Thread: Zorba's latest costume...

For those who wanted a picture, here is my latest costume, shown at Carnival of Stars last Saturday (08/04/12):



The vest and belt set were purchased 95% completed from another male dancer - Hassan Yousef Deeb. The skirt was about 75% done, given to me by another dancer. I added the flounce at the bottom, and a casing at the top. The "floating sleeves" were made by yours truly.

It was just SO COOL that, despite coming from disparate sources, the vest/belt and skirt went together so well!

I particularly like the vest and belt. They suit you.

Originally Posted by shems

I particularly like the vest and belt. They suit you.

They work well. They weren't really the style of the dance brother I bought them from - but they are mine!

Originally Posted by shems

I particularly like the vest and belt. They suit you.

I have to say I agree! Love the vest and belt and everything went together so well! On a side note, Hassan Yousef Deeb is a awesome entertainer!

Kewl!!

Originally Posted by ra-chell

Hassan Yousef Deeb is a awesome entertainer!

Yes he is. He isn't my style at all - but I've told him for years that he needs to bottle his stage presence and sell it!

He gave me "the key" to what I was "doing wrong" so I too can (eventually, hopefully) have stage presence like him.

Well Zorba, if he ever finds a way to bottle that stage presence, let me know! I went to Rakasah (sp?) years ago and the only performance I remember is his!

Big difference between stage presence and style of course! As for style, we each have our own and it evolves over time which is a very good thing! I recently was reminded of that when I had a private with one of my early BD teachers to iron out a few rough spots in a choreography I'm working on. I realized how much I have changed and how much my style has evolved! I value her opinion and feed back but it was one of those 'aha!' moments for me! I think she was surprised and pleased at how far I have come as well!

Originally Posted by zorba

Yes he is. He isn't my style at all - but I've told him for years that he needs to bottle his stage presence and sell it!

He gave me "the key" to what I was "doing wrong" so I too can (eventually, hopefully) have stage presence like him.

Originally Posted by ra-chell

Well Zorba, if he ever finds a way to bottle that stage presence, let me know!

HEY! The line forms to the rear!

Carnival of Stars was the debut for this costume. Its also on the books for a couple of booked performances in the near future. Why?

It does all go together well, I really like the sleeves.Now I want some sleeves too.

Originally Posted by zorba

Carnival of Stars was the debut for this costume. Its also on the books for a couple of booked performances in the near future. Why?

'Cause we want performance pics!

Originally Posted by Kalirah

'Cause we want performance pics!

2012

Center 2 pix in the top row.

Why the Shemadan wasn't "lit" is another story!

Originally Posted by zorba

2012

Center 2 pix in the top row.

Why the Shemadan wasn't "lit" is another story!

Hey, I like those "tribal"costumes in the next photos. Love the assuit.

Yea, that's the Folkloric troupe I'm in! The costumes are cool - they're "old" assuit.

I have a makeup logistics question for you - Does your beard make it more challenging to apply the base? Do you feel it makes it harder to blend down the neck?

Like the costume but I am questioning how matchy-matchy you've made your eye make-up and nails. I'm not a fan of getting too "same shade" as costume accents.

Have you thought about a dusky/smoky eye? I think that would showcase your eyes more. I feel like the blue is saying "Hi! there's blue in my costume!" instead of "Look at my expressive eyes!"

I hope that was tactful.

Originally Posted by ozma

Like the costume but I am questioning how matchy-matchy you've made your eye make-up and nails. I'm not a fan of getting too "same shade" as costume accents.

Have you thought about a dusky/smoky eye? I think that would showcase your eyes more. I feel like the blue is saying "Hi! there's blue in my costume!" instead of "Look at my expressive eyes!"

I hope that was tactful.

Totally! Honestly, I'm still figuring this whole makeup thing out. The referenced "look" was probably my best to date, but I'm still learning, experimenting, failing, and the occasional (at least halfway) success. I've been occasionally playing with the video tutorials from "Makeup Geek" (and others) - you'd get a good laugh out of some of the messes I've created on my face trying to blunder through them!

I do know that certain looks only work with certain eyes, blah, blah - I have a "makeup enabled" dance sister who (tries to) guide me towards what works, and yaps at me about what I did wrong!

I'm also, coincidentally, off to the MAC counter today to pick up some stuff, including that liquid gold eyeliner everyone's been raving about. I'm going to try a tutorial someone here pointed at - my dance sister says its a look that would work for me. We'll see what a mess I make out of it...

Originally Posted by yaalini

I have a makeup logistics question for you - Does your beard make it more challenging to apply the base? Do you feel it makes it harder to blend down the neck?

Basically, I don't. I feather out just above the beardline. Don't ask me if that's the "correct" thing to do or not - just what I've been doing! Like I told Ozma - I'm blundering my way through this makeup thing...

Oooo, I just remembered something that you might like too since you seem to have a milky complexion like me:

I always had trouble with foundation because it was too orange or too pink. I just learned this year that even though I am milk white, I can use an *olive* tone (apparently because of my French heritage, so said the makeup lady - she said people with certain types of European backgrounds can have better luck with olive even if they are lily white). NO MORE OOMPA LOOMPA or GHOST FACE!

Something to consider (you aren't oompa loompy but there is a definite contrast). As a guy with a beard you may not need as much foundation (maybe?) but you would definitely need eyes and lips.

I think you may want a lighter face because of the contrast with your torso and upper arms
(or you can give them some color - but your face takes up less space )

If I was wearing your pretty outfit...Hmmm, I'd probably want some of that poppin' blue too, maybe as eyeliner instead of the whole lid? Or hair stuff?

Yea - that is EXACTLY the problem I was having with foundation - too orange. My wife and I got a new MK lady who appears to be VERY sharp. She identified the problem right away, new foundation and powder are on order. I "think/hope" it will be a lot better - at least our trial application was - giving me a lighter skintone on my face. YAY!! Good eye, Yaalini!

As for the blue eyeliner - it *does* look much better on the stage - at least "if I say so myself"! No stuff in the hair for THIS performance as a Shemadan was employed. Otherwise, I'd either wear a hairflower or one of my EyeScream head pieces - essentially a "Tikka on Steroids".

I also JUST got back from the MAC counter - this liquid gold eyeliner everyone's been talking about is even better in person. Very bright, and it sparkles!

It should work well with a smokey eye look as suggested by Ozma. Now I get to create some disasters learning how to use it! I don't think I've ever been this excited by makeup before!

Go to the male section of my links page (scroll down):

Useful links

There you will find a link to EVERY male Belly Dancer on the planet who both has a website and I know about it (additions welcome!). Take a look at them all, you'll find many different styles of costumes!