Bellydance Costumes

A professional bellydancer’s costumes are one of the tools of her trade….


Simple and Accessible costume items:
A simple hip scarf or coin belt will do, it accentuates your hip movements and adds an audible element to your shimmy.
If you only buy one thing… buy a hip scarf or coin belt.
You can wear simple workout wear like I wore earlier and dress it up with a hip scarf or coin belt.

More Elaborate Costumes:
For those of you who have a fascination with the more elaborate costumes, here’s a head to toe look at what you should look for in making or buying a costume. There are many styles of bellydance and the costume should reflect your style.
Should be Beautiful as well as functional.

Bra
Usually extremely ornate and reinforced to support the weight of the decorative beads and coins. If you are making a costume – begin with a strong, supportive bra, the design of the bra should match your belt.

Belt
Fits snuggly around the hips, leaving the belly free to perform figure eights, shimmies. The belt can weigh up to 8lbs. The beads, in addition to being decorative, swing and glisten with the dancer and make subtle steps visible from a distance. Egyptian style has long beaded fringe – while ATS have coins – which originally derived from the dancer sewing the coin onto her costume to show her wealth.

Skirt
For cabaret style bellydance, the dancer wears one or more circle skirts, made of 6-10 yards of fabric that create a circle when the dancer spins. There are many other skirt designs that complement the style of dance performed. For instance Egyptian dancers often wear the mermaid skirt which is form-fitting from the hips to the knee, then flares out – which highlight the feet – which is performed on the feet.

Accessories
Belly Jewel
Eye Jewels
Flower for Hair
Arm Bands

My costumes
All have names
Barbarella Warrior Goddess
Champagne Toast
From Russia with Love
Sea Shells

Sometimes I Make my own – and sometimes I have a Seamstress make them.

Its time to go make yours and send me pics of yours - I love costumes!!

How to Create a Bellydance Performance

Once you tell people that you are learning to bellydance, chances are they will ask you to perform at their next party. I recommend accepting the offer just to have a unique experience – even if it is just once. Chances are you will enjoy it as will the guests and you will perform again.

Planning:
o Aim to dance for 3-5 minutes
o Choose Music with steady beat and is inspiring: Something upbeat that will get the audience exited right away.
o Find out how much space you have
o Choose a costume that makes you feel beautiful and doesn’t restrict your movements. Make sure the costume is pinned so you don’t have any unwanted surprises.

Create an atmosphere:
o Flowers or candles
o Make room: Clear your space at the party.

Devising your own routine:
o Where to begin?
o Making an entrance with a traveling step or if surrounded by an audience move in a circle
o Basic moves…Don’t need a vast repertoire of different moves to create a good performance. It is much better to perform fewer moves wel and with great energy and confidence than to get over complicated

Performing:
o Eye contact: This is how you keep your power.
o Confidence
o If nerves set in…have a backup move in case anything interrupts your choreography.

o The thing everyone notices when you are performing is not how many snake hips you do, but just how you do them. The audience will notice your spirit, enjoying the dance, your confidence.

o Do a dress rehearsal…

o At the end of your performance hold your pause and enjoy.

o It’s all about attitude! Don’t worry about what people are thinking… your delight in performing will be reflected in the faces of your audience.

GoddessLife Retreat in Hawaii

Imagine spending an unforgettable week in paradise swimming with wild dolphins, feasting on delicious food, dancing under the moon and rejuvenating in a sacred waterfall. In this retreat, Dolphina will share with you her special connection with the dolphins and her secrets to living your own Goddess Life

WHO COMES
Women of all ages (must be 18 years or older), sizes and walks of life who desire an unforgettable experience. This retreat is appropriate for dancers of all levels, from absolute beginners to those who want to become licensed to teach the Goddess Workout. At the end of the Teacher Training, dancers have the option to purchase for an additional fee, a license to become certified to teach The Goddess Workout with Dolphina. For the wild dolphin swims, it is usually best to be both a good swimmer and comfortable snorkeling in the ocean to swim with the dolphins. If you do not feel comfortable swimming in the open ocean, you will still be able to experience the magic of dolphins from the shore or boat

THE CENTER
Our GoddessLife retreat will take place at the lush and secluded Kolealea (which means 'bouncing waters' in Hawaiian) in "upcountry" Maui. The center enjoys 80 degree weather year round and is surrounded by Plumeria Trees, quiet walkways with bridges over streams and a valley of ginger, and the famous "road to Hana" is at our back door. We will dance in a studio with bamboo floors with views to the tropical garden on all sides.

ACCOMODATIONS
There are several charming cottages nestled throughout the pristine aina (land) of Kolealea retreat center. Each house has something unique, including an outdoor shower, hot tub, and views. Sleeping is double occupancy.

THE CUISINE
We will feast upon 3 vegetarian gourmet meals a day. All meals are prepared by a loving staff dedicated to the spirit of Aloha using fresh local produce grown in organic gardens.

TRANSPORTATION
Book and fly the airline of your choice. Dancers come from all over the world for our retreat and teacher training, so there is no way to include airfare in our package price. There are three airports on Maui. We will provide van pick-up and lei greeting between 3-5pm on August 20th at Kahului, Maui, HI (OGG-Kahului) Airport. You are welcome to rent your own car to explore the island.

PRICING
Deadline for the discount to save $1999 rate is June 25th!
50% Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by July 25th.

HOW TO REGISTER
Fill out registration form and fax and mail with your deposit check, money order or credit card information to GoddessLife. Upon receipt of your application, we will send you a registration package that includes a detailed itinerary, how to prepare for your retreat and what to bring. Space is limited and will sell out!

GoddessLife
4051 Glencoe Avenue #5
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Goddesslife@gmail.com
www.goddesslife.com