Thread: "Harem" Pants in Costumes

With few exceptions, I usually see the skirt over pant combo, whether it's in ATS, American Cabaret or Egyptian Style. I was wondering if anyone performed mostly in pants, and if anyone would be so kind as to post pictures of their costume? Typically, how would that costume be different from one paired with a skirt. I was wondering if you could pair a bedlah with pants to a nice effect.

I've seen an amazing costume by Masha of BellySema at a Tribal Fusion Festival? And was wondering if there were any others like it or comparable to it.

Hope I got my terms right, and as always, thanks for your time,
Mina

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This is Carolineafifi in a Shimmyshop pants suit.
I rarely see "harem" pants these days. The last was under a chiffon skirt in a Turkish routine that included sword and floorwork.
Tribal dancers in bloomers are a whole different matter. And I have seen them perform wearing a sari panel or a long fringe rather than a skirt. The troupe I am coaching is doing trhier next routine "sans skirts" and just in bloomers with a sash.

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Helena in another Shimmyshop set.

and Houda
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Tracey with pants under skirt

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It does seem that they are worn in tribal dance more. The trouser suits pictured here seem more 'now' and a lot of people seem to wear the big flared trouser (meloda?)- guess it depends on your style of dance.

It's funny that this questions being asked as the other day I watched a clip of a dancer wearing them in the 80's, and I wondered where my old one's were - I didn't dance in them, I used to wear them around the house for comfort - the Indian style trouser. Well I thought I quite fancy making some (for lounging) so I came on Bhuz to see if anyone had any tips for making, and I came across possibly the funniest thread I've ever read - 'i hate harem pants' thread, oh my I laughed so much! .......Not to put you off OP, to each thier own!..... I wonder if harem pants will ever make a big come-back? lol
op, can you post a pic of the costume you've seen? I'm curious now!

They've just gone out of style--they'll be back. There was a major shift in fashion sensibilities before the millennium on the sharqi scene. The fuller bottoms--circle skirts with harem pants underneath and endless wave pants--became considered too bulky. That brief fling with decorated leggings didn't do the concept of pants any favors, either, and if that didn't kill them off, the Turkish trend of making them as skimpy and skeezy as a cheap Halloween costume probably did, because neither of those styles are very forgiving. Now, you pretty much only see pants for ME-style costumes as undergarments for galabeyas or avant-garde designer concoctions.

As far as American hybrid (AmCab) dancers, you still occasionally see the endless wave pants or regular harems as part of a retro look. In the American mind set, this concept is still a big part of "belly dance," and if you want to work a vintage vibe, audiences will still buy it. I've done similar with satin harem pants and a little bolero vest myself.



I wasn't around in the old club days, but as I understand it, dancers did wear harem pants with bedlah as a full costume without a skirt, but the quality of the fabric and cut of the pants made the difference between a pro costume and a student one. Dancers often went the full 60" width per leg, and sometimes even layered fabrics like an embellished lace over a base. Harems were also very common under panel skirts, which aren't worn very much now, either. This thread has a number of examples of the harem pants+bedlah style http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...-costumes.html.

Up until fairly recently, almost all male dancers wore harem pants outside of the purely folkloric style. I think they makes a stronger, more masculine presentation than embellished unitards, but that's just my opinion. From the tribal end, harems are still popular with the ATS crowd--not so much with the ITS dancers, who usually wear fairly minimalist pants (Sharifwear or Melodias), unless they are going for the ragtag French-zombie-steampunk-prostitute look.

Fantastic thread - vintage costumes!

Tourbeau you seem ceratin that they'll be back lol I'm wondering if these pants will make a return soon....sits and waits for major bd fashion designer to bring back lol......

Frankly, I hate "harem" pants. I just think that no matter what size, shape, or height you are, they make you look dumpy. I rarely see anyone wearing them unless they have very big skirts and are going to twirl or they are going to do floor work. I think the Melodia type pants look great depending on the genre of dance being done.

Originally Posted by dollydaydream

Tourbeau you seem ceratin that they'll be back lol I'm wondering if these pants will make a return soon....sits and waits for major bd fashion designer to bring back lol......

I predict they're going to wait until they get everybody switched over to the minimalist style, and most of the older costumes in dancers' closets have been given fringe-ectomies, and then they'll go back to the 10-pound, monster-beaded bedlahs, with yards of fabric underneath. They've got to keep the market moving, and when you look at the floating bras and the miniskirts, where else do they have to go? If they get any skimpier, they'll be down to thongs and pasties. (That might work with samba costumes, but a big segment of this market doesn't have samba bodies!) For a while, coin bedlahs were off the radar, and they've been showing up more and more frequently...

