Jane

What are opinions on matching dance costume quality to dance skill level?

When I was a beginner, our teacher had us make our own costumes until we were "ready to dance out" and deemed worthy of a store bought costume.

Mosaic

My teacher keeps things simple for the beginners but expects the advanced intermediates and advanced dancers to have costumes more in keeping with their level store bought or if you have the skills of your own making. She doesn't force anyone to have an expensive costume as some people can't afford them. She also aims for costumes in keeping with the style of dance being performed e.g: galibeya for Assaya etc.
~Mosaic

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Shanazel

A professional BD costume as the equivalent of a ballet dancer's pointe shoes? Interesting.

Sometimes we forget that the costume is supposed to complement the dancer and the dance and not take center stage on its own. A rank beginner in a $900 Eman is liable to look a lot sillier than an accomplished dancer looks in a very simple handmade costume.

I teach at the recreation center in town. Some of my students have enough money and/or sewing skills to outfit themselves beautifully. Others stick pretty close to the broomstick skirt and coin belt style. What I have noticed, though, is my students who are costume-rich are always willing and eager to dress the students who have less in their closets to chose from.

Caroline_afifi

Like as been said, it is not a case of stopping people wearing what they want...more of a case of letting students know that you cannot package over talent however much you try.

I have been to a few haflahs recently and I was amazed at just how much people were spending on entire troupe costumes... some were like fancy dress/novelty costumes which they would probably never wear again.

If people really want to perform I just wish they would spend on training first and costumes second.

lizaj

I well remember having this said to me.."Oh you've bought a pro costume..but you're only a hafla dancer" I'd been dancing 5 years and doing a solo and my answer " if I wanna spend my hard earned cash on a Pharonix I will"..note the blue dress being danced in 7 years on!
Nobody should dictate to an individual one way or another. If after 2 years dancing you feel you can carry off an Eman (£350) or a £100 bedlah why not? And tribal costuming doesn't come cheap either and let's face it Tribal effect is denuded without costuming. (There's a little debate for you!) When it comes to group dances, it's up to what a group feel comfortable and can afford as well. But I agree spending £100 on getting together troupe costumes that will always look like troupe costumes or a the novelty to be worn once.
Trouble with troup costuming if you don't make an effort to co-ordnate it looks like a rag bag group of soloists to a certain extent. Buying material and running up costumes is still an expense. Which is whay I have seen so many Egyptian style group dancers wearing the Hannan gelabeya at £45 a pop. I've worn mine over and over.

Kharis

Absolutely! Here we go again, the 'You can, you can't' argument. Yes, perhaps a stunning expensive and classy Eman does not a dancer make... but what an individual chooses to wear is about freedom of choice. And I've seen plenty of so called pros decked out in expensive costuming who can't dance but get the gigs, because a) they have the body, and b) they have the costume. Talent just didn't come into it.

Does it matter if a beginner wants to treat herself to an expensive pro costume and live her dream? I don't honestly think that most beginners assume for one moment that an expensive costume will turn them into a pro dancer and to assume that they will think that it would is an insult to most people's intelligence. But what it can do, is make them feel good about themselves, allows them to indulge in a bit of fantasy, and gives them a sense of joy and self worth. What's wrong with that? Anyone who has a problem with that is getting on a high horse that smacks of their own sense of self importance. What would I do if a rank beginner spent £350 on an Eman and wore it to the next haflah? Tell her looked beautiful, that's what.

As for the pointe shoe comparison. An expensive costume won't give you crippling injuries, deform your body and put you in a constant state of torture.

Kharis

I think it's vital for a good troupe, no matter their level, to have as professional costuming as possible. In fact, I'd say it was more important than for soloists. Costuming does not alter or make good bad dancing, or sloppy technique, but it can certainly make it a lot easier on the eye.

Emma_Williams

This is very interesting because i have recently been having the debate with myself. I have been dancing for 2 years and plan to dance solo at haflas and perhaps a show this year all being well. I am currently looking for a costume and i have been asking the same question 'Am I allowed, Am I worthy to?' etc etc.
I have decided for my first costume I will spend around £250. I believe for this I will get a decent performance costume. Some people might say oh but your not pro or i am not experienced enough but so what I want to look good. Lets be honest even though the costume does not make a dancer i know for a fact one fo the first things i look at during a performance is what the girl is wearing - terrible i know but its the truth.

I think costumes make you feel more the part and confident and thus you dance more relaxed sometimes. I know the first time i put on a choli and coin bra i felt like a real ATS dancer even though a beginner and it helped me to peform with more confidence and i fooled a lot of people into thinking it was not my first ever peformance.

Kharis

This kind of post saddens me, because you are all but admitting that your perhaps not worthy to wear an expensive well made costume. Who says your not worthy? Who has the right to say that? It's almost like a kind of abuse... your not good enough, who do you think you are? Who says you can wear that? You're not ready. You haven't the talent. Negative, negative, negative.

There is so much talk about how empowering this dance is, how it belongs to all, and how it's about sharing and joy....and then this. It reminds me of George Orwell's Animal Farm. All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others".


This dance is not all about who is the best, who is the most professional and it's not an elitist club where only the so called (self proclaimed) pros get to wear the best costuming. It's about feeling good, expressing yourself and having the chance to shine.

lizaj

A costume can make you feel like you have "go faster stripes", give you confidence and you lift your performance to do it justice!
Of course the costume is only one part of the performance..the music, the move the clothes. You can't help being a little disppointed if a belly dancer or tribal dancer doesn't dress up for you, in performance that is. of course it doesn't compensate for poor skills but it sure compliments the ones you've got. It's part of the care you put into your presentation. And my attitude was that I objected to being lectured by a woman who makes absolutely no effort to change her routines and entertain.
I've seen dancers who create their own costumes look absolutely fantastic and I wish I had their creativity. It probably is the best scenario..your own performance your own exclusive costume but they probably end up spending a lot of money too and if you factor in hours of dressmaking and beadwork etc..mmmmm