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Costumer's Notes
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Research Tools - Bibliography
This portion of my website contains the most useful entries from my working bibliography. For costume designers, research is a necessity. It provides you with inspiration, tools and technical knowledge to help you transform ideas into reality, concepts into costumes. Many of the titles I have listed in this bibliography are out of print. I recommend using all of the research tools and resources available to you. Interlibrary loan is an excellent source for borrowing rare and hard to find books. Most public and university libraries provide these services.
| Middle Eastern Dance | |
| This portion of the bibliography includes titles that relate specifically to dance. While this list focuses on Middle Eastern dance, there are also works that deal with other related styles of dance, dance composition and theory and biographies of dancers. -- Read More | |
| Textiles and Costume of the Middle East | |
| This section of the bibliography lists books either in whole, or in part about the textile and costume arts of the Near and Middle East. There are many different kinds of books such as exhibition guides, anthropological studies, construction techniques and interior design. -- Read More | |
| Middle Eastern Arts and Culture | |
| Islamic arts, architecture, literature and cultural history are grouped together in this segment of the bibliography. These titles, while not specifically related to dance or costume, can provide many inspirational illustrations of costumes, patterns for textiles and social history to provide a broader cultural context. -- Read More | |
| Jewelry | |
| Many dancers incorporate tribal and folkloric styles of jewelry into their costuming. With so many different types of jewelry from North Africa, across the Middle East to the Indian sub continent and beyond, these books can be invaluable for the dancer interested in identifying pieces in their collection. -- Read More | |
| Cosmetics and Mehndi | |
| One of the finishing elements to the performers 'Look' is a perfectly polished face or intricate henna designs. These are books to inspire new looks, provide basic application techniques or fantasy design for the skin. -- Read More | |
| Sewing, Design and Surface Embellishment Techniques | |
| There are many books on the subject of sewing special embellishment techniques that can be helpful for the seamstress looking for new ideas for decorating costumes. This part of the bibliography also includes books on pattern making, draping and the process of design from both theatrical and fashion viewpoints. -- Read More | |
| Orientalism, Rugs, Clip Art and other Visual Resources | |
| Orientalist art can be very inspirational for dancers. This part of my bibliography includes books about orientalist art In addition, there are other books about rugs, clip art and a host of other books with imagery that are difficult to categorize. -- Read More | |
| General Books on Dance | |
| These are books and publications that focus on general dance subjects. World dance history, how-to books on the subjects of choreography and style, and compilation readers with articles by numerous athors. Also includes books on other ethnographic dance forms. -- Read More | |
| Cook Books | |
| Food can be a great addition to your next hafla, house party or private performance. This section includes a brief list of my favorite Middle Eastern cookbooks. -- Read More | |