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General

Belly Dance Designers I Follow on Instagram

Five International Belly Dance Designers on Instagram

Next time you pick up your phone to go for a scroll through Instagram for visual ideas, check out this inspirational collection. This is a group of belly dance costume designers from around the world. Each of these talented women is an accomplished designer.  These costume makers offer different points of view, materials selection, and fabrication techniques. And I love them ALL!

It simply makes me happy to see all of the wonderful belly dance costume designs in my feed. These designers are some of the best of the best from around the globe.
Why not check them out for yourself? 

I hope you enjoy this collection of talented designers.
Have fun checking them out,
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
August 2023

Michelle

Award-winning dancer and costumer.  On her Instagram platform, she shares her belly dance journey. She performs professionally in the greater Seattle, USA area. She also teaches belly dance costume design workshops with hostess Lisa Jean.  I enjoy Michelle’s costuming tips, her taste, and her dance style. *chefs kiss*

Ambar

Hailing from Mexico, I first discovered Ambar, a super glam costume designer via YouTube. I HIGHLY recommend her Instagram. In her feed, shares photos of costumes she makes for herself and her clients.  I really love her tutorials, her approach to integrating mirrors and bling, and her design framework.  Learn from her on her Spanish-language YouTube channel.  She always inspires me with her creative materials use and show-girl style sparkly costumes. *Muy Caliente*

Aida

I’ve been a fan of the Ukrainian costume designer Olga Aida. Her Fashion taste is superb and she crafts blingy costumes for dancers with showgirl tastes.  She takes her designer collection to belly dance events around the world.  Need something custom?  Aida Style is a full-service business that ships internationally.  Why do I love her Instagram Feed?  Because it’s just so good!  *приголомшливо красива*

Laura Scimone

Sicilian-born, but London-based, Laura’s design house, Moonlight Design brings luxurious, couture-level Italian design to the world of belly dance costumes. Her styles are sparkly and elegant. Her styles achieve that perfect balance between sumptuous fabrics and the luster of quality rhinestones.  *la massima eleganza*

Zaina

From the Netherlands, Zaina Belly Dance Costumes offers lovely, feminine-style belly dance costumes. What I love most about her Instagram feed are the behind-the-scenes peeks of her working on her designs.  From stitching on rhinestones to making custom fringe, I love watching and learning from my fellow designers.  Her technique is impeccable.  *Absoluut prachtig*

Categories
General

Assiut Posting Party

Assiut Posting Party – August 15 – 30th, 2023

Do you Facebook?  If you do, come join me for an Assiut Posting Party!  During these two weeks, I’ll be sharing, one might even say, flooding, my Assiut Lovers Facebook Group.  If you are reading this post in the future, come on over and join us anytime.  We’re a community of folks who love to share images of shawls, dresses, and other clothing items from stage & screen, fashion, costume, historical, and modern.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/assiutfans

It’s blazing hot outside, so let’s stay cool and enjoy the digital spectacle! 
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
August 2023

Categories
Belly Dance General Publications

The “Gold Book” Flip Through – Part 1

“The Belly Dance Costume Book” by Zarifa Aradoon c. 1978

This book is a time capsule of belly dance-consuming information c. 1978.  I love having this book in my collection as it is part of my belly dance costuming journey.  When I wrote my first book, “Costuming from the Hip” this book was already out of print by 15 years!  This was a legendary book.  In 1992, I had heard about it but at that point, hadn’t seen it.

The “Gold Book” a Gifted Copy

Fast forward to 2009, I received a copy of the “Gold Book” from my dance friend and former troupe-mate Kay in Reno. When I finally got my hands on it, I could instantly see why folks sometimes compared our books. We both followed the typical style of a costuming DIY sewing or costume-making book, just with a belly dance spin. So they have a similar look and feel due to the format and content.

The Gold Book – Two Patreon Flip Throughs

As a former college professor, further readings weren’t just suggested, they were required.  But here in our belly dance world, many books from past eras are out of print and difficult to find. So in July and August, I’m presenting the “Gold Book” in a chatty flip-through with my commentary about the content.  This book is over 200 pages, so I split the flip-through into two separate parts. The first half discussion is already available on Patreon.

Costuming From The Hip: 30th Anniversary Rewrite

The “Gold Book” is definitely having some impact on how I design and layout the next edition of “Costuming From The Hip.”  I really love that Zarifa included a little bit of costume history at the start of her book.  This is a feature that I’m including in my rewrite. So the next edition of CFTH will include and illustrated time-line of belly dance stage costuming.

I also am inspired to include an appendix that includes the current price listings and supplies. There is a  “time capsule” effect of including prices makes this book very dated.  But as a historian, I love this historical data.  So, with that in mind, I’m going to include an appendix that reflects the kinds of materials and supplies that are happening right here and now.

I hope you enjoy the “Gold Book” quick flip.
If you want to see more, consider taking digital classes with me over on Patreon. 
Thank you for supporting my ongoing work as a dance historian, costumer, and author!

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
August 2023

 

 

 

Categories
General

Costume Renovation – Raspberry Hearts

Vintage Belly Dance Costume Renovation

Meet “Raspberry Hearts.”  She’s a previously unworn Egyptian bedlah set. She’s been floating around the used costume market here in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She’s got a few design problems and some superficial damage.  But on the positive side, “Raspberry Hearts” is a fabulous color and has excellent bones.

Over the next couple of months, I’ll share overviews of this bedlah renovation project on Instagram and in my Facebook Sewing group.

Raspberry Hearts Bedlah – Deep Dives on Patreon

However, If you find this project intriguing, and want more, you can join me for longer deeper dive videos.  Through October, this is my Patreon sewing class.  The first one is already there!  In those classes, I’m going to share the entire process from start to stage.  Patreon is only $7 a month – a steal of a deal for specialty belly dance design and construction classes.  Follow this link to enjoy the first class.

I’m off to film class two where I share my detailed work plan and materials supplies list for this project. 

No matter how you choose to engage with this project, thank you for joining me on this costuming adventure!
~Dawn Devine ~ Davina
August 2023

Categories
General

52 Belly Dane Lesson Plans

52 Lesson Plans
And How to Write 5,000 More

Interview with Author Sara Shrapnell
Celebrating the second Installment
in the “Teaching Belly Dance” series

My fellow belly dance author and co-author Sara Shrapnell just published her best-selling workshop in book format.  If you’re a teacher of dance, this book will help you streamline your classes and make more money per hour by reducing your time.

Her new book is available on Amazon in both printed and Kindle versions.  To make sure everyone has access, she’s also put a printable .pdf version on her Etsy store too. 

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Sara about this release. In this video, she shares the origin story of Teaching Belly Dance: 52 Lesson Plans from the initial concept to the finished product.

If you click through to YouTube to watch, would you mind subscribing to my channel?  Bonus points if you leave me a note that you found the link here!