What's Your Favorite Color

My favorite color today is purple, or more specifically violet red. So my new beaded belly dance costume will be violet red. But for now I'll start with a pair of earrings. Do you make jewelry specifically to match your belly dancing costumes? Hair ornaments? Other doodads. Usually if you make those in your favorite color you'll wear them time and time again.

The other end is to make neutrals. That's because they go with everything. Neutrals are colors like gray, taupe, black, ivory, white, and navy. They play well with more brilliant colors.

Keep in mind stage lights can have bizarre effects on color. And a color will look a lot different at an outdoor venue than it does indoors at night. It helps to take some quick snapshots of your costume during the dress rehearsal to see how the lights are effecting it.

Bows and Belly Dancing

I really like these hip bands, especially the one with the bow in back.

Need Eye Make-up Ideas?

This is fascinating.

SCA and Belly Dance

Recently I went to an SCA collegium and attended a belly dance class. Due to a mix-up, the teacher wasn't there but we all chipped in a step or two and someone played middle eastern music for us on her cellphone. We danced for about an hour and talked for awhile. It was great to meet some new dancers.

I hope we can make a gypsy camp of sorts at some of the shorter day long events so we can dance more often, instead of just at an SCA war once in a while.

Queen's Champion Archery

Some of my self portraits from yesterday's SCA event in Van Nuys, CA.  I made the skirt, the tunic, the corset, and the harem pants, but years apart from each other. The cloak was a trade I did with my friend many years ago.

Business Cards

I'm so excited. I just ordered 1000 business cards for my belly dance business. Not cheapo ones I print out myself, but nice ones.

Staying Warm

It's always nice to have a belly dance cover up (cloak, aba, robe, caftan) that is a bit on the warm side. You can wear it before and after your show, parade, or gathering. You might want one in a thin fabric or a heavier one for colder days. Make sure it is easy to get into and out of. Pick a color that will go with most of your costumes. A neutral like gray, camel or taupe would work out well. If you have embroidery or beading skills you can show them off on your cover-up. If you get ambitious you can even put your dance name or troupe name on your robe.

Steampunk Influenced Belly Dancing

For those of you putting together a Steampunk or Neovictorian influenced belly dancing costume there are some examples on this video. Plus it's just very cool to watch. And they interviewed one of the Abney Park guys as well.

Madonna Defends Gypsies

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/madonna-booed-in-bucharest-for-defending-gypsies/26947?nc

Sad to see there is still so much racism out there.

Gothic Belly Dance

I'm so frustrated with belly dance right now. But this video took my mind off of things for a bit.

About those videos

Watching dance videos is inspirational and great and fun, but don't forget to turn them off and actually go do some dancing.

Reasons to Dance

I wrote a longer article about my new dance project here:
http://hubpages.com/hub/100-Reasons-to-Dance Don't let dance slip out of your life. Find ways to keep yourself motivated. I'm looking forward to dancing today.

World Belly Dance Day

I just found out about World Belly Dancing Day on May 9. I found a local event I can go to but it might conflict with some Mother's Day plans. http://www.worldbellydanceday.com/join_world_belly_dance_day.html Go ahead and go to their website to see what's shakin' in your area. If I go, it will be to the one in Yorba Linda, CA.

Cairo Carnivale

MECDA's Cairo Carnivale will be on the Queen Mary this year. Impressive. It's in June. I haven't been in a few years but I'm sorely tempted because of the venue. The last time I was on the Queen Mary was for a Scottish Highland Festival. I've probably been to maybe 6 Cairo Carnivales. I danced at one, volunteered at 2 and was a tourist the other times.

There is always great shopping and many many dancers to enjoy. And an amazing photo opportunity.

Teacher From My Past

I was surfing photos on Flickr and ran across a listing about one of my former belly dancing teachers. I'm glad she's alive and well. While my troupes have always flopped, hers have always prospered. And I found out the troupe has a website so here you go: http://www.benatseratdancers.com/ I think I first met her in the early '80s. And as far as I know she's always taught for Morro Bay Park and Rec. I've been all over California several times since then. I have to admire her stability. Go Patti GO!

Tribal v other types of belly dancing

Following is a question a former student asked me and my answer:



> Hi, Fayme, I know it's been a long time.
>
> Yesterday I did some belly dancing with some
> women who are in the SCA. They do tribal belly
> dancing and I didn't know how to that. Which
> leads me to this question. What is the
> difference between tribal style of dancing
> compared to what we did when I took lessons from
> you?

Ah yes, time marches on.
What I teach is a combination of Egyptian, Arabic, Cabaret and Tribal belly dancing.
Up until about 1987, belly dancers at Renaissance Faires were doing cabaret belly dancing and dressing in that same style.

It didn't fit in too well. So a group in the SF area called Fat Chance belly dance came up with a 'look' they called tribal. It was an eclectic blend put together in the way only Americans could have done, blending together costuming from India, Egypt, Afghanistan, Africa, and wherever else seemed appropriate. Then they started dancing in a synchronized way, all doing the same moves. The closest thing I can think of is the Rockets. Tribal is the chorus line of belly dancing.

Then as the years went on, things evolved even further. More tribal groups sprung up and evolved in different directions. Some of it may barely resemble the tribal style that is credited to Fat Chance Belly Dance. Since I can't see the style you are watching in your SCA group, I can't pin it down exactly. But the background you have should not be too far away from picking up the local style. Just remember tribal is a fabrication, and not historical at all, so don't let them bully you. They'd never document it in a pentathalon for example. Tribal evolved from the steps you already know.

Lately dancing has been evolving in the direction of 'fusion' and including more and more robotics. Some of the new trends can be found on youtube by googling up 'steampunk belly dance', 'fushion belly dance', 'gothic bellydance' and 'raks gothique'.

Hopefully the SCA dancers are teaching you their choreography. If they are then you'll soon see you have a foundation for it.

I love this graphic

Comments - Graphics - Layouts - Photobucket

Use art for costume inspiration. Use color schemes that appeal to you as well. Use themes to make a new look for yourself.

Steampunk Gloves

A tutorial on Steampunk gloves.


Now you can make your very own.

Steampunk Belly Dance Costuming

This video is short but has lots of inspiring ideas in it. Since my goal is to design a steampunk belly dancing costume for myself, I am keeping an eye out on new videos in that genre.

Weather is Gorgeous in S. Calif.

The weather is gorgeous today and I'm thinking of reclaiming my dancing space in the backyard. The flower beds have encroached on the patio and need some major maintenance. Also, there is a lot less space on the patio than there used to be because of our archery projects and furniture people have given us. Why is it so hard to keep space free for dancing? I struggle with it constantly. Once someone parks a table and benches or chairs somewhere it seems as if they are there forevermore.

I used to dance out there quite a lot but then two neighbors moved in and had babies. Now I am self-concious about making noise out there. You know, like drumming and finger cymbals and belly dance music? I doubt my neighbors are as fond of it as I am.

Oh how I miss having my own house and yard.