Thread: Costuming for pop music

The 'what to wear for shaabi' thread reminded me that I've been wanting to post about this for a while.

It's common, normal & acceptable to dance to pop music, like Amr Diab or Haifa Wehbe, in full costume.

But... it's starting to look weird to me!

I listen to a LOT of Middle Eastern/Arab music, of all genres. My ipod is about 90% non-Western music. I think of those songs as pop songs, the same way I might think of (given my era) John Cougar or Bob Seger. Danceable, fun, love them.

But.. dancing to them in rhinestone encrusted evening clothes, with flowing skirts? Suddenly feels very off-kilter to me. Our costumes seem better suited to more formal music, like Om Kalthoum classics or orchestral arrangements.

I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen an Egyptian, Lebanese or Turkish native dancer performing to pop (other than Dina's appearances with Saad, and I think she was always in street clothes and often playing a movie character.)

Streetwear makes some kind of sense, but then we still want to look like 'bellydancers' don't we?

Anyone have thoughts on this? I'm not even sure where I'm going, or what kind of costuming would feel more appropriate.

Are you talking about dancing for other dancers at a hafla/showcase scenario or dancing to pop music during a set?

I think it depends on your audience and your venue. If you're dancing for the American general public, you might get a couple of odd looks if you showed up in a cocktail dress. For a hafla or a festival, I actually kinda like the idea of dancing to pop in streetwear or clubwear. Orit looks so cute dancing to Haifa in her minidress!

Then again, even some other dancers might stare at you askance if you didn't wear a costume ,r:; I really think it's case-specific...

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen an Egyptian, Lebanese or Turkish native dancer performing to pop (other than Dina's appearances with Saad, and I think she was always in street clothes and often playing a movie character.)

Here is Fifi dancing to a cover of Amr Diab's "Wala ala baloh." She's not wearing a traditional costume, but I'm not sure how much can be inferred from that. She does two other numbers on what appears to be the same show--a Saidi piece in a galabeya, and an orientale piece where she strips off a long overdress to reveal a mini that looks more like something Tina Turner would wear than a belly dance costume. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsR4Ol4z0Ng]YouTube - Bellydance- Fifi Abdu Lebanon[/ame]

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

Are you talking about dancing for other dancers at a hafla/showcase scenario or dancing to pop music during a set?

The first. I never get to change costumes durng a set!

Interesting responses so far, thank you.

I might do a Indian style Kurta (see through) with a shiny bra under it, hip scarf and Melos or other fancy pants. Gives a nod towards both street wear and Belly dance.

{{{HUGS}}}

To poppy music, I usually do my less intricate costumes like my endless wave harem pants with a simple sequined/fringed bra and belt. The wavy harem pants seem to work well with pop songs... though I really mostly cater my costume to the event type.

I wouldn't have a problem wearing one of my nice costumes for a pop song. It would really depend on the venue. Simple and less intricate for the big, casual outdoor events... intricate and stunning for indoor, fancy events where I'm close to the audience.

I like slinky lycra twopieces for pop, especially ones that have a fresh, light, even tongue-in-cheek quality,
like this sort of thing: Belly Dance Costumes | Belly Dance Store.com: your account

What I don't like for pop is a lot of foofy romantic chiffon, tons of accessories or any kind of really full skirt.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

I like slinky lycra twopieces for pop, especially ones that have a fresh, light, even tongue-in-cheek quality,
like this sort of thing: Belly Dance Costumes | Belly Dance Store.com: your account

What I don't like for pop is a lot of foofy romantic chiffon, tons of accessories or any kind of really full skirt.

Yeah I agree... something lycra and wild/bright colors and patterns.

Agreeing with a lot of the above. If you are doing one piece at a hafla/showcase then you want to dress to suit the song. So I agree for pop music a stage-worthy street dress look (i.e. a cute dress) would work or a modern lycra costume. But yea, stay away from chiffon! If you are performing at a particular event, regardless of the music in your set, dress for the event. I have pop music in all of my wedding sets, and I always wear my finest costumes, including chiffon! I may choose a set with a certain style and dress accordingly. If I were doing, say, a CD set at a dance club type place and I were using a lot of pop music and maybe Shakira, I'd want to wear a very sexy flashy lycra costume. Poor chiffon...

Originally Posted by nadira82

Poor chiffon...

Aw, c'mon...chiffon gets ALL the action for bellygrams and American parties. My Lycra costumes probably say "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" when it's time to get dressed for Uncle Joe's retirement party. So...nahhhh....I don't really feel that sorry for it. ,r:;,r:;,r:;..l;,

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Aw, c'mon...chiffon gets ALL the action for bellygrams and American parties. My Lycra costumes probably say "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" when it's time to get dressed for Uncle Joe's retirement party. So...nahhhh....I don't really feel that sorry for it. ,r:;,r:;,r:;..l;,

Hahaha - that's a good one!

I always use a pop song in my restaurant sets as it is the time when i get people up to dance with me. I am always wearing whatever costume I chose for the rest of my set. Sometimes it is a fitted lycra style and sometimes full chiffon. The gp doesn't put the costume together with the fact that the music is a pop song. I doubt most of them even realize it is pop. The music all sounds foreign to them. For a dancer showcase/ halfa, if doing a pop number only, I would probably wear something sassy like a mini, or street clothes.