The problem with old style fringes making a come back is that people dance differently now to different music. Went to an interesting workshop at JoY with Tracey (pictured in my post) and this was the topic..matching costume-moves-music. She had her very first bedlah with lush fringing and there was no way she could dance in it with the music and style now in favour. If you returned to the music of the 70s/80s..you would costume appropriately but will we?Here in the UK, the only retro you see frequently is Golden Age and there the costuming might be al Samia with big skirts and neat belt.
As I said the only time I have seen "harem pants" recenty was a la sword dance to Turkish music with floorwork and yes it all fitted. If we return , it has to be as a package not just one element.
We all know the impact lycra has made and lycra is not going away. Come to thnk of it, it's a long time since I saw a bedlah on stage!!!!
Pant suits are popular here because like split skirts with good undergarments, they allow dancers freedom of movement.

I don't think that the rather more gorgeous elaborate coin bra and belt sets favoured in the USA, I have ever seen in performance here in the UK.

I've seen a few or the tribal-y folk wearing the giant 7-yard pantaloons/harem pants with either short skirts or hip scarves rather than big full skirts, and they look pretty awesome c:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0xR5dgwQ-0]YouTube - BDSS Tribal Fusions Vol. 2 Performances (Kami Liddle)[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhHQ_xuSXI8]YouTube - The Indigo Live at Tribal Fest 9[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2EUNaWskPs]YouTube - Rachel Brice Solo: Le Serpent Rouge, Tractor Tavern Seattle 20 May[/ame]
(I couldn't find any good full-body pictures, but hopefully videos would suffice?)

Well, everybody has their own taste, but I don't find the modern style of pants that are tight in the crotch to be flattering on anybody. The tribal fusion dancers who layer those little panel skirts over form-fitting flared pants have a more flattering silhouette, in my opinion. If were going to wear the more modern tight flared pants, I would put a sheer chiffon panel skirt over them, since I don't dance in the ITS style. I've also seen very pretty sheer chiffon pants that were kind of a boot-cut shape, not gathered at the ankle, worn under a sheer chiffon circle skirt. That was a great look and very unique.

It's very important to some dancers, especially up and coming pros, to have the latest and the most fashionable costumes, but personally, I wear whatever suits me and suits the venue. I mostly perform at community events and cultural festivals. Maybe I'm a little bit of a contrarian, because I don't WANT to wear the most trendy thing or look like anyone else. I really dislike the current super-tight minimalist lycra costumes. But everyone should wear what they love and what fits their dance style. Luckily we have lots of choices!

I recently wore full satin (but not a super shiny satin) harem pants with an embellished cuff around the ankle, a ghawazee-style tunic-top, hip scarves and coin belt. I also wore a scarf around my head and lots of jewelry. I was going for a kind of Turkish theme for a familiy-friendly audience. Similar to this:

I've only worn them under a circle skirt for karsilama.

Those are all gorgeous costumes! The one costume that really struck me as striking is this one: (I have a whole folder of pictures of dancers with costumes that just amaze me, for future costume ideas)




I love that gwazee + pant picture, Dunyah! And that Kami Liddle clip is breathtaking. Thanks for the links and the pictures, everyone!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u22db891VwM]YouTube - Norma Detroit Belly Dancer Lebanese Style Cane Dance[/ame]

Princess Madiha with Oud - tribe.net

Welcome - tribe.net

Love, love, LOVE the entari and shalwar picture Dunyah posted!

I like flared or palazzo pants for a modern look, but I'm conditioned to think of harem pants as Asian underwear. ..l;,

Sarah Skinner and her fellow dancers are wearing harem pants during the Salome performance. I loved the pairing of pants with the gorgeous pearl bedlah. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTGJVeTy43k]YouTube - SEVEN VEILS: Romantic Bellydance :: WorldDanceNewYork.com belly dance : DVDs Shipped Worldwide![/ame]

There's a good example of this by a performer in the first by dancers for dancers dvd... but I can't find a pic or a vid... anyway, the dancer wears these REALLY full brocade harems w/ a bedlah and it looks great.

