Thread: Cane in Restaurant Set - What to wear?

Well back in the old days and overseas when 1 hour sets were the norm, the dancer did run back stage and change into saidi or beledi dress. But as the sets became shorter and shorter that just became impratical as there was no time for a costume change. When doing a show in a nightclub I wore bedlah.

If you are doing a workshop/hafla and want to be traditional, saidi dress is the way to go, but here in America I really don't think it makes a difference anymore. But what I always wondered is how come so many of the saidi dresses have long flowing sleeves that just plain get in the way of a swirling cane?????

Originally Posted by anala

Ah ha...thank you. Loose galibeyas with velcro for instant folkloric...now there is a seller for you!

.w.:

...And suddently there was a huge demand in middle America for tear-away galibayas...and many prominent designers stepped forward to fill that demand...and it caught on worldwide...and then the dancers couldn't understand how they kept turning up on 101exoticdancers.com....

..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

Sorry...I just have...all sorts of goofy imagery to go with this.

Though I have to say, break-away folkloric clothing would be really good for troupe shows with quick costume changes! If you can figureout how to make, say, authentic looking break-away Tunisian, I think you could really be on to a money maker!

Originally Posted by tabitha

Mmmm....no.

second.

ok..ok..no .. I get it already....but Dahlal says they make great cover ups so there!!! I once had a Galebeya I had shipped from Kuwait. It was a poly crepe in sage green. It had a velcro closure at the collar bone area and the closure line was slightly to the left of center...like me...and it was elegant and very easy to get in and out of.

Originally Posted by kiyaana

but realize the GP doesn't even understand why a belly dancer has a cane in the first place, nevermind that she's not wearing what they think of as a belly dance costume.

So funny and so true! The few times I've brought raqs assaya into casual conversation, my civilian friends ask what I'm doing dancing with "tap dancer" props. Funny, considering that they probably wouldn't bat an eye if I came out with a sword balanced on my hip, a tray on my head, a pair of wings, and maybe some quad veils ..l;,

This is why I prefer to save cane or folkloric for Arabic or mixed crowds!

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

So funny and so true! The few times I've brought raqs assaya into casual conversation, my civilian friends ask what I'm doing dancing with "tap dancer" props. Funny, considering that they probably wouldn't bat an eye if I came out with a sword balanced on my hip, a tray on my head, a pair of wings, and maybe some quad veils ..l;,

This is why I prefer to save cane or folkloric for Arabic or mixed crowds!

Tell me about it! I did an improv. cane solo at the Boulder City Ren Faire two weekends ago, and did I get some funny looks!

Well...I also got the look that said "I thought she was a bellydancer...why is her belly covered?" (VERY ren.faire appropriate costuming...lol)


Another suggestion I would have is if you have a dress. For example, I have a LOVELY Madame Abla dress that is by NO means a "Saidi" dress...but I also bought a purple sparkly sequined cane to match it... presto! lol



Although, as a side note, Astryd Farrah de Michelle perfomed cane in bedlah, so... :)

Originally Posted by anala

ok..ok..no .. I get it already....but Dahlal says they make great cover ups so there!!! I once had a Galebeya I had shipped from Kuwait. It was a poly crepe in sage green. It had a velcro closure at the collar bone area and the closure line was slightly to the left of center...like me...and it was elegant and very easy to get in and out of.

If you google Islamic clothing shops, you can find plenty of garments with that kind of closure in all kinds of fabrics and patterns. The cover up I use is a Saudi women's abaya or coat, meant to be thrown on over all her other long clothing, so it has two velcro closures, one at the inside of one shoulder and the other on the outside of the other shoulder so that you have overlap in the front. Very comfy, roomy enough for the most decorated costume and very easy to shrug out of in a relatively dignified manner. And it won't muss your hair as you take it off

Originally Posted by yasmindiab

Tell me about it! I did an improv. cane solo at the Boulder City Ren Faire two weekends ago, and did I get some funny looks!

LMAO. Of all places, you'd think a Ren Faire would be the least likely venue to encounter that kind of treatment. That statement would be especially ironic coming from somebody in knight attire, or maybe an anime gamer type in wizard garb, with one of those animal tails attached to his butt ..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

I think that will be the opening scene when I write my novel about the darkly funny side of the bellydance world!

Lisa

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I think that will be the opening scene when I write my novel about the darkly funny side of the bellydance world!

Lisa

I would definitely want to read that book!

hey, kiyaana, where do you perform? (i'm in fxburg, too ;^D )
i like your troupe dresses a lot, btw.