Hello Hello,
Today, I’m taking a break from working on the new manuscript for “Costuming from the Hip.” To share a method for sharing digital research using presentation software.

Today, I’m sharing a method for efficiently storing your reference materials. You can use this system locally on your computer or in cloud-based methods – many of which are free.

Whether you’re a student working on a research paper or a historian working on a full book, you might find this method is quick to master and easy to use.

Presentation Software for Historical Research Storage

There are many ways to save your research content. From building your own storage filing system on your computer, to using note-taking software in the cloud, there’s many approaches to choose from.

One method that I teach my students uses presentation software. Your computer might have an application included in its operating system.  I’m a “Mac Girl” so I use Keynote on my computer. Many of my students use PowerPoint on their PC’s.

You can also find free, cloud-based software available such as Google Slides, and Canva. This is especially nice if you’re low on storage space.

Presentation Software: Google Slides

Most presentation software is easy to learn. YouTube creators have been making simple demos and tutorials to introduce you to the basics of using any software.  If you don’t know where to begin, I always suggest Google Slides. There are many demos like this one:

Presentation Software: Canva

If you’ve already using Canva to make flyers, web, and social media graphics, you might want to choose this familiar place to explore making a history reference slide deck.  There are two tiers to Canva, and the free version has ample tools to create your research notes slide deck.  Here’s a demo if you want to try Canva:

Presentation Software In Action

Once you have your notes stored thematically into a slide-deck there are many things you can do with this information.

• Plan a social media campaign:  Use your “research slide deck” to create a series of posts to your favorite platform and make sure you nail the details.  If anyone asks you “where did you get that info?”  You are amply prepared to look up that information at a moment’s notice.
• Develop Evergreen Web Content: The beauty of historical posts, short and long form video is that it never becomes dated. If you’re interested in sharing in this way, you can organize your research decks to quickly re-find your source material.
• Cite Your Sources: If you’re interested in taking the role of a thought leader, the research slide deck allows you a place to store primary source materials.  Easily create in-text citations, foot notes, or a reading list. In my work, I create a reading list on the final slide(s) of my research note slide deck.

Today, more than ever before there are places to locate primary source material so you can engage with history in a direct and fundamental way.  No matter what your goals are, if you find yourself looking something up, be sure to save that data.  It might be useful to you, or one of your friends, fans, and followers in dance.

And now off to draw!
~ Dawn Devine ~ Davina
April, 2025.

Studio Davina Updates:
April 2025

Hello, my friends in belly dance costuming and history.  Let me catch ya’ll up on what’s been happening in the studio during the first quarter of 2025, and what’s coming in the next quarter and the rest of the year.

Mini-Magazine: Bi-Monthly Belly Dance Digital Publication – March/April

The March/April newsletter went out.  We’ve gotten loads of great feedback on the adjustments we’ve made to our format and our new direction for the 2025 “Belly Dance Mini-Magazine.”

We’ve expanded our “Around the Web” section and now include a wider variety of curated links to resources around the web. Have you checked out the Mini-Magazine recently?  March/April 2025 edition is available here. It’s always free and we never share your info. If you enjoy the content, why not subscribe today?

“Costuming From the Hip 30th: Anniversary Edition”

The CFTH book renovation and expansion is my prime project for 2025.  “Costuming from the Hip”  is about halfway done. The first edition was released in 1993. The initial print run was only 200 books. At that time, I thought it was

In 1997, we expanded the book, changed the binding format, and re-released the book.  Then in, 2009, we went all digital print on demand with a perfect binding.

For the 30th anniversary, we’re expanding the book, bringing in photography, and publishing in several modes, including a color version!  The expansion includes content from long out-of-print booklets like “Hints & Tips,” “Veils Unveiled,” and “Costumes of the Maghreb.”

At this point, we’re in “Build Mode” which requires many hours of incremental sewing, and photography to use as examples in the book. Slow and steady will win this race, but there are times during this process when I “forget” that we’re shooting incremental photos and racing forward.

“Dancing Down the Midway: 1893”

In April, we’re wrapping up this four-part series. During the first quarter of 2025, I’ve shared the latest research focusing on the “Danse Du Ventre” presented at 7 exhibit stages down the midway.  This month we’re going to discuss several of the dancer’s stories that we’ve teased out of the archives. Interested in rare historical photos?  Enjoy learning about specific entertainers who appeared on the Midway?  Then this is the talk for you!

• January: Setting the Stage
• February: “Cultures and Exhibits on the Midway”
• March: Dancers on the Midway 
• April: Personalities, People, and Myth Busting – Coming soon!

This series will be available through the end of 2025.  Sign up via Patreon on the $15 Tier to receive an email notification when the April talk is available.

Thanks for stopping by to read this post.
~ Dawn Devine ~ Davina
April, 2025.

“Dancing Down the Midway: 1893 – Part II” – The February History Talk is Up!   

Cultures and Exhibits on the Midway:  In this slide-talk, we’re zooming in and looking at the layout and exhibits on the Midway Plaisance.  We will start at the east end of the Midway Plaisance and move west, exploring the “Entertainment Zone” of the Chicago World Fair.

We often speak about individual dancers and specific exhibits.  In this talk, we’ll situate the key venues for watching “Danse du Ventre” within the greater context of the Midway.