I almost always wear harems under my full skirts and bedlah, because I spin, perform outside often, sometimes get the itch to do floorwork, and am in a very conservative town. The extra leg coverage makes me almost modest enough for these people. Sometimes, I'll just wear endless wave harems under a bedlah... but rarely do I ever wear just harems under a bedlah as most of mine are sheer. I prefer my fringe monster bedlah and poofy skirts and harems to the modern lycra costumes. In fact, I only have one lycra costume right now.

I personally like the look of just harems w/ out a skirt. I think it's especially fun if they are supper poofy and big at the bottom.

Im in Egyptian cabaret and have sheer chiffon skirts. What are you supposed to wear under it? I hate harem pants but I didnt realize they were out of style, lol. But what do you wear under a sheer chiffon circle skirt?

Rachel Brice wears two different costumes with pants in her Serpentine video performances. In the trailer below, you can see the pants in the costumes at around 0:40 and 2:25.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3zGbsTcxgo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3zGbsTcxgo[/ame]

Originally Posted by Minajen

Those are all gorgeous costumes! The one costume that really struck me as striking is this one: (I have a whole folder of pictures of dancers with costumes that just amaze me, for future costume ideas)




I love that gwazee + pant picture, Dunyah! And that Kami Liddle clip is breathtaking. Thanks for the links and the pictures, everyone!

WOW!!!!! That's gorgeous!!

I think Pants with a bedlah would look fine, I so want this set (Purple), The belt effect is part of the pants. I also like the one piece effect, it looks like a separate bra & belt is worn with these.

I've seen a dancer perform in a set like the purple one before, but hers was teal. I didn't like it with the choreo she was doing, but I liked the costume in general. I'm sure I'd have loved with with a different set.

I'll admit it... I like harem pants every once in a while, under a sheer skirt or something really full that could fly up. I've got an Egyptian costume with two front slits in its fairly slim skirt, one over each thigh, open up to the hip. Matching sheer harem pants turn that costume from too risque to old-school fun.

Originally Posted by NefertariMerit

But what do you wear under a sheer chiffon circle skirt?

Another opaque, heavier skirt. Or dance/bike shorts.

God forbid harem pants should make a comeback. HAAAAAAAAAAAATE! ..l;,

I like pants. I like harems with split legs for being seen, and chiffon harems for coverage underneath skirts.

I also have a few pairs of pants that bell out from the knee. I've only worn them to hafla but I always get tons of compliments on them. I always think about blinging them up and making a performance costume with that style.

Originally Posted by wigglewhiz

Another opaque, heavier skirt. Or dance/bike shorts.

God forbid harem pants should make a comeback. HAAAAAAAAAAAATE! ..l;,

I have to say harem pants = harem fantsay for me and as I said I have only seen them once recently under a chiffon skirt in a very "traditional"/retro Turkish sword and floor routine. It looked right as a package . Otherwise you rarely see chiffon skirts here let alone harem pants. Oh those Turkish bazaar ones with the split and sequins..aaargh......late but not lamented

I too am anti harem pants for anyone male or female. They must never make a comeback-yuk!

I sometimes make, as a previous commenter said, "skimpy skeezy" harems for under chiffon skirts I've made.

I am wearing modified harems in this shot:
Kathryn Ozma Robarts's Photos | Facebook

They look like this:
Ozma's Costumes's Photos - Adventures in skirts | Facebook

I spin and kick a fair amount so they look interesting in spin mode and yet also protect.

I have always been a big fan of pantaloons - I fell in love with the old Ghawazee lithographs and similar images when I first started dancing, and I've come back to that inspiration time and time again - particularly in the form of split-leg harem pants, courtesy of Simply Stylish. Never had a pair of chiffon/transparent ones, usually silk essence, velvet, or similar material - and with the slit, I get both coverage and elegant exposure. I used to wear them under my chiffon petal skirts and such, but in the last few years, I've taken to wearing them with panel skirts instead.

With my Tribal Bazaar "Leopard Music Box" costume (video from 2009):
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNYuoPaoSW4]YouTube - Tempest at Durga Tour part 2[/ame]

With my white assuit costume (video from 2007):
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0joPkMxdac]YouTube - Tempest, live at Rakkasah East 2007[/ame]

And then, extremely full salwar pants (no slit), that I got at a sari shop in the Bay Area years back for a full-on Orientalist-inspired piece (2010)
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uca2mkkl114]YouTube - Tempest - Tribal Fest 10 - Decade of Deca-dance![/ame]