Thread: The Bellydancer's Dream Bag Survey

For all of you creative dancers, you need something hold your creations...

Hello fellow dancers, my name is Na'Ilah and I need your help. My current mission in life to provide a bag to carry all of our precious possessions we use to help us express ourselves through this magnificent art we call bellydance. I want a product that not only helps up to stay organized but protects our investments we have made in ourselves over time. It will have all sorts of nooks and crannies and pockets that we can fill to our hearts content. But, unlike other dance bags, this bag will also convey the style, power and grace we embody through our dance. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey by clicking the link below. Your input will help me with the overall design of this product.

Thank you very much for you time!

The Bellydancer's Dream Bag

sent you my dream specs via your survey monkey

Sent mine too.

I've been looking everywhere for a decent practice bag lately. I have my bhuz satchel but that's too small :-(

Done

Done.

Actually, you could ask a 3rd section:
What do you pack when you go to teach?

But nowadays I have perfected the art of minimalism so much that when I teach locally, I already wear my training gear and take my notes and iPod in the handbag ..l;,

But a bag for teaching abroad is appreciated. One that holds half a kilo of Swiss chocolate to distribute to the students ..g.:

MEISSOUN

Just sent in my survey.

just send in mine too.

me too!!

This is a topic very close to my heart.
I've made specialized practice bags for most of the ladies in my troupe.
We've made sure there are specially sized pockets to hold up to 4 rolled veils, a water bottle, and cd's. Plus zippered pockets and lots of extra room for the other "stuff". Mine even has adjustable straps on the outside to attach my sword for easier carrying.

For performances - we all use the small roller suitcases like airline hostesses. Looks real cute walking in.

Good luck on your project!
Caasi

Sent mine!

D'ya think you can design a bag for teaching that magically fits all the contents (class book, "loaner" zills, your own zills and hip scarf, other class materials, dance shoes, CD case, CD player when necessary) and makes it all weigh less than 3 lbs, rest on your body in a back-healthy way, and still look really, really hot?



I suppose you're still ruled by the laws of physics, huh? Well, I'll complete your survey anyway. Thanks for asking for our feedback. Hope we're able to help.

Filled out your survey! :)

Originally Posted by meissoun

But a bag for teaching abroad is appreciated. One that holds half a kilo of Swiss chocolate to distribute to the students ..g.:

MEISSOUN

And when are you coming to central/northern California? ..l;,

All of you are awesome. I just posted this last night and I am already getting ALOT of feedback. I have gotten so tired of blase totebag look. Plus as many of you have mentioned, nothing stays in its place. And the small luggage is doable but we need "luggage" that truly suits us. Your comments have been VERY insightful, especially from the teachers. I had not even considered your special needs which is funny because my teacher has the same issues. Now she just carries a basket with a handle and throws everything in there!!

I am going to leave this open for two weeks. Then I will take all of your input to the drawing board when I create the prototype! Please let other dancers know about this.

Thank you again for your time.

**Zafirah, I do not know about the 3 lbs, but it will be hot!!

done!

sent mine in!

I use a small rolling luggage bag too. If you were to make a performance bag, it would be really awesome to include a lock. I didn't include that in my survey, but I like to keep my costumes, etc. locked up when I'm not around - just in case.

I did the survey, but I'll also make a comment here, separate from the survey.

As a professional dancer/teacher/troupe director, I find I need, at minimum, 3 different bags (if I were to be perfectly honest I'm working with about 5 right now--not counting the ones that are basically just storage or that only come out when we have a troupe show or whatever.) But, if I consolidate, the basic weekly three are:
1. Teaching & Rehearsal Bag (mid-to large-bag--carries my own personal stuff plus materials needed to lead class or rehearsal.) Functionality is most important, but looking good/dancerish is great too.

2. Personal class/practice/workshop attendance bag (More personal--can be smaller, either needs to fit within other luggage or else be large enough to hold my actual purse plus some other stuff and then count as a "purse" type bag when I get on an airplane.) Should look good/cute, but I actually don't want it to scream belly dancer kitsch because, well, I take it on airplanes and may not want to have to explain myself to the fat sweaty guy next to me.

3. Performance Bag--must be heavy-duty, roll on wheel, and have lots of space yet fit within airline carry-on regulations. My favorite one has bi-directional wheels. This baby's all about functionality. I mean, if it looks cute too, that's nice, but if one bag has all the durability and features and ease-of-use and it looks hideous and another is a little less durable/useful but just looks soooooo pretty...screw pretty, I'll take the bag that works!Chances are, though, unless you're really a luggage manufacturer, you probably don't even want to try to get into building bags for this market. Some dancers don't perform as often/travel around much or only need to carry one or two costumes at a time, and won't be as hard on their performance luggage.

Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Sent mine in

Originally Posted by zorba

And when are you coming to central/northern California? ..l;,

I've been there - but will come back when invited. I will bring as many kilos of chocolate as they let me ..g.:

MEISSOUN

Sent mine.

Done! I actually have a pretty great bag from Joy Mangano that I use for practice. It has the compartments and functionality I need but it is technically a weekender and a bit heavy even before I start loading it up (add a coin scart and it's really weighty!) I'd love it to be more lightweight and have a loop or two on the straps to accomodate my sword & cane. If you wanna check it out do a seach on HSN for Joy Mangano Clothes-It-All and check out the small carry-on in that system.
Blessings,
Rach

Done!

Can't wait to see what comes from this! I feel like I need a wheelbarrow to cart my performance gear around.
I forgot to add this to my survey, but a water-tight compartment would be great:
1. Lotions that I keep in the outer pocket of my suitcase open up and leak through the lining into the main compartment where my costumes are!!!!
2. I have also had this happen with candles that melted in my trunk on a hot day and went through the lining onto my veil!

Sort of on the melting track, it would be nice to have a place to stash an ice pack to keep makeup from melting on a hot day. I work full time and don't have time to run home to get my gig bag so I just keep it in my trunk all day, but when it gets hot in the summer, bad things happen:(

good luck!

I also did this. :)

Done:-) great idea

good luck with this project!

Done! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

all done!!