Categories
Costuming DIY General

April Event: 2-Hour Skirt Workshop

“2-Hour Skirt”

90 Minute Live Multi-Media Zoom Workshop/Demo
Sunday, April 25, Noon Pacific
$25 on the BDBA site
Click to Reserve your Space

Q: Can you make a performance-ready
belly dance skirt in under 2 hours?

A: Yes, You Can! 

Join me for a costuming workshop Using a basic sewing machine, some simple patterning, and sewing skills, you can go from a pile of fabrics and notions to a finished micro-sequin skirt in less than 2-hours!

Workshop/Demo Includes:

  • Three different skirt styles and shapes
  • Cutting without drafting a pattern
  • Tips for working with Micro Sequin Fabric
  • Complete list of tools and materials – save time and money!
  • Includes a printable eBook with complete start-to-finish directions

Save Time

Using the right materials, and having the patterning and sewing techniques will make it fast – and easy. Mostly straight line sewing using an ordinary sewing machine.

Save Money

Depending on where you purchase your fabric, these skirts styles can be made today for less than $50, and I bought all the materials for each of these three skirt demos for less than $30 ea.

Fit Your Body

We’re not using a pattern, but rather, taking your measurements and cutting to fit. Starting with the right materials and tools will give you a beautiful outcome for any size or shaped dancer’s body!

Fit Your Style

We have three very different shapes and hem widths, so you will find a style that works for you. Love your leg out? We’ll talk slits! Love to spin? We’ll talk full circle? Fancy a mermaid Moment? We’ve got one of those for ya too!

2-Hour Skirt eBook

Once the workshop is over, use the eBook as a guide for sourcing materials, taking measurements, making patterns, cutting, sewing, and fitting your creations.  This book includes information and ideas beyond the scope of the 90-minute workshop/demo. The “2-Hour Skirt” eBook includes more than the three styles included in the workshop, variations on each skirt theme, and more advanced fitting techniques. 

Come join me for the fun and learn how to quickly and affordably enhance and refresh your belly dance wardrobe over the coming months with a wardrobe of new skirts!  Reserve your space today.

If you have questions about this costume-making event, I’m available via Instagram, Facebook, and good ‘ole email davina at davina dot US.

New costume pieces for spring?
Let’s do it!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
April 6, 2021

Categories
General

“Doing” Belly Dance History – Fact vs. Theory

Topic & Talk: “Doing” Belly Dance History
Research Tip: Be clear on the difference between what is a fact, and what is theory.
Image: Cycladic Idol Figure, Chalcolithic period, Getty Malibu

QUESTION:  Is this a sculpture of a woman dancing?

Perhaps I’m stepping onto a soapbox, but I think as researchers we need to be very clear with our communication and share information about our research as clearly and accurately as possible. Over the past 50 years, there’s been a lot of theory presented as fact in magazine articles, blog posts, and even published books.  Sometimes ideas get repeated so many times, these myths, concepts, and ideas begin to seem or “feel” like facts.

Fact vs. Theory

As researchers, we need to be clear when communicating our own analyses and theories.  The facts are that this figurine is from the Middle Chalcolithic Period, approximately 2800 – 2000 BCE during the Copper Age.  She was made in an era before writing, so we have no concrete evidence of why she was made or how she was used.   
In my opinion, this Cycladic Idol Figure located at the Getty Museum in Malibu is in a very typical dance stance.  By looking at her from all angles, we can see that artist has captured one of the signature poses of dancers from this region today.  Her arms extended, her torso elongated, and her knees are bent.  Could she be a depiction of one of our dance ancestors?  The truthful answer is that we will never know. 

Cycladic Idol Figurine

But I use her in talks and point out her posture and share my theory as theory.  Even the venerable Getty museum has made an assumption by calling her a “Goddess Figure.”  Couldn’t she also be a worshipful supplicant?  Could she possibly be a priestess?    Back and side views from the Getty Publication “Early Cycladic Sculpture.”  It’s available to read online or for download here: https://www.getty.edu/publications/resources/virtuallibrary/0892362200.pdf
So though we never will know, she’s still a useful figurine to consider when contemplating our most ancient dance roots.  This summer when the travel bans are lifted, I’m looking forward to going to the Getty museum and taking my own photos from all sides to add to my personal archive. 

“Doing” Belly Dance History

 
Saturday, March, 27, 2:00 pm PT
90-minute Digital Seminar
plus eBook study guide
Only $20
Click through to reserve your space:
https://bit.ly/3c2YdoQ
Hosted by Sara Shrapnell
Beyond Dance Business Academy
This seminar is presented art historical style, with loads of lush images that trace the history of our dance art. If you have ever been curious about my approach to conducting archival research, how I plan and organize my projects, and store the data, this is the talk for you!
Happy Researching!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March 19, 2021
Categories
General

“Doing” Belly Dance History – Go Off the Beaten Track

March Topic & Talk:  “Doing” Belly Dance History

Research Tip:  Look for things off the beaten track.
Image: Roman Era Egyptian Clappers and Finger Cymbals on display at the Bristol Museum, UK

In 2016, I joined my co-authors Sara Shrapnell and photographer Alisha Westerfeld on a book tour in the UK.  First, we attended the belly dance festival Celebrating Dance in Torquay UK.  Sara and I both taught workshops, sold books, and had a great time hanging out. The next weekend, we headlined a day of workshops and a showcase on the Isle of Wight.  Sara is a great teacher and it’s always fun to work with her.

Between these two events, Alisha and I spent three days in Bristol.  Unfortunately, I came down with sniffles that evolved into a cold.  I was not just a little sick, I became MONSTER SICK.  We stumbled into the Bristol Museum and I asked Alisha to take a photo of these beautiful clappers.  Who knew there was going to be an Egyptian exhibit in this city museum?  

