Mini skirt costumes

[ChristinaRizkallah]

I really like the mini skirt costumes as they are easier to move and dance in, especially when doing jumps and kicks. I have some that Pharaonics costume designed and made for me; as well as Eman Zaki and Sahar. I plan on adding more to my collection. They seem to have been consistently popular in Egypt since the early 90's.

I'd be curious to know how fellow bhuzers feel about mini skirt costumes and whether or not you would even wear them?

[resullivan]

Though they would probably make me look a lot taller, I don't like the mini's as much as a long flowing skirts. Why can I never like what is best for me? It's just like brussel sprouts.

[SummerSahar]

To be honest, I can't stand them. I've never seen any miniskirt costume that flatters the legs of the dancer; they always look like they have shorter, pudgier legs in minis. Plus, I use my legs a lot as a foundation for torso work, and I like that a full skirt hides the mystery of what is powering my moves and steps.

[rakgirl]

I don't like them either. the leg movements are distracting and just not pretty. i don't even like too much of a split in a long skirt.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Thanks for your comments. Keep them coming.

I think if you are tall or have long or thin legs, minis look good. I know that Dina is neither tall nor are her legs particularly thin, but I thought she looked good in minis.

[tigerb]

I think miniskirt costumes give away too many secrets! When you shimmy, the audience should be thinking "how does she DO that?" not "wow, look at her knees go!"

But that's just me.

[elljay]

I wouldn't wear one, because I can't get away with it. They look horrible on me.

But I've seen them on other dancers and I really, for the most part, love them. When I was in Cairo two years ago, all the dancers wore them. I only saw one long skirt! And they looked fabulous.

A key difference that I noticed is that the dancers really didn't use their knees that much, insofar as actually being distracting. Thats part of what is so cool about the mini-costumes. All the shimmy is there and you STILL can't really figure out how they do it!

[elljay]

BTW - Christina, I think you would look FAB in a mini costume. Dare to post a pic? :)

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Dear Elljay:
Thanks for your compliment! Of all my minis-I only wore one and I only wore it once and the person who took pics in the audience never gave me any! I haven't worn it since then! Next time I wear it, I will make sure that I get my pics from the audience and post it!

Originally Posted by elljay

BTW - Christina, I think you would look FAB in a mini costume. Dare to post a pic? :)

[norma]

I personally wore a miniskirt in the 90's. I wore long fringe with it and had sequined leg gauntlets made to go with it. There are plenty of hip shimmies that don't require a lot of movement in the knees. I liked the costume as "something different" but of course there are somethings, like floorwork that was offlimits when I wore it. I still prefer the traditional circle skirts, or sarong style.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Yes, you are right, if you want to do floor work, you would not be able to do it in a mini costume.
Also, I was talking to Leila about this and she said that one drawback about minis is that they don't always re-sell as well as traditional costumes because not everyone would want to wear them like the long spandex and chiffon skirts. She mentioned when she sold all her costumes, it was harder to sell the minis versus the regular lenght skirts. Hopefully, I won't have to sell mine!!

[Kimahri]

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

Thanks for your comments. Keep them coming.

I think if you are tall or have long or thin legs, minis look good. I know that Dina is neither tall nor are her legs particularly thin, but I thought she looked good in minis.

I'm another one that doesn't care for them--I would wear a costume with pants before a mini! Even on the tall and long-legged they don't look as good moving as they do when standing still. Anything that doesn't accentuate the dance movement (or worse detracts from it) is a costume style I'll pass on.

~~Kimahri

[Emma]

If I had the legs for them I probably would wear a mini, but my legs are best kept under wraps.

[mekyria]

I didn't like mini's before going to Caïro. Seeing some of the great dancers changed my opinion: they all looked adorable! (though not classy, with cut-outs were cut outs should not be and push-up bra's that must have felt like a very long mammography). I wonder how the GP will react to a dancer in miniskirt. Considering that it takes some getting used to, I wouldn't wear it for a one time gig.

It also shows every move that your knees make. A dancestyle with a lot of muscular torso moves would look better then the egyptian knee driven shimmy.

[koneko]

I really don't like minis, they take away that mystery of watching a dancer glide and move. I think many people when they see a bellydancer wonder how she (he) does it, but with the knees constantly visible it's like knowing how the magicians do tricks. That being siad I think an arabic audience would be more likely to enjoy minis as costuming because many of them are familiar with how the movements are exucuted.

[catwomyn]

I don't care for minis personally. Too much exposure for the knee and leg stuff that supports the mysterious floating hips.

[vilia]

I agree with most that the focus of the dance needs to be on the hips and torso and that the visible legs detract from that. One of the things I like about the costuming is that I can hide mine ('cos they're not my best feature), but I know Arabic men like to see legs and that's probably why they're popular over there.

[kina]

I love mini's, in RL. wouldn't want to wear them in a costume, because of the aformentioned mystery or lack therof with them.

I just can't get over the fear of having my girly bits exposed!

i will wear pants, with panels to disguise movement. Love them

[talula]

I have a mini skirt costume and I love it. But I love to show a lot of leg. I've always said that I have nice legs for a chubby girl

http://tribes.tribe.net/vancouverbel...a-fd649841ba54

I think though its not just about what your legs look like but also your attitude when you wear it... not everyone can get away with wearing one. But I think if you can, go for it! Although the skirt does change your dancing a lot too...how you step, how you shimmy, how you pose, everything. And I have found you can't wear it at every venue. I could never concider wearing my mini cossie at a restaurant... the patrons just wouldn't get it.

[shimarella]

I'm getting a sassy mini-skirt costume made. I probably won't wear it for gigs where the stereotypical look is required, but I plan to rock it at theatre conferences/camps and other unconventional arenas where the expectation is that I dance like myself and not a "proper bellydancer". The best part would that I can tear it up in tights and thigh-high boots with this costume in the winter! Anyway, as soon as I have pix I will post them!

As far as the mystery of bellydance being revealed by flashing leg, I guess it depends. I really use my obliques and upper thighs to power my hipwork so that I can do fancy footwork, spins and poses with my legs. I don't feel like I'm giving anything away by making my legwork visible.

So Christina, post some pictures of your mini-skirtyness! I'd love to see what my options are!

[jessedan]

I wear minis in regular clothes, but I don't like mini skirt dance costumes for all the reasons mentioned above. Just yesterday I was watching a video of Randa onstage in a mini skirt, and there was a panoramic view of her black panties as she lifted one leg up up and pointed it towards the audience several times during the performance. Also, I think mini skirts don't look at all nice with bare feet.

Regards
Priscilla

[Gia al Qamar]

I am all for the 'less is more' tradition...
What's sexy is what can't be seen...not what is on display...

Gia