Thread: Troupe costuming

What do you think about troupe costuming?
Are simple models better?
Are there efficient ways to make costumes that can be used in mix and matching combos?
How to do all this without spending the entire budget just on costmes?

Does anyone want to share what has worked in the past for them, or not worked for that matter?

You don't have to reveal your designs, unless you want to. Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks!!

It's probably easier for "fusion" (ACK, the F word) numbers b/c you don't have to invest in beady beady sparkly sparkly stuff.

I had asked folks to wear all black (whatever black they wanted) and accessorize with anything gold.

Or all black and I had a piece of fabric from which everyone cut a swatch and did whatever they wanted with it.

This way, folks are using what they already have (or can purchase basic pieces that can be used again or for personal use), everyone keeps their personal sense of style, but there is an overall theme.

Might have to bite the bullet and make some nice but simple galabeyas (Tissu Regent just moved to a much bigger store) and embellish with easy things (hip scarves, stuff from Ultratext, etc.).

Stéphanie also had a beautiful idea for a simple but nice troupe costume, if you want to ask her about it next time you see her.

Mode Mystiqe (sp?) has some nice cheap option in many colors. Circle skirts and tops, the skirts come with veils. My performance group was pleased with them. AND everyone could choose their own color. It does looked pulled together and colorful.
We then added pieces to change up the look. One of my students made tube top type tops with a pinch in front, we added straps and guanlets for another look. We then added hip wraps made of the same gold fabric. We can now add black pants and have many different looks to choose from.

Originally Posted by Azhia

It's probably easier for "fusion" (ACK, the F word) numbers b/c you don't have to invest in beady beady sparkly sparkly stuff.

I had asked folks to wear all black (whatever black they wanted) and accessorize with anything gold.

Or all black and I had a piece of fabric from which everyone cut a swatch and did whatever they wanted with it.

This way, folks are using what they already have (or can purchase basic pieces that can be used again or for personal use), everyone keeps their personal sense of style, but there is an overall theme.

Might have to bite the bullet and make some nice but simple galabeyas (Tissu Regent just moved to a much bigger store) and embellish with easy things (hip scarves, stuff from Ultratext, etc.).

Stéphanie also had a beautiful idea for a simple but nice troupe costume, if you want to ask her about it next time you see her.

We will have to talk....
is regent the $2/m store? You will have to give me their new address.

I think it very much depends on if you are talking about a student troupe or a pro troupe.

i think that in troupe costuming, 2 options work out best:
either you all have the same costume (or at least a similar style) but in different colors (ie, swooshy chiffon skirts in color at will, with silver or gold coin belt/bra set),
or have one base color and everyone chooses their costume style with it (like in the BDSS, where they're all either in turquoise or in red, but each costume is different according to the dancer's style)

it works out best not only visually, but everyone is happy because no dancer is going to end up spending money on a costume they'll only wear once, or that they don't particularly like

i'm personally not a big fan of 'everyone has the same costume, same color same style' because it's bound to better/not as good on some dancers, plus to me it makes everything too uniform (unless that's really necessary, like to put accent on one solo dancer and the others are background or something)

Originally Posted by laura 2

I think it very much depends on if you are talking about a student troupe or a pro troupe.

Pro

I like the Egyptian basic costumes from Joharah. If you get a neutral color (gold or silver) then you can pair it with L Rose trumpet skirts, circle skirts or some funky pants. Makes a great starting point at least.


BTW...Samantha did I mention that I love my fruity new costume??

Our troupe has multiple options & we spend TONs of $$ and time on costumes. We have some nice velvet tie tops & fringe scarves that we ca pair with melodias, big ruffle skirts, with our without coin bra & belts. They are tie dyed 5 in blue tones & 5 in red tones so we can incorporate multiple colors & still look unified.
We have a set of paillette dresses, 3 red, 3 blue, 4 black
We have just ordered a set of basic gold bedlahs that we can mix & match with different skirts.

Having 8-10 dancers in a pro-troupe means that people will look different when they dance, have costumes that are more similar means that the troupe looks more uniform overall. I think too many different styles of costumes can draw attention to dancers who may be having an off night.
We do sometimes go for more variety, but even that is carefully controlled--all different cabaret but skirts have to be mermaid style or circle style, or a defined color pallet or...

Oh...we've built our wardrobe over 10 years. Each year we identify a new costume piece. Some like the velvet sets & paillette dresses, the troupe owns ( meaning me) and were purchased with common funds that we saved from gigs. We do this with costumes that are one size fits most that won't require altering. The bedlahs are being paid for by each dancer & she will own her costume & be able to take it with her if she leaves the troupe. We do this with bra & belt type stuff because everyone is so different in their sizes.

Originally Posted by nayastrance

Our troupe has multiple options & we spend TONs of $$ and time on costumes. We have some nice velvet tie tops & fringe scarves that we ca pair with melodias, big ruffle skirts, with our without coin bra & belts. They are tie dyed 5 in blue tones & 5 in red tones so we can incorporate multiple colors & still look unified.
We have a set of paillette dresses, 3 red, 3 blue, 4 black
We have just ordered a set of basic gold bedlahs that we can mix & match with different skirts.

Having 8-10 dancers in a pro-troupe means that people will look different when they dance, have costumes that are more similar means that the troupe looks more uniform overall. I think too many different styles of costumes can draw attention to dancers who may be having an off night.
We do sometimes go for more variety, but even that is carefully controlled--all different cabaret but skirts have to be mermaid style or circle style, or a defined color pallet or...

Nayastrance you kind of summed up what I was already thinking.
Thanks!

BTW...Samantha did I mention that I love my fruity new costume??[/QUOTE]


Fruity that's a new one. My friend called it the popsicle costume.
Glad you love it!

That model in fact is simple enough that it would be a great troupe costume, not too much work but cool fabric and flattering design. Hmmmm...

Originally Posted by SamanthaFortunata

Pro

Then forget my suggestion. Or spend a bit more $$ on making them look more put together.

A uniform look is important to come across as a professional troupe. If you want to look professional, it's a good idea to invest (not merely spend) in good costuming.
An excellent example is the NDC.
Lotus puts a lot of thought into how the group should look on as well as offstage and the effort really pays off. They are one of the most put-together dance troupes I know. Oh, and their dancing is good, too.

Another example of a "tight" troupe (costuming and dance-wise) is Midnight Mirage from Utah (I could not find their website info).

Originally Posted by Azhia

Another example of a "tight" troupe (costuming and dance-wise) is Midnight Mirage from Utah (I could not find their website info).

Midnight Mirage:
SaftiCraft, Belly dance costumes, Assuit Fabric, handmade Egpytian belly dancer accessories,hip scarf



I knew I had seen them somewhere!

My troupe just ordered trumpet skirts and tops from L Rose Designs. I let them order whatever color they wanted, and any style top with any or no accessories. I just asked that they all choose velvet, and that their top and skirt color was the same (not the same as one another, but each dancer's own costume parts in the same color). I also let them choose their own preferred trumpet skirt style - regular, deluxe, super deluxe, with or w/o gores. The costumes look coordinated, but not overly-matched. There are 20 dancers, and I thought that too much matching would be visually boring.

My troupe invested in a bunch of the folkloric(ish) dresses from the bellydance store. They cost us 100 bucks each and were very easy to tailor, alter and worked great on everybody type we had


We mostly do saidi (with and without cane) and beladi style dances, and some folkloric but everyone always compliments the costumes and I love that I can just ball it up and throw it in a bag (they never wrinkle!)