Thread: Folkloric Costume help needed

Hiya:

My troupe will be doing some Folkloric routines this year specifically Ghawazee, Beladi, Saiidi and Hajjalah. I would like to put together a costume for them that could be worn for all of the different styles we won't have to purchase a different costume for each occasion.

What I have in mind is a dress with different accessories. Possibly this dress from LRose (L. Rose Designs - Catalog), the accessories would include a beaded belt for Beladi, a belt with large sequins for Ghawazee and long sashes for Hajjalah.

What do you think? I'm at a lost for how to make this work without having troupe members (most of whom are students) shell out hundreds of dollars for authentic costumes. please help..c::

I think that's a GREAT idea! Either the L Rose dress or one of the simple galabeyas from Dahlal or bellydancestore.biz would work as a 'base.'

Hmm... one of my students made simple skirts for us out of sequin dot fabric (hush up, glitterdot haters! it works) just by adding a waistband and cutting the 'skirt' portion into strips. The fabric doesnt' ravel, and I can see a basic Ghawazee interpretation over a simple dress easily!

Switch that out for a double-ruffle apron-like thing and you've got a haggala costume!

A sash tied to one side and you're ready for Baladi or Saidi.

If you learn Tunisian, you can wrap/pin your Tunisian frock over the dress as a base and add a headpiece.

You could even wear the dresses as Cairo-style Melaya dresses. And how easy to slip a thobe nasha'al overtop for Khaleegy.

Wow, I've been FREAKING OUT over how to put together a whole folkloric show.

You are a genius. A freakin' genius. I love you. I totally love you.

*does happy dance!*

The troupe I'm in ordered these a couple years ago and have been very happy with them.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I think that's a GREAT idea! Either the L Rose dress or one of the simple galabeyas from Dahlal or bellydancestore.biz would work as a 'base.'

Hmm... one of my students made simple skirts for us out of sequin dot fabric (hush up, glitterdot haters! it works) just by adding a waistband and cutting the 'skirt' portion into strips. The fabric doesnt' ravel, and I can see a basic Ghawazee interpretation over a simple dress easily!

Switch that out for a double-ruffle apron-like thing and you've got a haggala costume!

A sash tied to one side and you're ready for Baladi or Saidi.

If you learn Tunisian, you can wrap/pin your Tunisian frock over the dress as a base and add a headpiece.

You could even wear the dresses as Cairo-style Melaya dresses. And how easy to slip a thobe nasha'al overtop for Khaleegy.

Wow, I've been FREAKING OUT over how to put together a whole folkloric show.

You are a genius. A freakin' genius. I love you. I totally love you.

*does happy dance!*

Yeah!!! I'm glad for the validation. I've been going nuts over what to have them wear.

BTW Glitter dots do have it's place. I got a bunch of G/D scarves at the dollor store thinking I could do something with them. I'll try out your suggestion.
Tunisian was going to be our next stop, so it's great to think we could just build on the basic dress.

The thing that sparked the idea was this dress from the swap page. It seems so versitile. I love it.. sadly I couldn't make it mine.

Originally Posted by rscramer

The troupe I'm in ordered these a couple years ago and have been very happy with them.

Did you use them for different folkloric styles? How did it work?