Warning-heated debate: Have costumes become too risque?

[zumarrad]

Now that I think of it, I think attitude has a lot to do with it too. I admit I've never seen Dina live, but what I *have* seen of Dina and many Egyptian dancers is that while they are undeniably sexy, they're not being pornographic about it. I know, I know, some people think Dina does an "orgasm" face but she doesn't do a BLOWJOB face, which IMO is much worse. I always get the sense that when a dancer is going "yes I'm sexy, now watch this" instead of "look! I'm so sexy, I'm an erotically charged woman", then she can get away with a hell of a lot, costumewise. Wearing very little has nothing to do with being sexy or sensual. You can be slutty in a boiler suit.

[vilia]

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

I don't care for that costume that Suhaila is wearing. Frankly she is not thin enough to show that much flesh. Sorry, but if you are going to wear a costume that revealing and skimpy you will need to have the figure for it. I guess that opens up a question of what qualifies having the right figure for such a costume, well, definitely not Suhaila's body. She needs to loose some weight to be able to get away with such a costume. Her body is fine, just not for that costume.

I haven't seen Suhaila in person in recent years and I've heard she's put on some weight so I'm just going by the photo posted, but I find your assessment of her body a little troubling and indicative of the attitude these days that we have to be stick thin to be attractive. In that photo she looks muscular, to me. She's always had a muscular looking body ... not fat, but sturdy. I see no fat in that photo. Don't like the costume 'cos it looks S&M inspired, to me, but that's beside the point. I do see that it's possible that she could be wearing a custom, string sides bikini type panty underneath, too.

[asimatiyat]

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Big stars can get away with some pretty outrageous stuff, in all entertainment fields.

But the local piano bar songstress probably should be a little more conservative than Cher, or Madonna, or (well, obviously I'm out of date, but you get the idea).

Same with the local restaurant dancer vs. Dina. Big stars are expected to wear outrageous stuff.

That's exactly what I was going to say. I love Dina and wouldn't want her to change a thing, but I'll stick with my L Rose skirts thank you very much. :D I'm not offended by skimpy costumes on other people, but I'd love to see more modest options for those of us who would rather not have it all hanging out.

[Nepenthe]

Originally Posted by nimah

Raks Beaver! *snort!* That's hilarious.

I can't take credit - I learned this phrase on bhuz!

[tamrahennatx]

I don't mind risque cotuming, I love Jillina's red "bondage costume" with the nude bra with the red strips across it, for instance, and her black spiderweb dress. However, I'm not a big fan of the current trend in Egypt towards overstuffing a postage-stamp sized bra till it looks like it's hanging on by the nipples. It's like the ladies are advertising produce.

While it may work over there, my boss (who is Syrian/Lebanese) would have a heart attack if any of his dancers appeared onstage like that.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I don't mind risque cotuming, I love Jillina's red "bondage costume" with the nude bra with the red strips across it, for instance, and her black spiderweb dress. However, I'm not a big fan of the current trend in Egypt towards overstuffing a postage-stamp sized bra till it looks like it's hanging on by the nipples. It's like the ladies are advertising produce.

While it may work over there, my boss (who is Syrian/Lebanese) would have a heart attack if any of his dancers appeared onstage like that.

I agree here. The restaurants I'm at, wouldn't go over either.....

Also, I find troubling the attitude towards Suhaila's body. I think she looks fabulous (disclosure - i 'm a fan) however, I MUCH rather see a woman's full body than a stick thin body with two giant melon's on top.......

I dislike suhaila's costume that we are discussing because I just think it's ugly.....not because she's half nekkid.

[danidance]

If you are going to wear the popular Egyptian cut bra - make sure you glue yourself into those cups so you remain as properly clad as you think you might be!

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I don't mind risque cotuming, I love Jillina's red "bondage costume" with the nude bra with the red strips across it, for instance, and her black spiderweb dress. However, I'm not a big fan of the current trend in Egypt towards overstuffing a postage-stamp sized bra till it looks like it's hanging on by the nipples. It's like the ladies are advertising produce.

While it may work over there, my boss (who is Syrian/Lebanese) would have a heart attack if any of his dancers appeared onstage like that.

[angelina]

Originally Posted by nimah

Raks Beaver! *snort!* That's hilarious.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

[shimarella]

I agree with the posters ( Nimah, particularly) that if the dancer has the body, the confidence and the style to pull it off ( or keep it on, as the case may be), I love seeing daring costumes that push the envelope. Unless it's truly hideous, I think of it as haute couture in motion. Ballet and contemporary dancers wear far less ( to say nothing of Pro-Am ballroom dancers) many times. Flesh-mesh and matching underoos are everyone's friend.

Now whether the dancer is wearing something that suits her body AND the venue/event is something else...

[zumarrad]

I've heard she's put on some weight so I'm just going by the photo posted

I believe that *is* "Fat Suhaila". People who've seen her in person recently may be able to confirm or deny.

