Thread: Maternity costuming tips?

I have quite a few gigs scheduled for the remainder of my pregnancy, and several of them I really want to do and not refer to other dancers. I've got the little poochie low belly already, and it's only going to get more prominent through the summer.

Any suggestions for costuming around the blooming bump?

I realize other dancers may appreciate the bigger bump, but I'm not sure how the general public will react. Should I refer out gigs when I'm too big to "hide" it? What's the protocol?

Congratulations, again! :)

I think it depends on the gig whether or not being visibly pregnant matters. You could always check with the person that hired you and see if that would go against the vision they had in mind. As you know, sometimes it's unfortunate but nonetheless inescapable, that a huge part of why people hire a bellydancer is for the "look". A pregnant bellydancer could either totally enhance *or* detract from the mood they were intending, you know?

I never ended up performing in costume while pregnant, but if I had, I would have busted out my black velvet dress. I think the combo of the material being thicker and duller would help light bounce off, rather than catch every lump or bump, along with the dark color making everything more vague. Also, a dress can hang slightly looser around your shape, no bulges from elastic on the hips or belly. Of course, you're talking summer costuming, so maybe dark & velvet & covered belly is not the best advice...

If your baby bump is welcome, I think a snug lycra dress, either orientale or beledy would be cute. Or two piece, but it's probably harder to keep the belt in place with a growing bump.

Originally Posted by joanneraks

I never ended up performing in costume while pregnant, but if I had, I would have busted out my black velvet dress. I think the combo of the material being thicker and duller would help light bounce off, rather than catch every lump or bump, along with the dark color making everything more vague.

I would agree with staying away from thin, shiny material. Snug dresses made from lightweight, metallic fabrics are pretty unforgiving, even on non-pregnant bodies.

Also, a dress can hang slightly looser around your shape, no bulges from elastic on the hips or belly.

I know this sort of thing is unpopular to say, but the sisterhood loves pregnant dancers far more than the rest of the world does. It's important to choose your venues and your costuming with the ambition of being able to give an appreciated effort, and sometimes that means admitting that your good intentions as an artist and entertainer will be lost if the audience spends your entire performance trying to figure out if you're fat or pregnant, because they can't decide which of those they'd like least. Sometimes going with a less form-fitting costume just makes more sense.

Of course, you're talking summer costuming, so maybe dark & velvet & covered belly is not the best advice...

Textured cottons or knits would be lighter than velvet.

Hey Aziyade! My belly is growing right along with yours. I just reached 17 weeks today. Also due to a previous blood clot, my doctor put me on Lovenox which I have to inject into my belly fat every morning. I've gotten better at it, but there is some bruising sometimes and that adds to my belly insecurities.

I actually passed up a gig a couple of weeks ago. When I was considering it I went to my dance closet and began trying on costumes. Turns out a LOT didn't fit, even at just 14/15 weeks (I knew I had gained weight, but it wasn't obvious yet). I did find a bra/belt that I could move some hooks on, and a really comfy stretchy bra/skirt that still fit. I also have a dress that completely hid the lil bump because of all the ornate belly decorations. I decided to give the gig to a troupemate though, just didn't have the motivation or energy to go forward with it. Turns out it was probably a good thing, it was a very sweaty high-energy gig.

I don't have any regular paid gigs on the horizon, but I will be dancing at a bunch of upcoming haflas. Also, I've been asked to perform at this plus-sized women's fashion show / benefit for Leukemia, and I'm going to go forward with that because I think they'll appreciate my bump too.

In a way, I wonder if this temporary state can actually open some more doors, while others are just temporarily shut... Good luck and congrats!

What everyone said about being venue-appropriate is good advice, you can always talk to the organizers to see how they feel about it. I think that would be much better than surprising them with a pregnant belly dancer when they were expecting, well, a non-pregnant one!

What about draping a silk veil across your belly and over one shoulder and tucked into the hips, in the mode of the vintage American style? It could be pinned not to slip off the shoulder. You wouldn't have to purhcase anything new and it looks nice.

A sheer over-tunic or dress, with the bra underneath and the belt over, can look nice, too.

Oh, almost forgot to say - Congratulations! And best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and birth!

You may want costumes to be a little more on the modest/conservative side. Like a couple of other people have said, the general public is not quite so accepting of all shapes and sizes as the bellydance community tends to be. Plus, you're dancing in a fairly conservative part of the country.

Your clients' comfort level should be considered, but don't forget to consider YOUR comfort level, too.

Good luck, and congratulations on your new addition!

Check out the beautiful costume Nesrin Topkapi is wearing in this video. It looks similar to the veil wrap I was describing but it is actually a sheer tunic with one sleeve:

http://youtu.be/Wvt-KpKpdL4

performing at 5 months



i am advocate of : wear anything you feel like, long as it fits






performing at seven months




photoshoot at almost seven months


i would have performed at 8 months, but broke my wrist :-)

i stopped doing GP gigs as soon as it showed
i wore an l rose outfit, a costum made egyptian costume (the blue) and a couple of different galabeya's, one of the shiny variety.

i would have performed in it, if i had been able to (stupid fall))



i really should get some of these printed of to embarass my son with in years to come

I really hated having anything touch my belly when i was pregnant. it had to either be *very* loose or a 2 pc. For the first pregnancy during which I performed, I cobbled something together from spare bits lying around because I really didn't have anything I could adjust. I really, really wish I could find that picture, it looks like it is lost in the digital realm!

for the last pregnancy, both of these pictures are from about 7.5 months, which was my last public performance.lara evashow1.jpglara cane eva show.jpg

OOH I love these pics!!

Thanks for the tips gang -- I've referred out two, which (as luck would have it) I'm not going to be in town for anyway, and Ms. Scarlet can take any others that come up. Some of the ones I'm keeping are for Indian house parties, and I've already talked to the clients about the bump and they are just thrilled about it, so it may get me bigger tips! LOL.

We have a couple of cultural festivals and some county/state fairs that I'm still wavering on but I think I'll just borrow some of your ideas and wear more of a gallibiya look.

Thanks !!!

artemisia_danst: Those pictures are absolutely gorgeous!

I danced through both of my pregnancies. The first one, I did a MN Fringe Festival show at 6 months, and 5 shows a day at the MN Renaissance Festival in my 6th and 7th months. Lots of rehearsals and about 85 shows!

2nd pregnancy- I did a lot of haflas and shows within the dance community, but no big shows like the first time. My 2nd pregnancy was a lot harder, but I was also teaching weekly classes in multiple locations (1st pregnancy, I hadn't started teaching yet). I did a couple of private gigs in the 2nd pregnancy- they LOVED me at the baby shower!!!

I wouldn't do restaurant gigs pregnant- a couple of people in my community have, and it hasn't been well-received.

As far as costuming, my black velvet dress was my best friend.

love the prego pictures!!