Would you perform in this?

gypsy · 02-04-2010, 05:08 PM

Our class performs at a local fair every summer, and I have the chance to dance with them this year.
Our teacher has stated that the costume is tight pants and a tank top. This is not an optional costume if I want to participate in the show. I am surprised that she would choose something so untraditional to wear to show the general public what belly dancing is.
I also thought it was almost always done in a skirt!

Is this more common than I thought? Or would anyone here raise eyebrows if they saw this at a show?

Cheart · 02-04-2010, 05:50 PM

Depends on your style. I have seen bellydancers perform both in skirts and pants. Not necessarily tight pants though because on many people that is not at all flattering.

However the clothing is very bellydance looking. For example pants that were made for bellydancing, not jeans, yoga pants, or sweatpants. I've never seen anyone perform in a tank top

Aniseteph · 02-04-2010, 07:18 PM

A lot of class "costumes" end up being something basic like lycra pants or skirts and plain tops (usually black

), and some colour from hipscarves and/or veils.

Flared leg pants like Sharifwear have are pretty standard belly dance classwear and look good enough for informal performance.

IMO for a class demo it looks way better, and sends a better message to the general public, than a load of mismatched "belly dancer" outfits. Unless everyone is very committed your teacher can't tell everyone to go and spend big money on reasonable quality matching costumes; the drama is not worth it.

lizaj · 02-04-2010, 07:44 PM

As we've seen bellydancers in Egypt perform in all kinds of outfits but when it comes to Western troupes dancing a leader or teacher really aught to consider what suits the routine, the style and all the students as much as possible

Jujube · 02-05-2010, 01:55 AM

Personally, I would choose not to perform in tight pants and a tank top. I wear that for practice, not performance.

Cheart · 02-05-2010, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jujube

Personally, I would choose not to perform in tight pants and a tank top. I wear that for practice, not performance.

I agree. If this is being done in public, no matter if they are just students, I would not have them do it in tight pants and tank tops. Those are practice gear and not performance gear.

When I first performed in public as a student group my instructor stated we had to have a skirt of some sort, pantaloons, and some kind of top. No where did she state that the outfit was to be the same as our practice ones.

Sarahamh · 02-05-2010, 09:01 AM

I saw a student group perform at a hafla recently. The teacher had requested them all to wear black dance pants and a tank top. They, amongst themselves, decided to wear co-ordinating turquoise hip sashes and some turquoise ribbon entwined around the straps of their tops - they look great! I'm sure you will all look beautiful on the day. Trust your teachers judgement, I'm sure she has chosen appropriately for the song choice and venue.

I'd much prefer to see a student group dance in simple, coordinated outfits. They look more like serious dancers that way. Often in student groups you get some people in butterfly top & belt combos, some in Turkish airport specials, some in 'gypsy' tops & skirts, some in t-shirts and dance pants ...all mismatched. I cringe when I see this, especially if there are members of the public in the audience. It just makes our dance look cheap and unpolished - give me simple dance pants, a tank top (cropped or long) and a simple hip scarf any day! Believe me, I look back and almost wither when I think of what my first teacher had us wear in the early days

maria_harlequin · 02-05-2010, 09:23 AM

I think wearing tank tops and pants is suitable for students but they shouldn't look like workout gear. Like what Aniseteph said, they should be pants made for dance. They don't have to be belly dance pants necessarily since I've seen some very cool salsa and latin dancesport pants out there.

For a student performance a few years ago, my teacher had the group wear long-sleeve belly tie-tops, matching pants, and a hip scarf. The students could choose their own colors and patterns but the uniformity was still there and it looked really clean. They could also choose their own accessories.

But if you're really unhappy about costuming choices, you can always talk to your teacher and the rest of the performing team and suggest ideas. Maybe everyone can wear a skirt instead of pants or maybe instead of a tank top, you can go for a belly tie-top. Another fun thing you can also do is get a couple of outfits and friends to "model" them for the class.

Jane · 02-08-2010, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarahamh

I'd much prefer to see a student group dance in simple, coordinated outfits. They look more like serious dancers that way. Often in student groups you get some people in butterfly top & belt combos, some in Turkish airport specials, some in 'gypsy' tops & skirts, some in t-shirts and dance pants ...all mismatched. I cringe when I see this, especially if there are members of the public in the audience. It just makes our dance look cheap and unpolished - give me simple dance pants, a tank top (cropped or long) and a simple hip scarf any day! Believe me, I look back and almost wither when I think of what my first teacher had us wear in the early days

I second this opinion. Costumes must be venue appropriate and well thought out. Same fabric, accessories, color and cut look the best to me, but a variation on one or two of those things can be visually interesting if well planned. If you have any group of people dancing together, they need to look like a group and not like they just raided the closet and decided to dance together on a whim.