I wish I was that fat and out of shape, for serious...

[rmcguire]

Um, she's surprisingly more chunky in person. Completely hot, but I think she would look much better in another costume...

[danidance]

no shi*t. I'd like to look that bad too.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

I believe that *is* "Fat Suhaila". People who've seen her in person recently may be able to confirm or deny.

I wish I was that fat and out of shape, for serious...

[Slave]

Originally Posted by danidance

no shi*t. I'd like to look that bad too.

WORD.


i'm apparently too out of shape to even be in a regular, standard Turkish bra and belt set - i go up and down five or 6 lbs once in a while, and of course it's in the boobies, ALWAYS THE BOOBIES
and as you could see from the one pic i figured out how to load, they're already terrifying in turkish bedlah.
but that's what everyone around here wears, and it's definitely what everyone around here sells!

I'm a dork for Dancing With The Stars and hell yeah, there are a lot of dresses on there that they get away with that cover up less than even a turkish bedlah set with a slit skirt.
and they do tricks that have their legs up over their head or Cliff from Cheers' head (that made my day ) - and everyone takes for granted that they're wearing professional dancer underwear.

unfortunately for us, people don't already make the assumption that we are wearing underwear, let alone legitimate dancer underwear.

so for now, we just get to ... keep on educatin'...

[amulya]

Originally Posted by amity

Just out of curiosity, I wanted to see other's opinion about costuming. What do you think about all of these cut-outs, chiffon and see-through skirts, and other "trends" in belly dancing?

Originally Posted by dunyah

When you can't wear underwear with a costume, that's way too scarey to think about, for me.

I have a bit of a problem with all those cut-outs, especially when they are on spots like hips and bum. I have seen costumes that have a cut-out completely from top to bottom and you just know a dancer can't wear underwear underneath such a costume, I think that goes a bit too far.
At the same time I don't like the look of it either, I think I prefer more classical designs.

[Surida]

Originally Posted by amulya

I have a bit of a problem with all those cut-outs, especially when they are on spots like hips and bum. I have seen costumes that have a cut-out completely from top to bottom and you just know a dancer can't wear underwear underneath such a costume, I think that goes a bit too far.
At the same time I don't like the look of it either, I think I prefer more classical designs.

I recently bought a gorgeous leopard dress on bhuz with a mesh cutout that goes from upper belly down to thigh, about 6 inches wide at underwear line. I didn't realize it from the pics when I bought it. I struggled and struggled and then I custom made myself a pair of undies where for that one side I attached those clear plastic straps that come on many bras today. It works - I can wear undies but you can't really see them very well. What pulls this look off is that I have a very regal look/attitude when I dance. I will admit though that I would have preferred the cutout to be a little more modest.

[artemisia_danst]

nope, i agree! and with a professional big star dancer, i'm also not watching fearing she'll flash me, as i'm convidence everything is secured...

even if it dont like the particular costume, i like to be "ooe" "aah". i love most of jillina's excentric costumes, and i also like that one on suhaila. even like some of dina's wacko stuff (the one with the hands on the bra!), actually wished i had venues where i could wear more excentric stuff, but since 80% of my dancing jobs are private parties with no stage area...

artemisia

Originally Posted by nimah

I realize I'm probably in the minority, but personally, I love to see dancers push the envelope. As long as they're body-conscious about it and choose things that are flattering to their shape, I definitely don't mind seeing a lot of skin, cleavage, cutouts...whatever. Wear what makes you feel good, I say! Having studied a decent amount of anatomy in school, I'm fascinated by the magnificence of the human body, so getting to see a dancer's form and her muscles as she dances is really cool to me.

When I saw Dina perform last summer, each of her costumes had at least one jaw-dropping element to it (particularly memorable was the bra made largely from a totally see-through plastic/vinyl kinda material), and I thought it added to the visual appeal of her performance.

[artemisia_danst]

i'm pretty sure it's bella, i saw something similar (high end and expensive) in the shop a while back.

Originally Posted by sha-ri

No, I would just say regarding the way it is constructed: turkish
and the fact it is pretty high end: Bella or SIM

[artemisia_danst]

i actually do (tape myself in my eman and pharaonics costume) and both where bought at the atelier so it's not like i got a size to small...

Originally Posted by danidance

If you are going to wear the popular Egyptian cut bra - make sure you glue yourself into those cups so you remain as properly clad as you think you might be!

[artemisia_danst]

we want pictures!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Surida

I recently bought a gorgeous leopard dress on bhuz with a mesh cutout that goes from upper belly down to thigh, about 6 inches wide at underwear line. I didn't realize it from the pics when I bought it. I struggled and struggled and then I custom made myself a pair of undies where for that one side I attached those clear plastic straps that come on many bras today. It works - I can wear undies but you can't really see them very well. What pulls this look off is that I have a very regal look/attitude when I dance. I will admit though that I would have preferred the cutout to be a little more modest.