Beginning the quest

Greetings ladies and gentlemen, you have just stumbled on the Hypnotic Pattern, a blog devoted to tribal belly dance costuming. The purpose of this blog is to develop costuming concepts that will improve the dancer's impact on the audience as well as convey the desired artistic message.

This idea came to me after nearly three years of observation while designing and assembling dance costumes for a variety of troups and soloists as my day-to-day job at Creaturre workshop.

As I went to numerous shows and venues, and watched dancers perform various styles in different apparel, the idea kept growing. I paid careful attention to the performances I felt were standing out and I tried to define in what way they made their impact on me.

Of course, a good, strong performance is the result of hours of practice, mixed with good music and expressive stage presence, in harmony with the outfit. I make a point, as a costume designer, that the costume does not make the dancer.

However, I often noticed some incredible dancers were unable to bring me to this trance-like hypnotic state that other dancers could create more easily. So I paid closer attention to these dancer's energy, facial expression, music… and I found them all relatively good. Being a costume designer, I decided the issue was costume related.

Every other long-run style of dance has a definite dress code, established after a tradition long experimentation, which has definite elements of costumes that support the dancer's motion and visual expression.

-Flamenco uses a long and light ruffled skirt to accent kicks;

-Ballet showcases stunning leg work thanks to a tutu straight; and, closer to tribal

-Belly dance puts emphasis on the breast and the hips with every possible sequin that will sparkle under spot lights.

Over recent years, many people have tried to settle tribal belly dance style, more often movement-wise than costume-wise, but there was still a clear intention to define something.

Since tribal belly dance's early years of creation and experimentation, the costume styles have evolve a lot, from the 25 yard skirt and afghan cholis, to black Melodia with kuchi and cowry, to the dark gothic and burlesque styles : we’re in for a rollercoaster of change that might still go on for years.

Could there be some code to follow on this style roallercoaster? Could there be a way to provide guidance without limiting creativity?

This, my friends, is my self-assigned quest. I invite everyone who wish to take part in it to express their thoughts here, as I will elaborate on this subject in the weeks to come.

Sincerely yours

Gen