Chani

I will post a pic when it's finished.

Yes, my girls love their coin scarves and wear them all day at home. I always know where they are from the tinkling.

Chani

Shanazel

Sort of like bells on the kitty?

Chani

Here is my daughter's finished costume. It was very cheap to make - Total $33 (USD$29). The top is an old top of mine reworked with a bought sequin butterfly motif ($5) and a row of coins I unpicked from the hip scarf. The hip scarf was $15 from a local regular dress shop - girls around here are wearing them out dancing as Bollywood themed night are popular lately. The bottom was made out of fabric I had already - it's actually harem pants with a split skirt over the top. The veil was $13 from a wholesale fabric outlet - very sparkly. The back does up with ribbons. She's really happy with it.

Moon

Why don't I have a mom like that?

Chani

Thanks, Moon.

Nothing like a veil and a coin belt to get a little girl dancing. Here is my youngest daughter, 3.5yo, in her outfit. She has picked up some moves from watching her big sister and I practice around the loungeroom and of course she wanted a costume, too, in mostly orange, her favourite colour. This one is totally made from fabric I already had, the sheer fabric was destined to be a shower curtain many years ago but never got made. The flower on the top is from a fake lei. The hip scarf is mine. I've put elastic loops for her fingers on the veil so she doesn't lose it easily but she worked out a neat way of flinging it off if she wants to ditch it. This is also harem pants with a split overskirt attached. She isn't dancing with us in the performance but plans to sit next to her Dad who is drumming on the stage and clap (or just sit in the audience) so she will get to wear it in public. When she is covered by the veil (one of her favourite things), she always calls out "hiding".

Chani

Mandii

awww, They both look really CUTE!!

Salome

Not to take us OT but... I just want to give a thumbs up to you for allowing your young daughter to 'try on' Oriental dance. My mom did the same for me at a young age and I turned out just fine

Gilana

Chani,

I think you did an excellent job in costuming! They both look like oriental dancers, but they also look like the little girls that they are.

My 12 year old has been dancing with me since she was 7. She is very expressive when she dances, but so far, she has never expressed anything sensual in her dance....primarily because she is a little girl and doesn't know anything about that yet. That is the beauty of this dance, I think, is that we can express whatever emotion that is appropriate to us at the time we are dancing it...does that make sense?

I also make sure that she does not do moves that would be considered overly suggestive or inappropriate for a 12 year old. I am addicted to YouTube and have seen many videos of children that just horrify me, one of which someone posted to this site of a very little girl dancing in a competition, I believe. I saw her do many things that I thought were suggestive, and which should be saved until a much later age. I also do not allow my daughter to do floorwork in public, even though she is very good at it and begs me to do it just so that she can show off.

As others have mentioned in their posts, I have been the Bellydance Police when it comes to her costuming. I am her mother and it is my job to guide and protect her, not to pimp her out (hope I can say that!). So, she has always worn harem pants with a full, non-sheer skirt over it, and if she wears a coin or beaded bra, I always make sure she has some sort of sleeves or choli top with it.

I have been fortunate in that she is aware that she needs to be modest in how she dresses and behaves, and all of her instructors have been just as concerned and diligent with how she comes across.

Chani

Thanks for the compliments. They really love them and wear them every day whether they are dancing or not.

As a busy Mum there are practical things I like about these outfits. The bottoms are all-in-one (the skirts are attached to the harem pants) so easy to put on. They have worked out that if they tuck up the skirt part they can still play/climb/jump and generally hoon around at the festivals where we watch belly dancing. Also, they can be thrown in the washing machine with the rest of the laundry whic is handy since they eat at these festivals too and it's often greasy, messy food. So while they look fab they don't have to be precious about their outfits.

Gilana, I agree that there is a risk of little girls dancing ahead of their years both in moves and in costuming.

What I like about my 7yo belly dancing is that she does the classes with me and she/we get to choose what she wears. At her other dance school where she does Hip Hop and Jazz Ballet they have very grown up outfits (the tops are either a bra or a singlet style top with corset lace up backs) and the pants are super tight hipster shorts. They have to wear these as they are the compulsory uniform.

The hip hop and jazz are also very structured classes with a certain amount of yelling and pushing. Our belly dance instructor keeps the classes fun for everybody and while we work hard there is no pressure and we get plenty of opportunities to improvise. The two 7 year olds who attend can sit out and just watch any time and that is fine (this would get my daughter into trouble at the other classes). I think they do still pick up stuff when observing only and they usually play the zills to the music so they are still practising that. There is a very warm and supportive vibe in the belly dancing classes between all the students but in particular towards the two children. In my daughters other classes there are no parents present and things between the girls can get...well to be honest...bitchy and snobby (we live in an affluent area).

I agree that young girls unless taught otherwise or poorly guided won't bring anything inappropriate to a dance. I'd say my daughter does seem quite a bit older than her 7 years when she dances but not because she is in any way being sexy but because she does it with such poise. She seems very regal when she dances belly dance in particular.

Now, i just need to get cracking on my own outfit which has been neglected while I outfitted the girls.


Thanks Salome, It's been a wonderful experience for her so far. She loves dressing up so of course the costumes are a bonus. She made an instant friend of the other girl in her class. Her new friend is a Turkish Muslim girl and our instructor is a Lebanese woman so she has learned loads about religion and culture different to our own. The dancing, music and zills have been so interesting and fun to learn and we especially love dancing together. Dad (who is a Western drummer) has taken up Arabic drumming so it's a family affair now. Plus, she is talented and it's been great for her health and confidence - she was invited after only one class to perform this Christmas and instead of watching tv in the afternoons she's belly dancing.

And, yes, you sure did turn out fine. I know your Mum must be super proud of you and can see she made a good call allowing you to explore Oriental Dance.

Chani

Shanazel

Pretty costumes on very pretty little girls.