I was so bleary-eyed and run-down that I didn’t even notice the gorgeous set of finger cymbals in the case.  It wasn’t until I was home, recovered from bronchitis, and flipping through Alisha’s photos that I spotted this treasure!

If you are interested in more historical information about finger cymbals, you can check out the first sections of my book “Zills: Music on Your Fingertips.”  And I frequently share lectures on this subject both online and (when we can do it again) in person.

“Doing”
Belly Dance History

Saturday, March, 27,  2:00 pm PT
90-minute Digital Seminar
plus eBook study guide
Only $20

Click to reserve your space!
Hosted by Sara Shrapnell
of the Belly Dance Business Academy

What will I be covering in this talk?

In this digital seminar, I’ll be covering my mindset and approach to formulating key inquiry questions and then sharing my methodology and workflow. I’ll be sharing my favorite research tools, digital platforms for storing information, and how I use digital databases to uncover historical data that helps us document the history of belly dance.

Along with this talk, I’ve put together an eBook that includes a breakdown of the process of performing archival research and live-links to my favorite digital databases.

Join me for a peek “behind the curtain,” enjoy a beautiful slide show of historic images, and maybe even take your own historical research skills to the next level.

Will I see you there?
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March 15, 2021

Categories
General

“Doing” Belly Dance History – Avoiding Misattributions

Today’s Research Tip:
Beware of misattributions on user-driven Image aggregate websites and micro-blogs.

Image: Hungarian Dancer and Contortionist Sahary-Djeli known as “La Mystérieuse”

One of the websites I have a love and hate relationship with is Pinterest.  On the one hand, I love that it serves as a storehouse for a wealth of visual information and inspiration. 

However, on the other hand, I’ve learned to question the data that accompanies images should all be questioned.  Other image aggregate sites include Flikr and the micro-blog sites Tumblr and Instagram. 

Sahry-Djeli

This image, of Sahry-Djeli, is lovely and dates back to 1910-1913, and I use it as part of ongoing research on Salomania.  

However,  in many places, this is labeled “La Belle Otero” another great entertainer.  These two performers were contemporaries, both working in Europe, but primarily in France, during the first quarter of the 20th century.  They also were performers of the dance du ventre, and appeared in the role of Salome. 

Sahry-Djili was more than just a dancer. She was also a famous contortionist, with extreme flexibility and extension through her body.  Her lithe limberness was her unique claim to fame and made her stand out when compared to the numerous other Salome’s gracing the stage of theaters around Europe.  Look at this amazing position she could get into and hold for the length of time required for studio images at this time.

La Belle Otero

However, at some point, someone noted the resemblance between these two performers and misidentified this image as La Belle Otero.  Since then, this image and attribution have circulated the web.   La Belle Otero was from the previous generation, and by the time Salomania took hold of the stages of Europe, Otero was a seasoned performer while Sahary was an up-and-comer. 

As a researcher, I always question “the source” of the accompanying documentation.   Consider the “Five W’s”  – Who, What, When, Where, and Why (and the sixth “hoW”) when looking at pictures on image aggregate and micro-blogging websites.   If you feel confident that you have the correct information, rejoice!  If you have concerns, as I did for this image, then it’s time to put on the researcher hat and either confirm the attribution or find the real info.

Build Your Own Research Archive

I’ll be using more images of Sahary and discuss how I find, process, and store images in my archive. Wanna join me?  If you are interested in learning more about how to find and use images for your own research, study, and teaching, why not come join me for my talk on Saturday, March 27?

“Doing” Belly Dance History

Sat., March, 27,  2:00pm PT
90-minute Digital Seminar
plus eBook study guide

Only $20
Reserve your space

Perhaps I will see you there!
In the meantime, take care and be well!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March 12, 2021

Categories
General

“Doing” Belly Dance History – Persian Snap

Today’s Research Tip:
Create a list of museums with digital archives to use as a starting point for conducting image research.

Image: Qajar Dancer in the act of a “Persian Snap”
Located at The Met aka  Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – View Here

One of the tools that I use when I’m conducting research is a list of digital archives.  This includes a wide variety of websites around the globe.  What I do is visit a location, like the Met Museum where this image is stored, and I poke around a bit to get a sense of the organization of the site, what the features are, and how these features work.  The Met Museum has digitized most of its collection and it is very robust, so it’s a great place to start. 

Formulate Your Research Question

But what is there to find at an art museum that can help with belly dance history research?  Let’s take a moment to look at this painting.  You might have seen and heard the “Persian Snap.”  If you are researching the branch of Middle Eastern Dance History that includes Persian dance, you might ask yourself, “When did Persian dancers start “snapping” in this manner?”  

While this painting doesn’t indicate a start date, it does offer documentation that it was in use by dancers in the courts of Qajar era dancers around the turn of the 19th century or 1800 – 1825.  So a dance historian can say with authority that Persian dancers have been snapping in this manner since before 1800.   As you dig around, you might find more images that can support pushing that date earlier. 

Build your Own Research Tools

If you are curious about what other archives I regularly turn to, I’ll be sharing my top 20 archival sites in the study guide that accompanies my next talk.  Interested in getting this little research handbook?  Come join Sara Shrapnell and I as I share my top tips for conducting interdisciplinary history research on the subject of belly dance.

“Doing” Belly Dance History

Saturday, March, 27,  2:00 pm PT
90-minute Digital Seminar
plus eBook study guide
Only $20
Click here to reserve your spot

 

I look forward to seeing you there!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March 8, 2021