lizaj

When we wear a costume with nude mesh insert or larger revealing area, what is it we are trying to achive?
I bet we have all got costumes that reveal areas of flesh or wear nude mesh to give an illusion,at what point does it become tasteless, too risque or just plain shocking and frightening.
Do we think we are giving the audience a giggle or making them very nervous in case we reveal more than we aught?
Is flesh coloured mesh less or more risque than the real thing in some cases?
Do we like bum-lookers- after all belly dancers are sexy creatures aren't they?
Are Cairo costumes risque because costumiers don't expect belly dancers to be modest? The concept of respectable women dancing in public is strange isn't it? And for a hobby..a what?!
And after all we live in a society were celebratties think is OK to flash their genitals when exiting limos..ooo where did I put my panties (nude mesh ones in particular?)

Inspired the UGBD thread ( yes I know it goes under another name) Your thoughts please on mine

Amulya

I think if a cut-out has to be filled with mess you have to think twice about it if you'd wear the costume. Small cut-outs on ok places don't need mesh.
For example with the costume in this video I have some trouble, not only because there is a problem in balance (big black skirt, nude colored rest of costume):

YouTube - Belly Dance ??? ????

is it supposed to look like body paint instead of a costume?

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lizaj

As an older dancer here in the West ( well there aren't many dancing in public at my age "over there" are there?) will wear mesh even in "OK spots" to quote you" because of poor skin tone. Just as we wear make-up to even up facial skin tone, we'll wear a body for our crinkly old bods
But my point is or isn't a belly dancer supposed to look a bit risque and how far is she supposed to go with her mesh? I found the dress on the lebanese dancer frightening as I was worried she wasn't wearing knickers and the fabric bit would slide..er...As an audience member I want to be comfortable even if I like to see glamourous risque costuming so how far...?

masrawy

A little history about mesh ... in 1964 when TV started in Cairo the government at that time (Nasser) made the "mesh law" for belly dancer badlah .. it may have had a different name I don't remember exactly. Basically you had to cover the middle section with mesh fabric . This law was unforced also in night club, Some how it seems that mesh have become part of the costume and people use it in many creative ways !!
Regards~Mahmoud

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Aisha Azar

Dear Mahmoud,
The net was called Shebaka. My information has the date a bit earlier than the 60s, but old movies might give us a clue, When we started seeing the shebeka in movies we know the date is close!!. My information says in 1952 the law was put into place that made dancers cover their midriffs, though most followed the letter of the law and not the spirit. The musannafat also made it mandatory for dancers to be licenced in 1973.


Dear Lizaj,
The net serves many different purposes now as it can be seen that we have flesh colored net in many places, just as you find in other types of costuming. (I am especially interested in how skaters use net and have noted that they use it pretty much for the same purposes as dancers.) Usually net not only covers body flaws but supports other parts of the costume so that they fit the way they should, or gives fabric a way to drape to the body when it otherwise would not, or adds strength and support to fabric that does not have anyof its own, to string beads on, or any number of other things.



Regards to you both,
A'isha

Aniseteph

I saw a pic on eBay the other day and had exactly the same thought - why would you want people to think all that was bare flesh anyway? OK the design of the dress needed something structurally there to hold it together, but all that "nude"? We know it isn't really nude, what's your point? Tooooo much.

Cutout frenzy just for the sake of being "daring" can easily go too far IMO. Who wants the audience spending your number wondering if they are going to get a flash of something they shouldn't, or whether you wax? Ewww.

Though I think it is possible to do the strategically placed appliques/beading on a bodystocking for a theatrical type costume to very good effect. Maybe it works better if you use it as an ultra flexible foundation to design the rest of a decent costume on, rather than going for the "ooh look at me I'm practically naked" look.

Reen.Blom

I think it is OK in places where you could go bare(well lol ha ha maybe someone can go bare anywhere...LOL) and I find it tacky in places wher normally you would not bare! Like midriff is fine, either meshed or bare, but say a cutout that goes along the butt, or from waiste down, that you start wondering if she is not wearing knickers...LOL

And I have another question... What on earth is the purpose of mesh on the midriff( i am not talking about hiding problem skin but the ""modesty law" lol if many dancers reveal legs either through short skirts or slits up to "there"??? I personally prefer to see bare midriff than boobs about to pop out...)

I think through seeing so many tacky costumes, my taste is evolving towards more modest look.... Dont you think some sort of sleeve makes even 2 piece costume look more 'modest' so to say?

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Aisha Azar

Dear Reen,
In response to your question, often laws do not actually make a great deal of sense no matter what country you live in!! But, the more politically correct response would be that during the 1940 and 1950s, when belly dancers were seen regularly in the movies, and in other entertainment situations, a large group of fundamentalist Muslims considered them to be a very poor example of how a Muslim woman would behave and they actually wanted belly dancers to either stop dancing all together or to have to wear extremely modest clothing. They expressed this concern to the government, who felt they had to do something, but who also understood that tourism brought very much money to the country and that belly dance was a big element in that. So, they decided that they would try to meet the religious faction's concerns half way. In doing so they just made everybody unhappy, but the shebeka was the law of the land for a long time.This law does not seem to as strict as it used to be and we now see bare stomachs in some hotels and other such places in Egypt, though not all of them for sure. We see that the government does not seem to crack down on belly dancers who are at the festivals, for example.
Regards,
A'isha

nightdancer

On one hand, I see the mesh issue as a way to make what could be a flaw into an asset. It also provides some support for decoration, but on the other hand, what looks good on a table during construction may look different on a lit stage. I have a pageant friend that had an absolutely gorgeous evening gown made of black lace and nude mesh. Up close, in the fitting room, the back of it made for a nice framing and presentation of her back. When she was on stage, and I was 5 rows back, lighting, etc, made it look like the dress was cut down to her tailbone, for all to see.

I think it boils down to being like most other things. Its good when used appropriately.

Aisha Azar

Dear Nightdancer,
This is where its handy to have a costumer. We think of stuff like the effects close-up far away, under various lighting, etc, when we are putting together a costume!
Regards,
A'isha