from moodndance. 

Depending on the actress I may be able to show her middrif off.  Sadly when I have $500 to cloth 14 people I can't spend $300 on just the 3 arabian women. Thankfully I can make alot of it. I want to spend my money on nice trims. I've been drooping over a $25 a yard beaded trim for the past year.  I would LOVE to get that on a body.

[isabelladangelo]

Why not go with some cholis and petticoats?  Not exactly belly dancing (I'm thinking typical Indian wear) but it would be within your budget and I've seen some gorgeous stuff for well under $20 a piece.  I buy saris all the time (actually, need to stop by the post office tonight to pick one up) online for about $17 a piece plus maybe $5~$10 shipping.  On ebay, they are always willing to combine shipping and -if you buy a lot they often give free shipping.  I use the saris for gowns and such - you can easily adapt them for pretty much anything. 

[raevyncait]

Isabella's idea is great. The harem pants aren't hard to make, as they are essentially bloomers but without the cuff at the bottom, and you could pretty easily add trim to the waistband if you want it to look like there's a trimmed/fringed belt instead of a hipscarf. 

Also, if you want the bare midriff look without actually baring the midriff, either a sheer, gauzy fabric, or a tube of fabric (think t-shirt without the collar & sleeves) in a flesh color is actually pretty common for dancers who are uncomfortable baring their tummies for whatever reason.

[Rani Zemirah]

Usually when costumers decorate a bra for a dancer, they remove the shoulder and back straps, and replace them with ties... often using loops on the sides and long, loose straps in the front at the top of the cups, that cross over the back in an X, are threaded through the loops and then tied in the middle of the back. 

Example:


The D-rings are optional.



 

[WindChime]

This company also has some very nice things for a fairly decent price.
www.BellyDanceDigs.com

[Dinobabe]

Simplicity 5359 is a good pattern.  Keep in mind the pants are stupid huge.  I actually folded over my pattern about 8 inches to take in some of the poofyness.  You use 2 yards for pants that way.  I think this one has a yoke, if so I took it out.  It was dumb.   I like the top, too.  I added a point to the back of mine and sometimes shoulder points.
You can find a TON of stuff on ebay, including the coins.  I like to buy the bag of random sizes!