My dance costume

[Daimona]

For the second, I don't see the point of putting sequins on it, since the fabric is shiny and shimmers in the light like satin.

Sparklies doesn't necessarily equal sequins. What I had in mind was tiny glue-on rhinestones or beads (although beads are probably too heavy).

In this case even just a thin light blue bias tape along the edge could help to enhance the visibility of the edge of the skirt. I once saw a black flouncy skirt with red bias tape along the whole edge (including red details in the rest of the costume) and this red bias tape really made all the difference to the costume.

 

[Amine]

This isn't particularly sparkly, but here's a skirt similar to the OP in this VERY brief vid:

This skirt was passed around the local sisterhood until it came to me. It was too long on EVERYONE, *including* me. I shortened it from the waistband. I over did it, and it was then too short - so I added a second flounce to it to give it its current length. Very heavy, spins like a dream.

It's perfect ! Because you're wearing black on a background that isn't black, that goes back to what Shanazel said. Great performance by the way!

I had the same problem with my skirt in black red orange, the skirt was big, literally touching the floor, and since I didn't feel like tripping on stage, every time I hem and slip a paper clip to hold it. Apparently I met a tribal fusion dancer, she told me it was normal for the skirt to drag a little on the floor.

 

[Amine]

Another illustration of what happens on stage with shiny dark fabric at the bottom of a skirt topped with a light-colored or reflective upper skirt. (The dancer in orange is an old hand who understood the value of color against a black backdrop. She is one of two students who took over teaching my classes when I retired. She also bought the skirt and harem pants I was wearing above, as well as several of my other costumes. They went to a good home.)

View attachment 11476

With your illustrations, I better understand this story of the influence of the play of light and the stage on the costumes that we choose.

We can see the difference between black on black and another brighter color. And I admit that instinctively the first dancer that the public looks at is the one dressed in red. This dancer has chosen a bright color that allows her to better showcase herself on stage, at least against a black background. Some dancers wear black, but also wear other items such as bracelets, jewelry and a belt so as to bring out their hips. On a light background, they don't necessarily need it.

 

[Amine]

Another solution also widely used in tribal fusion or belly dancing, is to tuck the sides of the skirt into the belt, do you think that could work ? Here is a photo as an example:

 

[Zorba]

It's perfect ! Because you're wearing black on a background that isn't black, that goes back to what Shanazel said. Great performance by the way!

I had the same problem with my skirt in black red orange, the skirt was big, literally touching the floor, and since I didn't feel like tripping on stage, every time I hem and slip a paper clip to hold it. Apparently I met a tribal fusion dancer, she told me it was normal for the skirt to drag a little on the floor.

That kind of background is unfortunately fairly rare, and that particular one caused a backlit situation which is a big no-no (I'm still trying to educate people here about proper stage lighting). As for skirts touching the floor, my own preference is to have it just brushing the tops of my toes or lower instep.

 

[Zorba]

Another solution also widely used in tribal fusion or belly dancing, is to tuck the sides of the skirt into the belt, do you think that could work ? Here is a photo as an example:

View attachment 11478

That's always a good look, at least with a BAGS (Big Ass Gypsy Skirt). The color distribution can't do anything but help.

 

[Shanazel]

Back in the days when circle skirts were the main style, tucking hems into belts was a popular look. My favorite skirt was a half circle for the front panel and a 3/4 to full circle in the back, depending on how much fabric I had. I sewed the seams from the belt to about midthigh so I didn't show too much leg. Given my substantial cleavage, I didn't want to overdo the exposure elsewhere. One skirt, saved for those venues where I felt safer on my feet, had a quarter circle in front and half circle in back, with no join between the two. I was never very comfortable in that costume and generally tucked the edge of the back panel into the side front of my belt for a little more, um, mystery.

Lord, I cannot believe I used to be the proper shape for something like that. Even more I cannot believe I actually thought I was fat.

 

[Tourbeau]

Another solution also widely used in tribal fusion or belly dancing, is to tuck the sides of the skirt into the belt, do you think that could work ? Here is a photo as an example:

That is definitely a visual improvement and will probably be fine. Do you do a lot of skirtwork in your dancing and need the hem free?