My baby student dancers wear black yoga or jazz pants and a colorful plain tank with a hip scarf. Make up and hair are stage worthy from their first recital.

My intermediate students wear beladi dresses we learn to make in class in the same cut and color with different accessories.

Advanced student dancers are committed enough by that time to get or make real costumes.

gypsy · 02-09-2010, 01:07 PM

This class is the advanced students, who all have many costumes and pieces, plus the teacher has a plethora of costumes she will let out.
That's why I am surprised at the choice of black yoga clothing. It will look good for everyone to be dressed the same I suppose. Just thought it seemed odd though!

02-04-2010, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
gypsy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Minnesota, US Posts: 38	Would you perform in this? Our class performs at a local fair every summer, and I have the chance to dance with them this year. Our teacher has stated that the costume is tight pants and a tank top. This is not an optional costume if I want to participate in the show. I am surprised that she would choose something so untraditional to wear to show the general public what belly dancing is. I also thought it was almost always done in a skirt! Is this more common than I thought? Or would anyone here raise eyebrows if they saw this at a show?

02-04-2010, 05:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cheart Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 567	Depends on your style. I have seen bellydancers perform both in skirts and pants. Not necessarily tight pants though because on many people that is not at all flattering. However the clothing is very bellydance looking. For example pants that were made for bellydancing, not jeans, yoga pants, or sweatpants. I've never seen anyone perform in a tank top __________________ um..... (insert some great signature here)

02-05-2010, 09:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
maria_harlequin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 960	I think wearing tank tops and pants is suitable for students but they shouldn't look like workout gear. Like what Aniseteph said, they should be pants made for dance. They don't have to be belly dance pants necessarily since I've seen some very cool salsa and latin dancesport pants out there. For a student performance a few years ago, my teacher had the group wear long-sleeve belly tie-tops, matching pants, and a hip scarf. The students could choose their own colors and patterns but the uniformity was still there and it looked really clean. They could also choose their own accessories. But if you're really unhappy about costuming choices, you can always talk to your teacher and the rest of the performing team and suggest ideas. Maybe everyone can wear a skirt instead of pants or maybe instead of a tank top, you can go for a belly tie-top. Another fun thing you can also do is get a couple of outfits and friends to "model" them for the class. Last edited by maria_harlequin; 02-05-2010 at 09:30 AM..

02-04-2010, 07:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aniseteph V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 3,231	A lot of class "costumes" end up being something basic like lycra pants or skirts and plain tops (usually black ), and some colour from hipscarves and/or veils. Flared leg pants like Sharifwear have are pretty standard belly dance classwear and look good enough for informal performance. IMO for a class demo it looks way better, and sends a better message to the general public, than a load of mismatched "belly dancer" outfits. Unless everyone is very committed your teacher can't tell everyone to go and spend big money on reasonable quality matching costumes; the drama is not worth it.

02-04-2010, 07:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
lizaj Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 4,247	As we've seen bellydancers in Egypt perform in all kinds of outfits but when it comes to Western troupes dancing a leader or teacher really aught to consider what suits the routine, the style and all the students as much as possible

02-05-2010, 01:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jujube Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 418	Personally, I would choose not to perform in tight pants and a tank top. I wear that for practice, not performance.

02-05-2010, 09:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sarahamh Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 80	I saw a student group perform at a hafla recently. The teacher had requested them all to wear black dance pants and a tank top. They, amongst themselves, decided to wear co-ordinating turquoise hip sashes and some turquoise ribbon entwined around the straps of their tops - they look great! I'm sure you will all look beautiful on the day. Trust your teachers judgement, I'm sure she has chosen appropriately for the song choice and venue. I'd much prefer to see a student group dance in simple, coordinated outfits. They look more like serious dancers that way. Often in student groups you get some people in butterfly top & belt combos, some in Turkish airport specials, some in 'gypsy' tops & skirts, some in t-shirts and dance pants ...all mismatched. I cringe when I see this, especially if there are members of the public in the audience. It just makes our dance look cheap and unpolished - give me simple dance pants, a tank top (cropped or long) and a simple hip scarf any day! Believe me, I look back and almost wither when I think of what my first teacher had us wear in the early days

02-09-2010, 01:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
gypsy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Minnesota, US Posts: 38	This class is the advanced students, who all have many costumes and pieces, plus the teacher has a plethora of costumes she will let out. That's why I am surprised at the choice of black yoga clothing. It will look good for everyone to be dressed the same I suppose. Just thought it seemed odd though!