As the rain rattled the sash windows and intermittent trains grumbled in and out of Maidstone West station, twenty five ladies, cross legged on the floor, were transfixed and transformed by Storm’s first lecture on costuming, hair and body adornment and make up for belly dance, at Jag Dance Academy on Sunday 27 th May 2007.
Storm began with her aim for the session; to verse us all in the ‘dos’, ‘don’ts’ and ‘maybes’ of costuming and presentation for performance belly dance in Egyptian Cabaret, World/Ethnic Tribal, Tribal Fusion and Gothic bellydance. Each style was addressed in turn and enforced with photographs and DVDs and, after a general lesson on stage makeup, a final hands on session, where all attendees could transform themselves, with Storm’s expert help.
The first picture Storm ‘painted’ was of World Tribal and our focus was turned to ‘all things ethnic’ including pantaloons, wide skirts with ethnic embroidery or Assuit panels. Belts and hair adornments featured mirrors, beads, tassels and shells, high lighted with heavy, antique, chunky jewellery and coin bras. Facial adornment, glitter, braids and feathers were a ‘must’ with a slightly darker than neutral make up base providing the perfect back drop for exotic, glittery eyes and dark red or brown lips.
This earthy, ethnic style led us on to Tribal Fusion, which retains many of the world fusion elements but gives scope to borrow from every dance style in the world! The look can be ‘over the top’, incorporating ethnic belts, coin bras and oodles of ethnic jewellery or minimalist, melodia trousers with chiffon floaty dresses worn over simple choli tops. Hair too can be adorned with flowers, spikes and braids in buns or worn simple, short and slick.
Egyptian Cabaret featured next and encompassed the classical, skirt, belt and bra ensemble as well as the modern ‘all in one’ or asymmetrically cut ¾ costumes. We were lucky enough to have Becky from Bellywigglas on hand to provide beautiful examples of many of the costumes and accessories for us to view or purchase. The emphasis for Egyptian Cabaret was on evening glamour and glitz, where bra tops feature beads and jewels rather than coins and hair was feminine and elegant, either worn up or down, with big, girlie waves. With sumptuous eyes, oozing glitter and lashes, strong blusher and gorgeous full lips, little if any jewellery was needed by the dancer to complete this style of costuming.
Before the general makeup session, where we rummaged through Storm’s makeup bags and shared tips for purchasing makeup at the best prices and places, Storm divulged the secrets of Gothic bellydance. This item was of particular interest to the ladies of Jag Dance Academy as they will be performing their dance show, The Bride of Dracula on 12th January 2008 at the Hazlitt theatre and their teacher, Angela Wooi, was keen for them to learn more about the costuming and makeup from the darker side of bellydance. Tree, Storm’s dance partner, had recently returned from Tribal Fest in America and the latest news about the style of this bellydance form is, anything goes! Slashed melodia trousers, hot pants and suspenders, pinstripe trousers and lace belts offered a tantalising basis to mix with net body stockings, coin bras, corsets in lace or PVC and asymmetric tops. Gothic bellydance fuses Victorian fashions, 1920s and 30s, Art Nouveau, Renaissance, Punk, Cyber and primitive ethnic. For experimentalists, Storm’s tip was to think texture and colour, about the story you are telling and about what you want the audience to perceive from your performance. Hair and jewellery also stretches the boundaries, worn long, short, straight or pre Raphaelite with silver Indian head pieces or flowers and spikes in black, red, silver or darkest purple. These creative ensembles provide the perfect canvas for pale, blusher less faces, shaded for prominent cheek bones, eyes highlighted with kohl and lips finished in blood red, black or purple.
The afternoon concluded with Gothic faces emerging from behind mirrors and bodies adorned in black and silver, as the ladies of Jag truly embraced the Dark Side.
Storm teaches Middle Eastern Dance in her hometown of Horsham, West Sussex and performs with her dance partner as Stormtree. They are hosting a workshop in Horsham on August 19 th, with special guest teacher, Wendy Marllat. For details call Storm on 07944 870578.
Jag Dance Academy has been running for nearly five years and their January performance will include a 70 strong cast performing various styles of Arabic dance including Egyptian, Turkish, Gulf, Folkloric, Tribal Fusion and gothic. Call Angela on 07876 335836 for details.
Wendy Cook
June 2007