Why not make an appointment with yourself to learn more about our dance history?  Grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dancing-down-ii-123255201

“Dancing Down the Midway: 1893”  Course Overview

🧿  “Dancing Down the Midway: 1893 – Part I” 
Setting the Stage:  This is an introduction and overview of the Chicago World’s Fair, the history leading up to the exhibition, and the different zones of the event.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/dancing-down-i-120828283

🪬  “Dancing Down the Midway: 1893 – Part II”
Cultures and Exhibits on the Midway:  In this slide-talk, we’re zooming in and looking at the layout and exhibits on the Midway Plaisance.  We will start at the east end of the Midway Plaisance and move west, exploring the “Entertainment Zone” of the Chicago World Fair.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/dancing-down-ii-123255201

🛞 “Dancing Down the Midway: 1893 – Part III”
Dancers on the Midway:  Using primary source materials, including images, publications, and ephemera, we’re creating a breakdown of the different “Danse du Ventre” venues. We’ll answer the following questions: Which dances were performed where?  Who performed there?  How much did it cost to see the dancers?
March Release:  https://www.patreon.com/collection/110642

🐪 “Dancing Down the Midway: 1893 – Part IV”
Personalities, People, and Myth Busting: In this talk, we’re going to look at a collection of key figures who played pivotal roles in building, running, and performing.  We’re also going to talk about the term “belly dance” and take a fresh look at the origin myths of “Little Egypt.”
April Release:  https://www.patreon.com/collection/110642

🏆 “Dancing Down the Midway: 1893 – Q&A”
Finally, I will make a fifth and final Q&A presentation to address any questions and comments generated in the comments section or that arrive in the DM’s.
Date TBA: https://www.patreon.com/collection/110642

“Dancing Down the Midway: 1893” is on Patreon

I use the Patreon platform for my classes, demos, and talks.  You can sign up for just a month or plan for an entire year of learning by subscribing. The history lectures are the top tier at $15 per session – with access to the lower tiers and the back catalog of material.

Proceeds from Patreon support my ongoing archival research.  Thank you for your kindness and continued support.
https://www.patreon.com/davinadevine

Here’s to a having a great day!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Feb 2025

Wow – What a treat the 2025 Grammy Awards had for us!  Shakira was back with her signature belly dance moves.

Sahira of Houston, Texas really leaned into this performance, analyzed the choreo, and has graciously uploaded a quick instructional demo.

I appreciate Sahira’s approach to filming, showing us both the front and back view of each combo.  I ran through this tutorial three times and worked up a sweat.

If you are like me, a little older and a little chubbier, I recommend taking time to warm up the joints and stretch out the back and legs before tackling this demo.

The Rolling Stones wrote up a review, and in their article, they shared a close-up of Shakira’s bra.  Notice how much coverage and support this bra offers along with a U-shaped length of beaded fringe reaching from the top of one cup to the other.

In this belly dance fashion era of the “Dina Bra,” it’s really nice to see a dancer sporting a look that looks secure enough to hold everything in place.

I just love spotting belly dance in popular media and watching how movement and costuming styles evolve and change.

I hope you have a blast trying out Shakira’s moves!

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Feb, 2025

Improv Vs. Choreo – Which do you choose?

Today, I was involved in a conversation on the venerable social media giant FaceBook. The question of the day, “Are you an improv style dancer or do you prefer choreography?”

Chreo Vs. Improv

Like most things in life, the answer is “Depends.” In the video above, it would be nearly impossible for the elegant and graceful Shoshanna to perform a set choreography.  Live music with a band requires the trust in your skills, have the speed to respond to tempo changes, idiosyncratic arrangements, and even unexpected shifts into different songs.

Choreography is great when you are working with a group of people and want to achieve a high level of synchronization. Working with recorded music helps groups stay together and on beat.

Different Approaches for Different Situations

So my answer is a resounding both!  New dancers often focus one one modality over another.  Experienced performing dancers face a variety of different performance scenarios.  One week you might dance on a standard stage. The next performance might be in round, a typical scenario at large weddings.  But there is also an infinite variety of facility layouts in restaurant, cafe, and bar scenarios.

One of the key skills that separates the student from the teacher, the social dancer from the professional, is the knowledge base to quickly take stock of the performance situations.  Where is the audience situated?   What are the paths to enter and exit?  Given the layout, what are the places to pause for one-on-one interaction with a VIP or patron with a special event like a birthday or anniversary.

Combonography

Okay, I get it, that’s isn’t really a word. But it catches the essence of my own personal approach when I have the opportunity to dance. As an older more experienced dancer, I have favorite combos that I know are comfortable, safe, and also as distinctive and show-stopping as I achieve in this season of dance.

Hybrid Dances: Choreography + Improv

As a long-time instructor I have crafted performance pieces for a  variety of dancers and groups. Over the arc of my career, I’ve come to the conclusion that to be a successful performing dancer, it’s important to have a full arsenal of approaches.  One approach is to craft dances to recorded music that include choreographed pieces, like a chorus for instance, and spaces for improv.

Including passages, verses or bridges for open improv allows for spontaneity and flexibility to interact with the audience. It also creates time for moving through spaces between tables, up and down off stages and platforms. It’s also time you can take to adjust to larger facilities, or smaller more intimate venues that might need subtle adjustments.

No matter where you have the opportunity to dance this year, I hope that these concepts give you food for thought and inspiration!

Happy costuming and dance,
Dawn Devine ~ Davina, 
Feb., 2025 

PS: Here’s a blast from the past with the 2019 lineup of my troupe Swirl, demonstrating a hybrid dance with choreographed portions with individual improv sections.