Thread: What are you working on? For Halloween?!

Because this is my favorite holiday of the year, I wanted to hear all about everyone's crafting and choreo and music selection efforts! Personally, I don't care if it's directly related to belly dance. If someone else would like to impose that restriction, pipe up. I'm a terrible nut for costuming and I just love the creative process ..g.:

To start it off, I am collecting bits and ideas for several costumes this year. My boyfriend and I are tentatively planning on doing Beauty and the Beast (though not as a direct knock off of the Disney version...). I bought my dog a SuperMan costume this weekend and nearly died laughing when he raced around the yard in it. Click this to watch-ignore the hysterical laughter.... We're also working on a Pin Up and WWII Soldier get up. That one is actually pretty easy because we already have most of the gear. While shopping at a seasonal costume shop I couldn't resist grabbing an Indian Chief's headdress... But that'll be for another year unless I can dream up more costume opportunities ;)

Soooo... What're YOU doing? :D

I link doesn't work for me ...c::

I have a really great non-bellydance-but great for halloween- song
I am dying to do, but so far I haven't heard of any Halloween themed
hafla's around here this year
(I don't want to reveal the song just yet, in case something comes up!)

I would definately wear something with all red~~

One of my troupe members is working up a choreography to "I Put A Spell On You" for October, and the rest of us are performing general stuff at a Bacchanalia party this weekend. We'll all be dressed really gothic and sort of Halloweenish. One dancer is wearing pointy elf ears, and a raggedy edged leopard mini skirt over her black pants. Another is probably dressing in her Mardis Gras costume of green, gold and purple since that originated with Bacchus. The rest of us will be some variation of black with metallic and glittery touches.

Originally Posted by ANISAHDANCER

I link doesn't work for me ...c::

Hmm... Dang it! Lemme try again... One More Time= Super Bailey!

Originally Posted by RioDancerCO

I bought my dog a SuperMan costume this weekend and nearly died laughing when he raced around the yard in it.

You're just lucky he didn't fly away! LOL

Originally Posted by RioDancerCO

Hmm... Dang it! Lemme try again... One More Time= Super Bailey!

..l;, Thanks! Too cute!

I'm making a pearl theme'd costume and I was thinking with the right skirt and makeup I could be a Titanic victim? I tea stained the bra and belt.... There's a local 'Haflaween' but I'm not sure if I'll be able to perform or not yet... If I do perform I'm going to dance with my fanveils to Cocoon (remix) by Switchblade Symphony..

Hooray for Halloween!

Hehe cute dog!

I'm supposed to be dancing on the 31st. I'm expecting lots of bad tribal and goth related guff.....my question is whether to ignore the theme and do my own thing?

Originally Posted by straightleftknee

I'm supposed to be dancing on the 31st. I'm expecting lots of bad tribal and goth related guff.....my question is whether to ignore the theme and do my own thing?

I guess it depends on the details of the performance, but I would say that to outright ignore the theme would be sort of spoil-sport. Perhaps doing your own thing with just a little extra omph? Like a showier entrance or briefly using a dramatic prop (even just flash paper). Or perhaps your costume is kind of dark and mysterious? If you feel ridiculous, it will show in your dance. Definitely find a way to make it work for you.

Usually I am all about planning out crazy-amazing halloween costumes, but this year I will be a, um, race car driver! Not by my choice, but because I am driving at an an event that day at the track (why the HECK do people plan these things on Halloween!!???!!).

Originally Posted by straightleftknee

I'm supposed to be dancing on the 31st. I'm expecting lots of bad tribal and goth related guff.....my question is whether to ignore the theme and do my own thing?

I always do! I'm doing a hafla on November 1st. It won't be a Halloween theme but I will be wearing a Halloween themed costume.

I'm working on a psychadelic snakeskin costume. I wore it at Burning Man but I want to add more to it. It's a mix of Medusa, some Calypso, and who knows what else. May wind up wearing it a few times in October for various events.

I might be sewing Esmeralda from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame - I went through my stash of fabric and realised I had everything I'd need to sew it - I just don't know what I think about taking the kids trick or treating barefoot in October!

My daughter wants me to be Tinkerbell...

Originally Posted by raniraqs

I just don't know what I think about taking the kids trick or treating barefoot in October!

In Colorado I'd think you were crazy ;) hahaha... Hope you live some place warmer than me!

My restaurant gig is every other Saturday and just happens to work out to be scheduled for Halloween night. The weekend before Halloween is a masquerade ball that I'd really like to go to (swing dancing and ball room...). I don't know if it will be canceled or rescheduled or if I should come up with something traditional enough to please the restaurant owner, but Halloweenish enough to please me :) Guess I'd better ask this weekend when I go in for my show!

I'm going to be Joan from Mad Men ;)

I'm hunting down one of those crazy bullet bras right now...might even make one myself if it comes down to it, but will definitely NOT be incorporating that silhouette into my next costume project

I just downloaded Skynyrd's "Free Bird".

