Thread: "Scandalous" costumes-what is your opinion

I would love to hear opinions on costumes with the clear strap between the cups or cut outs in ALMOST the wrong places. A part of me loves them and likes that they are a little racy, but a louder and bigger part of me thinks that costumes like these help perpetuate the myth that bellydancers are strippers. Is it my prudishness talking, or does anyone else think that?

Don't get me wrong-I am not complaining that the costumes look cheap-they don't, especially since a lot of them are Sahars. I just worry about the General Public's opinion. Wearing something that causes the audience to wonder if the strap will pop or the fabric will slip can be pretty distracting.
thanks!

This one:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENtOugRpsY&feature=related]YouTube - الراقصه المصريه دينا روعه[/ame]

These:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6v19rstitA&feature=related]YouTube - Dina belly dance[/ame]

This one also:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt_8Y2q9LiI&feature=related]YouTube - Dina Danse Arabe Sans Culotte-sex[/ame]

..l;,

i love racy costumes for nightclubs but not restaurants during the dinner hours.

I don't worry much about the "stripper image" thing in relation to costumes. I do feel that costumes shouldn't distract and disturb by making the audience nervous about possibly getting flashed something they would be embarrassed to see, like a nipple, a butt crack, etc. I don't just mean those things shouldn't show (well, obviously) but they shouldn't appear to be threatening to show. A very few audience members might be HOPING to get to see such a thing but most would really rather not, and anxiety about potential embarrassment is certainly not entertaining.
Rosette

I have to admit - I hate that thong costume with the burning destructive power of a thousand suns.

For the rest, I think they are very venue specific. For a nightclub or an adult-only location they would be ok, especially if you are dealing with an Egyptian audience that is accustomed to the dina-style. For a western audience or all ages show I would want even the racier costumes to definitely cover all of the bit without any question.

Consider Thy Audience. and venue.

I adore the scandalous costumes. but wear them at an arabic nightclub where the (adult) audience will get it, not at uncle bob's 50th birthday party, an outdoor festival, or a family restaurant where you'll have close interaction with GP folks who may be seeing bellydancing for the first time.

I looove a super sexy costume! Unfortunately (!) there is a time and a place for them.

I keep my sexy costumes for night clubs since I've noticed that people in restaurants and some private gigs seem to get a little intimidated by them!

I've also noticed that a lot of M-E audiences are so sick and tired of seeing the typical bellydance costume that when they see something super modern, different or very sexy (as long as its not cheap - quality wise) they are pleasantly surprised and happy!

Where's the Dina "hands" costume?

As others have pointed out, revealing costumes can be distracting to the audience. I don't enjoy watching a dancer in an outfit that looks like it's on the verge of a wardrobe malfunction (this includes ill-fitting costumes!), and I wouldn't want to be the dancer in that circumstance. If you are performing at a dancer's hafla, that is different than getting up in front of a mixed GP crowd. Other dancers may understand (i.e., know the internal construction) and appreciate the value of a couture costume, whereas I suspect some guys may get confused about how you're different from the stripping thing if you are wearing next to nothing, especially if they've been drinking.

Dina is Dina, and she routinely gets away with things that other people can't. If she showed up in anything but a crazy, revealing costume, people would be disappointed, so she isn't a good costume role model for most dancers. I suppose a lot of it comes down to how comfortable you feel with defying modesty and how at ease you are with your own body. If you've got the moxie, then good for you. Otherwise, I think you're better off in a less revealing costume. Nobody wants to see a dancer who looks self conscious in what she's wearing--that definitely detracts from your performance.

Woohooo, Ana...my favorite "Dina wears a Motel 6 towel" clip!!!!

And the third one..unless Dina has a surgically fused bum, those are flesh colored panties...not a good idea either....

Originally Posted by salomestar

I looove a super sexy costume! Unfortunately (!) there is a time and a place for them.

I keep my sexy costumes for night clubs ...

exactly.
in my experience (which seems to be what most of you have said)
avant-garde costumes are best for arabic/greek/turkish night clubs where sexier costumes and more experimental costumes are appropriate/appreciated.

the gp at the local moroccan restaurant likely a) wont get it b) dont want a slice of peek-a-boo booty with their bastilla c) will be intimidated to tip you

- but dina is in a very competitive market and is smart to keep generating publicity. her audience gets it. ( still not a fan of the thong costume but look at the publicity it generated. smart lady!)

Originally Posted by mahsati

I have to admit - I hate that thong costume with the burning destructive power of a thousand suns.

Me, too! It's just so trashy. Nothing sexy about it IMHO.