There's a whole philosophy/controversy about wrapping and unwrapping veils while dancing, but you don't really hear dancers discussing the similar topic very often when it comes to skirts. I've always gotten the sense that it is considered weird to change whether your skirt sides are tucked up or not mid-performance. If you need the hem loose, you don't usually start with the hem in your belt/skirt band, and if you want the sides tucked in, you don't start with the hem loose and do a 48-count turn so you can get the hem tucked up while the audience is watching.

You can hold the hem up and drop it and pick it back up and hold it at your hips and do that stuff as much as you want, but the process of getting a skirt bunched up just right so it looks nice and stays in place at the top of your lower costuming: (a) typically takes some fiddling around to get right, especially without access to a mirror, (b) has the risk of flashing the audience if you don't have an adequate under-costume, (c) can interfere with whatever costume-securing you've already done, and (d) may tragically intersect with the embellishments on your belt or hip scarf (if you are wearing one). The last thing you would want to do is tuck your skirt mid-performance and end up with an asymmetrical mess, one butt cheek exposed, and three strands of beaded belt fringe broken on the floor, because your audience is not paying attention to your dancing at all then.

But that's just my take. What does everybody else think about tucking and untucking your skirt mid-performance? Is it governed by the same laws as AmCab veils? Or too problematic to deal with in front of an audience?

I will also mention that pulling the ruffle up gives you the added advantage of motion transfer when you dance. When you shimmy, those side ruffles are going to magnify your movement. (Not that you won't see the skirt vibrating when it's down, but the colors of the ruffle moving over that much more visible surface area are more obvious.) This is also part of why so many of us suggested a belt or hip sash. The extra something at the top of the skirt is not just to give hip definition in opposition to the combination of a black skirt and a black shirt. Moving beads or coins, tails of lightweight scarves, or even embellishments that are fixed but faceted will show off your movements better than an un-embellished waistband.

 

[Tourbeau]

That kind of background is unfortunately fairly rare, and that particular one caused a backlit situation which is a big no-no (I'm still trying to educate people here about proper stage lighting).

There's good backlighting and there's bad backlighting. If you want to wear a black costume against a dark stage backdrop, you have to have some light in between you and the background so you don't dissolve into a murky mush and a floating head. I'm not going to pretend I am qualified to say much more about lighting than that.

https://learnstagelighting.com/how-to-choose-lights-for-backlight-on-stage/
https://www.onstagelighting.co.uk/lighting-design/backlight-what-how-why-where/

 

[Shanazel]

What does everybody else think about tucking and untucking your skirt mid-performance? Is it governed by the same laws as AmCab veils? Or too problematic to deal with in front of an audience?

I don't think it ever occurred to me to tuck, untuck, and re-tuck a skirt on stage. Any skirt I tucked was generally pinned into place so it wouldn't slip and spoil the effect of being tucked in the first place.

 

[Amine]

What does everybody else think about tucking and untucking your skirt mid-performance? Is it governed by the same laws as AmCab veils? Or too problematic to deal with in front of an audience?

I don't think it ever occurred to me to tuck, untuck, and re-tuck a skirt on stage. Any skirt I tucked was generally pinned into place so it wouldn't slip and spoil the effect of being tucked in the first place.

This is the method I use when I want to raise the sides of the skirt. Usually I use paper clips or zip ties to secure both sides. And I've never had a problem fitting.

 

[Amine]

That is definitely a visual improvement and will probably be fine. Do you do a lot of skirtwork in your dancing and need the hem free?

There's a whole philosophy/controversy about wrapping and unwrapping veils while dancing, but you don't really hear dancers discussing the similar topic very often when it comes to skirts. I've always gotten the sense that it is considered weird to change whether your skirt sides are tucked up or not mid-performance. If you need the hem loose, you don't usually start with the hem in your belt/skirt band, and if you want the sides tucked in, you don't start with the hem loose and do a 48-count turn so you can get the hem tucked up while the audience is watching.

You can hold the hem up and drop it and pick it back up and hold it at your hips and do that stuff as much as you want, but the process of getting a skirt bunched up just right so it looks nice and stays in place at the top of your lower costuming: (a) typically takes some fiddling around to get right, especially without access to a mirror, (b) has the risk of flashing the audience if you don't have an adequate under-costume, (c) can interfere with whatever costume-securing you've already done, and (d) may tragically intersect with the embellishments on your belt or hip scarf (if you are wearing one). The last thing you would want to do is tuck your skirt mid-performance and end up with an asymmetrical mess, one butt cheek exposed, and three strands of beaded belt fringe broken on the floor, because your audience is not paying attention to your dancing at all then.

But that's just my take. What does everybody else think about tucking and untucking your skirt mid-performance? Is it governed by the same laws as AmCab veils? Or too problematic to deal with in front of an audience?

I will also mention that pulling the ruffle up gives you the added advantage of motion transfer when you dance. When you shimmy, those side ruffles are going to magnify your movement. (Not that you won't see the skirt vibrating when it's down, but the colors of the ruffle moving over that much more visible surface area are more obvious.) This is also part of why so many of us suggested a belt or hip sash. The extra something at the top of the skirt is not just to give hip definition in opposition to the combination of a black skirt and a black shirt. Moving beads or coins, tails of lightweight scarves, or even embellishments that are fixed but faceted will show off your movements better than an un-embellished waistband.

Yes I do a lot of skirt dancing. In general, I lift the hem before going on stage, I do it very little during the performance. And yes, those steering wheels move gracefully.

 

[Zorba]

I've untucked any number of skirts during a performance - but I can't say as I've ever tucked one in mid-way. Context: Come onto stage with sides tucked, do "whatever", then untuck for all that yummy skirtwork and leave it down afterwards.

 

[Zorba]

There's good backlighting and there's bad backlighting. If you want to wear a black costume against a dark stage backdrop, you have to have some light in between you and the background so you don't dissolve into a murky mush and a floating head. I'm not going to pretend I am qualified to say much more about lighting than that.

https://learnstagelighting.com/how-to-choose-lights-for-backlight-on-stage/
https://www.onstagelighting.co.uk/lighting-design/backlight-what-how-why-where/

True dat! That particular clip wasn't too bad, but inadequate lighting has been a problem here in my part of Florida as nobody has any lights, and backlighting with a red/blue swirly party light thingie doesn't cut it! Makes photo\video-graphy a pain too!

 

[prince ali baba]

In fact, I also have another skirt that I bought at the same time. I will try to focus on the highs in the next few weeks. For this one I dared a light color, here the light blue. I send you a picture:View attachment 11474

Cool dude! Do you ever add a vest to it? When I take tribal fusion belly dance Zoom classes, I wear the open Aladdin style vest with harem pants myself.

 

[prince ali baba]

Another solution also widely used in tribal fusion or belly dancing, is to tuck the sides of the skirt into the belt, do you think that could work ? Here is a photo as an example:

View attachment 11478

Those are some nice bright colors on the sides of your skirt dude!

 

[Greek Bonfire]

Back in the days when circle skirts were the main style, tucking hems into belts was a popular look. My favorite skirt was a half circle for the front panel and a 3/4 to full circle in the back, depending on how much fabric I had. I sewed the seams from the belt to about midthigh so I didn't show too much leg. Given my substantial cleavage, I didn't want to overdo the exposure elsewhere. One skirt, saved for those venues where I felt safer on my feet, had a quarter circle in front and half circle in back, with no join between the two. I was never very comfortable in that costume and generally tucked the edge of the back panel into the side front of my belt for a little more, um, mystery.

Lord, I cannot believe I used to be the proper shape for something like that. Even more I cannot believe I actually thought I was fat.

One of my mentors said this was a great way to control how little and how much leg to show.

 

[Amine]

Another trick i love to do is to layer the skirts so that i create beautiful frills that twirl beautifully when i dance, here i have layered three skirts, one in three layers and the other blue Marine. It's the only photo I have.

 

[Zorba]

Gives a more full look too.

 

[Amine]

I will probably expand my wardrobe and opt for skirts in Indian sari fabric or dare satin sari.