The following links are to resources that Anna has selected to help you on your journey to learning more about Oriental dance (aka Belly Dance):

General Information

Video Clip Guide by Hannan Sultan
Learn about dancers of the past and present, as well as various styles of Oriental dance with this collection of YouTube clips, featuring videos of early to classic to modern belly dance footage.

Glossary of Belly Dance Terms by Shira
There's more to belly dance than moves. There's people, places, culture, music, costumes, rhythms, props, dance styles and MORE to learn about this vast dance art form. Find out what it all means...

Belly Dance History

History of Oriental Dance

Belly Dance Music

Introduction to Belly Dance Music

Your First Belly Dance Costume & Performance

 

 

 

Belly dance costume prices range from nearly free - $1,000's.

Most costumes come in three basic styles:

1) Bra & Belt with a skirt and/or pants
2) Bra/Top with a skirt or pants
3 )Dress (This is a good option if you want more coverage than the other styles or your audience is more conservative)

Accessories are an important part of the costume. Some manufactured costumes come with one or more of the following items: neck bands, gauntlet style arms bands, wrist bands, upper/lower arm cuffs, ankle cuffs, and head bands. Glamorous or tribal jewelry, like necklaces, rings, and bracelet, may also be worn.

Here are a few links of web sites where costumes may be purchased. They also give you an idea of what is out there. Google "belly dance costume"s and you will find lots of places that sell costumes.

http://www.moondancebellydance.com/
http://bellydancestore.biz/gallery.php?search=search&txtKeyword=affordable
http://www.lrosedesigns.com/

VERY IMPORTANT: Most ready-made costumes will need to be altered in some way to fit you. Order early and alter ASAP to prevent the frustration of last minute costume fittings. Most costumes alteration are simple and can be done by you or by a wedding dress specialist. A good pair of fabric scissors, needle, thread, and little creativity will work most of the time.

Miscellaneous Costume Tips:

1) Make sure the costume you buy is quality, not see-through, and has enough structural integrity to hold up to the demands of dancing. Check every seam, strap, hook, and zipper - that they are all in good shape, are strong, and work properly.

2) Test every costume by dancing in it. Check that your skirt is not flairing up too high, you may need to wear harem pants or something under it to avoid someone seeing something they shouldn't. Make sure you feel comfortable in it and that your body (and body parts) are staying in place within the costume.

3) What you wear under your costume is just as important. Invest in a pair of opaque low-rise flesh toned boy short underwear that don't rise up. Thongs tend to find a way of peeking out and should you fall or show this area by accident, you would rather the audience know you have on something, than nothing. NEVER GO WITHOUT UNDERWEAR.

4) Use safety pins to reinforce your costume: to hold your underwear or skirt in place and to secure your belt or bra scraps.

5) Use fashion (double-sided) tape to keep your "girls" in your costume (if you are worried about them)

6) Be sure your skirt, pants, dress, or costume "cut-outs" are not too sheer or too revealing, to the point of distracting your audience. If it is, wear another more opaque skirt or pants under it. You can sew-opaque fabric into cut-outs to cover them up. If people think they may catch a glimpse of you, they won't be paying attention to your beautiful dancing!

7) When buying other then perfectly fitting costumes, go a little bigger and longer, than smaller and shorter. You can always stuff your bra. Boob spillage is much harder to fix. You can always overlap or shorten. It's much harder to extend or lengthen. Buy tops that are your size or bigger, NEVER smaller.

8) Worried about your tummy hanging or uneven tummy skin while wearing two piece costumes? Consider wearing a body stocking. Not because there is anything wrong with you, but because it prevents distracting your audience with your tummy -- people can be kind of weird about that stuff. A cheap way to make them is to get tights or panty hose (Sheer Energy and most exercise/dance tights don't run if you simply cut them), cut the top off right at the crotch so you have a legless tube (throw away the legs) and sew the leg edge of the panty hose tube to a pair of bikini underwear with a zigzag stitch so it stretches. When you want to wear it just pull it on like it is extra tall underwear and pin it through the waistband to the inside of your top/costume bra. There are lots of colors and patterns available to try, including fishnet and specialty stockings, but some of the specialty ones are more prone to running. (This tip is provided by Saqra. She has lots more tips HERE)

Performance Must-Haves:

a) A "cover-up" - An ornate robe you wear over your costume while you are in costume, but not performing. A veil may also be used as a "cover-up". You want to maintain your mystic by consealing your costume until you reveal it on stage. Go to Ross, they always have great, fun robes for under $10.

b) Make-up - Stage-appropriate make-up must be worn for every performance to enhance your onstage persona and to ensure your audience can see your facial features under various performance conditions. Body glitter may be applied too. Search Youtube for "Arabic eye makeup" and you can see tons of great tutorials of looks that will work for performance.

c) Hair - Your hair should always look "made-up" for every performance. This could mean flat ironing, curling, rolling, teasing or applying a hair piece, like a long pony tail or wig.