As an audience member I don't want to think, "Is she or isn't she wearing drawers?" I also don't want to have to constantly worry that there might be some slippage. The costume should enhance the performance and not distract attention.

I'm a prude. If I'm worrying about nekkid-dancer-fu, I'm not enjoying the dancing. I've seen a video of Dina dancing in a fully covered, ankle-length dress and enjoyed it much, much more than the pushing-the-envelope costumes illustrated above. When I'm cringing, expecting nipple-fu, butt-crack-fu or coochi-fu...well, I'm cringing. Not a happy feeling.

Part of a dancer's job in Egypt is to be sexy and attractive, and it's competitive, and fashion-influenced, so those costumes reflect that. They don't necessarily have to dress up as a belly dancer for their audiences to get it. Some are nice and some are not. They're really no different than a pop singer on that score.

I think along the same lines as Zumarrad. I mean Britney is naked all the time because she can't sing. I want to see inventive dance, not a hot bod.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Part of a dancer's job in Egypt is to be sexy and attractive, and it's competitive, and fashion-influenced, so those costumes reflect that. They don't necessarily have to dress up as a belly dancer for their audiences to get it. Some are nice and some are not. They're really no different than a pop singer on that score.

Exactly!!!
The arabic nightclub clientele already *know*that the bellydancer has arrived.

I don´t really care about how much skin is on display as long the costumes are flattering for the body it´s on-and the dancer carries it proud...g.:

Originally Posted by nilifer

Where's the Dina "hands" costume?

Oh, it's a Sahar Okasha weird costume... I tried to find it again, but I don't know where it is...

Originally Posted by anala

Woohooo, Ana...my favorite "Dina wears a Motel 6 towel" clip!!!!

And the third one..unless Dina has a surgically fused bum, those are flesh colored panties...not a good idea either....

..l;,

Depends on how scandalous. To me, sexiness is letting a little covered. For instance, the first clip that Ana posted, I think the outfit would've been fine, had the skirt been longer. Since the emphasis isn't on the leg, it seems odd that they're so heavily highlighted in mini-skirt outfits.

I really hate that thong Dina outfit, because it looks like she had an ill fitting costume.

I think your costume should enhance, not detract from your dance.

I've had a bit of to-ing and fro-ing with how I feel about these costumes. The first few I saw I was like OMG too much ... these were on the manneqins or being modelled and even though they were Sahar's you couldn't truly see the quality. When I started seeing pics of real dancers wearing them, then I started to really love them. On the right dancer and in the right venue, the look uber-sexy in a very classy way.

But it scares me to think what will happen when the airport specials catch up to the trend.

I don't like to see so much b/c I like when the movement is a bit mysterious -- like how's she doing that? It loses a little for me when you see the pistons pumping and the wheels turning and the feet flapping.

We have a male dancer in my troupe, and he's very very familar with all the crazy costuming we wear. Last summer we were performing in a show where there was another dancer (beautiful, highly skilled and classy) wearing one of those Sahars with the invisible plastic straps on the bra. He just couldn't get over how it stayed on and why it worked, and was distracted throughout her whole performance. If this dancer couldn't figure it out, what was the audience thinking? Sometimes the stuff that works in Egypt just doesn't work here.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNYueMR2uQQ]YouTube - Fifi abdo belly dance رقص راقصة[/ame]

you mean like this...ain't nothing knew..g.:
Belly dancers are sexy ladies.
But I do prefer not to see butt cheeks,nipples and private parts. Apart from that go girl ......in the right venue.
But if you make your audience uncomfortable , you got it wrong.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeI2sbVRfrE]YouTube - Mona al Said **Zara's Favourite! 3 Drum dance[/ame]

and how scandalous/sexy is that?

Originally Posted by lizajuk

YouTube - Fifi abdo belly dance رقص راقصة

you mean like this...ain't nothing knew..g.:
Belly dancers are sexy ladies.
But I do prefer not to see butt cheeks,nipples and private parts. Apart from that go girl ......in the right venue.
But if you make your audience uncomfortable , you got it wrong.

This is a version of scandalous that I can love ..g.: In truth, other than arms and legs there is nothing visible here....and that's ok for me. I still wouldn't suggest that much leg at a family event, but at least I don't worry about too much of a show from the private bits

For me, it is the lycra dishtowel held on with two strings for a skirt that worries me. Great for the right audience I am sure, but - whew...I am not the audience LOL I worry too much.

Great clips of the early legends! I don't think Fifi Abdou or Mona Al Said's costumes are too scandelous.

That Mona costume is one of my all-time favorites! Also one of my fave performances by her ..g.: