Thread: How do fringe monster costumes affect your dancing?

I'm considering those icicles costumes from Bellydance Store:
Belly Dance Costumes | Belly Dance Store.com: gallery

Or these from Isis Exchange:
Belly dance Bra and Belt Costume Se - Deep Red Belly Dance Costumes Hip Scarves and belly Dancing accessories by Isis Exchange

But it seems like those would get in the way of doing some really active chest shimmies / boob shimmies. I'm working on some drum solos that are pretty peppy in the chest area, and I don't already own any super fringey costumes like this to know how that's going to go.

Opinions? Experiences? Suggestions?

Theese fringe-monsters are very heavy...You need a body-boulder to take Your show-luggage...smile...
I think, it is very uncomfortabel. I have had someone some years agon in green-black. It was an Abla, very beautiful, but so heavy! And for Shimmy...You have to work sooo much to become it shimmy....

I have a several costumes with major boob fringe and I just go ahead with the chest shimmies like I would wearing any other costume. And yes I have a large bust to boot. It does make the fringe fly back and forth, but . . . that's what it's there for. Flying boob fringe is well-established in the belly dance tradition and audiences get a kick out of it. It's perfectly okay, really! At least, I feel it is.

Other opinions?

Rosette

Oh, interesting. I haven't experienced the sense that the the shimmy is harder to do because of the weight. I just do what I'm gonna do and the fringe does what it does. I'm not worrying about moving the fringe or feeling that it's impeding me. Could this difference have to do with one's frame size? I am on the larger side.
R

Actually, I think that with lots of fringe you have to do less until the movement shows. Just a little shimmy is enough, let the fringe to the rest.

But they certainly ARE heavy to carry around.

Looking at the blue one, the first thing I would do is remove all the fringe that goes around the chest, it's just not flattering (unless you have a very long upper body). Only leave the fringe on the bra cups.

MEISSOUN

Costumes with heavy and/or long fringe can affect your timing, so it is important to practice in them before getting on stage. If you are used to doing very crisp accents, it may be surprising to see yourself on video hitting the accent and the fringe moving after the beat. It takes a bit more time and energy to see the fringe reaction, but it's obviously more visible when it gets going. Do you have trouble navigating the difference between rectangular and long triangular coin scarves? IMHO, it's a similar issue with them.

Originally Posted by Rosette

Flying boob fringe is well-established in the belly dance tradition and audiences get a kick out of it.

True! Once I performed in a costume that had no fringe and the day after I got compliments on my "fringed costume"! Pleople DO IMAGINE a fringe where it doesn't even exist!

i got the same costume from a seller called "sparkling queen" on amazon for half the price. they show the belt on the maniquin(sp?) backward but it's the same costume. it's a bit fragile, and the cups aren't particularly human shaped, you might want to get one that's a bit larger than you think you'll need (i've had a bear of a time adjusting it to keep my nips in.)
i do get comments from the Greek mother of the owner when i wear it to work that "this is what a bellydance costume is SUPPOSED to look like!" ^_^

I have a gold set like the second one you posted from Isis Exchange, and I love it. I don't find it heavy or unwieldy at all, but then I have a small bust. I'm very fond of how it accentuates chest movements that would barely be visible on me otherwise. I should add, though, that I err on the subtle side with shoulder shimmies, so I can't comment on how well the fringe would respond to more vigorous movement.

If find that LOOONG fringe (like on Turkish costumes, the kind that goes longer than 4-6") is hard to move. Twisting moves work best for those.

Costumes with all-over short - medium fringe, especially if it's layered, very sparkly, or mixed with paillettes -- show up shimmies beautifuly. Even tiny vibrations will show up from a great distance. I always wear a fringe monster if I plan to do lots of layering or shimmies.

I should add that, on my costume, the belt was not cupped, and I had to dart it myself. The process wasn't as awful as I had expected, but it's something to keep in mind when browsing these less expensive sets!

Originally Posted by raqFariha

i got the same costume from a seller called "sparkling queen" on amazon for half the price.

You got one of these two on Amazon??? Which one?

Originally Posted by Darbla

You got one of these two on Amazon??? Which one?

the isis exchange one. it's a retailer who uses amazon, not a random seller. they had all sorts of sizes and colors.

Sparkling Queen

Isis Exchange used to sell these sets for cheap on eBay, too, which is where I got mine, but I don't think they've posted anything there in a couple of years.

I actually LOVE doing chest shimmies with fringe monsters! It's really fun to see the fringe fly and whip around and the audience seems to enjoy it.

I swear, moderately fringey costumes make me dance 1,000x better than those sleek Egyptian styles. And I get a lot more compliments on my modified vintage fringemonster than on any Pharaonics or Eman I've owned. Then again, I do tend to skew more Turkish/cabaret in my stylings, and most of my audiences are American - so YMMV, of course!

While I can't pull off those insane Abla fringemonsters from the 80's or Sims with that "hula skirt" style fringe, I love, love, LOVE anything with either large clumps of fringe or 4" fringe all around. Shortish fringe is easier to move than 12" mega-fringe, and more flattering on a variety of body types.

As a small, slender dancer, I love costumes with tasteful amounts of fringe because I don't have to over-exert myself to make my movements visible from across a room. The little extra bit of reverb helps my shimmies to look more like shimmies, less like a tiny Lycra-wearing chihuahua shivering in the cold

OK, that does it. Gotta have one. ..g.: Thanks, girls!

One of my troupe mates just got an orange icicles bedlah like that first one I posted, so I'll go check hers out before I order.

Personally I adore fringe. It does take a bit more stamina to lug around and dance in a fringe monster costume but it's totally worth it!

Mmmm fringe, it's definitely a crowd pleaser!
I have big movements as it is so I feel that fringe monsters make my dancing look messy, but all of that fringe flying around makes for awesome action shots if anyone is taking photos! ;)

Originally Posted by Rosette

I have a several costumes with major boob fringe and I just go ahead with the chest shimmies like I would wearing any other costume. And yes I have a large bust to boot. It does make the fringe fly back and forth, but . . . that's what it's there for. Flying boob fringe is well-established in the belly dance tradition and audiences get a kick out of it. It's perfectly okay, really! At least, I feel it is.

Other opinions?

Rosette

In agreement here!

our northern audiences LOVE fringey cossies!

Originally Posted by EzmaSiddiqah

our northern audiences LOVE fringey cossies!

Yup. Here in New England, it's all about the old-school looks!

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

less like a tiny Lycra-wearing chihuahua shivering in the cold

Brilliant!

Really fringy belts make me feel compelled to do a "tailspin" to swing the fringe in circles :)
I do more of a shoulder shimmy than a chest shimmy, and don't notice any significant difference in the feel/execution of it with/without much fringe.

[QUOTE=SatinWorship19;646639]I swear, moderately fringey costumes make me dance 1,000x better than those sleek Egyptian styles. And I get a lot more compliments on my modified vintage fringemonster than on any Pharaonics or Eman I've owned. Then again, I do tend to skew more Turkish/cabaret in my stylings, and most of my audiences are American - so YMMV, of course!

[QUOTE]

what is YMMV?

I LOVE heavy costumes!

Originally Posted by wingaki

what is YMMV?

Your Milage May Vary...meaning that not every individual will have the same response.

Heck, what with only, what, 3 countries still using miles...understanding of this phrase may vary.

Originally Posted by raqFariha

i got the same costume from a seller called "sparkling queen" on amazon for half the price. they show the belt on the maniquin(sp?) backward but it's the same costume. it's a bit fragile, and the cups aren't particularly human shaped, you might want to get one that's a bit larger than you think you'll need (i've had a bear of a time adjusting it to keep my nips in.)
i do get comments from the Greek mother of the owner when i wear it to work that "this is what a bellydance costume is SUPPOSED to look like!" ^_^

Are these sets made to order or are you buying one already made? (a bit off-topic-sorry!)

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

Costumes with heavy and/or long fringe can affect your timing, so it is important to practice in them before getting on stage. If you are used to doing very crisp accents, it may be surprising to see yourself on video hitting the accent and the fringe moving after the beat. It takes a bit more time and energy to see the fringe reaction, but it's obviously more visible when it gets going.

My daughter's newest costume for BDUC this coming weekend (which I am working on when I'm not on Bhuz) has looooong fringe -- not a fringe-monster in the traditional sense of having layers and layers of fringe, but the fringe is very long. On one occasion when I was dancing at a showcase, I had left my bedlah at home (skirt, veil, make-up, accessories were all in the bag, but the belt-n-bra had somehow been left behind!); I just figured I'd missed my opp to perform. No such thing: I was "ordered" (lovingly) to borrow somebody else's bedlah and it happened to be quite a fringe-monster --- with long fringe, too. Without any opportunity to practice in it at all, I found dancing in it to be a bit of a challenge. So I was certain to give Daughter plenty of opportunity to play around in the belt so she's be ready for how it moves.

You will get used to the difference in how the costume feels . . . it just takes some time and some serious dress rehearsal!

Deborah

- couldn't see the costumes, but I love long fringe myself... over 12" fringe is a bit on the long side, but okay. It does affect the timing of moves like Tourbeau said. Also the lateral hip moves feel different (twists etc.). I don't recommend halter strap bras with long fringe tho, too heavy for your neck. I think years of wearing those, along with always doing whippy head circles damaged my neck bones, and left bone spurs... oh well!

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

Costumes with heavy and/or long fringe can affect your timing, so it is important to practice in them before getting on stage. If you are used to doing very crisp accents, it may be surprising to see yourself on video hitting the accent and the fringe moving after the beat. It takes a bit more time and energy to see the fringe reaction, but it's obviously more visible when it gets going. Do you have trouble navigating the difference between rectangular and long triangular coin scarves? IMHO, it's a similar issue with them.