Costume....white cabaret dress, copper organza Isis wings, and a Venitian bird mask painted to look like an Egyptian Ibis. The god Toth I think....please hold up your bic lighters during the slow part!!!

Originally Posted by RioDancerCO

I guess it depends on the details of the performance, but I would say that to outright ignore the theme would be sort of spoil-sport. Perhaps doing your own thing with just a little extra omph? Like a showier entrance or briefly using a dramatic prop (even just flash paper). Or perhaps your costume is kind of dark and mysterious? If you feel ridiculous, it will show in your dance. Definitely find a way to make it work for you.

Cheers,
I think I'll be happier when I settle on the music.

Originally Posted by anala

I just downloaded Skynyrd's "Free Bird".

Costume....white cabaret dress, copper organza Isis wings, and a Venitian bird mask painted to look like an Egyptian Ibis. The god Toth I think....please hold up your bic lighters during the slow part!!!

Ooooh.... Pictures please (when you're performing, of course!) Will you have one of those ornate pectoral collars too? This sounds like a very classy way to do Egyptian mythology in dance!

Well, I'll be at a wedding the day before so I guess I'm going as a bridesmaid. Boring!

I'm going to be part of a Thriller performance here in Madison, so I am working on a zombie costume. I'm going as a "little old lady straight from the mausoleum" zombie -- I have a black velvet A-line dress with faux leopard collar and cuffs and a leopard pillbox hat. I want to make it really dusty and cobwebby, if anyone has suggestions on that. Also, I want to start with sort of an old-age makeup look but zombify it!

Originally Posted by tigerb

I'm going to be part of a Thriller performance here in Madison, so I am working on a zombie costume. I'm going as a "little old lady straight from the mausoleum" zombie -- I have a black velvet A-line dress with faux leopard collar and cuffs and a leopard pillbox hat. I want to make it really dusty and cobwebby, if anyone has suggestions on that. Also, I want to start with sort of an old-age makeup look but zombify it!

ash from the fireplace will work to make your hat look dusty. You can use hot glue gun 'threads' for cobwebs. I think a toothpick stuck in a glob of hot glue and pulled away would do the trick. :)

I did some very slap-dash zombie makeup for a class where I was teaching part of Thriller. Here's a picture in case it gives you some ideas :)

I'm having a HUGE Hallowe'en party for my friends, none of whom have seen me dance yet. I'm still beginner-improver but working out a little choreography to "Spooky" which I think was originally Dusty Springfield but found a cool version by The Puppini Sisters which I am trying. Fun!

I LOVE Hallowe'en. My favourite holiday. Though it DOES annoy me that the shops are already full of their Christmas fayre when Hallowe'en hasn't even past yet!

Originally Posted by anala

I just downloaded Skynyrd's "Free Bird".

Costume....white cabaret dress, copper organza Isis wings, and a Venitian bird mask painted to look like an Egyptian Ibis. The god Toth I think....please hold up your bic lighters during the slow part!!!

sweeeet

Last night I got an idea for what could be a cute Halloween costume bedleh. So I'd get to still sorta look like a bellydancer, but be in a costume :) (I personally don't like to see dancers so made up/costumed they don't appear to be bellydancers anymore, but that's just me). I probably wouldn't have to make a belt, I've got one that I've harvested parts from & it could just cover it w/the fabric I need, so I'd really only need to make a top, which I think I could do. Gotta check around this weekend on the availability of the items needed to undertake this project, though.

Originally Posted by RioDancerCO

ash from the fireplace will work to make your hat look dusty. You can use hot glue gun 'threads' for cobwebs. I think a toothpick stuck in a glob of hot glue and pulled away would do the trick. :)

I did some very slap-dash zombie makeup for a class where I was teaching part of Thriller. Here's a picture in case it gives you some ideas :)

Oooh, that is gooood. I love the "damaged" lips.

I just got the welding helmet headgear in that I ordered. it's just an adjustable band around the temple and a strap over the top of the head. It's intended purpose is to have a face shield strapped to it. I'm going to use it to support a half mask and fur drape for Beast :) I believe the mask will be paper mache with fabric lining and fabric covering, possibly with some theatrical latex... yay, craft time!

Finished the last layer of paper mache on the lion Beast mask :D I go to the fabric store tonight after work to pick out some short fur for the face and long fur for the mane :D One of my friends gave me a single bead that is shaped like a canine tooth. It's absolutely perfect but I need 3 more ,r:; Cross your fingers that the fabric store has some...

Long lion-mane fur. Have any of you seen some? Faux of course... I went to our Joann Fabrics and Crafts super store last night and they had almost nothing for Halloween fabrics :(

Originally Posted by ANISAHDANCER

I link doesn't work for me ...c::

I have a really great non-bellydance-but great for halloween- song
I am dying to do, but so far I haven't heard of any Halloween themed
hafla's around here this year
(I don't want to reveal the song just yet, in case something comes up!)

I would definately wear something with all red~~

Oooh, that sounds wicked! As opposed to all the black that will be featured. Like a she-devil!!! ..g.: