Comments | exponential: Be, Do, Have

exponential

Be, Do, Have

Feb 09, 2009 10:28

Originally published at Lane Ellen. You can comment here or there.

This weekend, I spent a lot of time running around preparing for several upcoming events. Like most people who have many interests, I managed to overschedule myself so that I am preparing for many things, all at once, and have soaring expectations for each one of those events.

So ( Read more... )

perception v. reality, costuming, dance, art, $ or your life

Comments 5

haflagirl February 9 2009, 16:39:02 UTC

I can't tell you how many times I've improvised a performance in the name of getting a new costume done when I only have time for that or choreography. It's embarrassing, really. Thanks for the insight. ;-)

exponential February 9 2009, 17:07:01 UTC

Preach on! I tell myself that having a professional looking costume is ultimately important, and since I'm so busy, it usually comes down to making the same choice - putting together a great costume, and winging it on the dancing. Because if I'm on stage and I'm not 100% comfortable with my choreography or even improv performance on that song yet, it will become sort of a toss-up. Maybe no one will notice, but I will know. And no matter how great the costume looked, I'll say, "I could have danced that better." If I danced well, I think, "now I can make the costume better."

exponential February 9 2009, 17:08:16 UTC

With costuming, it's a combination of really enjoying having new looks, and standards I feel I must meet.

It's the "slightly decorated Victoria's Secret bra" that just really gets my goat. Complete with the same hook straps. I just can't do it. And since I'm not a sewer, it takes me so long to make something different.

But I think I'll save my new stuff for a bigger performance. Really, I'm just at a hafla to test run a new dance.

cirena February 9 2009, 20:09:45 UTC

I guess part of this totally depends on the dance, I think. I'm always dancing, more every week, in jeans and a t-shirt, with no qualms...but then again, I'm swing dancing. For me, it doesn't matter what you wear, it's your movements and timing that make a dance sparkle. On the other hand, I'm not performing, but dancing socially.
I see it as, to be a dancer is to interpret music with your body. Do that well, and no matter what size you are or what you're wearing, you'll be a dancer, and you'll be watched and admired by your fellow dancers.
But even when I square danced, where costume is more important, I had two costumes, that's it. And nobody really cared.
Does the importance of costume depend on the dance enjoyed?

exponential February 9 2009, 21:09:09 UTC

Bellydance does sort of behave differently, since the variety in music and performance can dictate a completely different aesthetic. Square dancing and Swing dancing (both awesome, by the way) are in of themselves a style of dance and music, typically. Bellydance is more like ballet in that the music can really make a difference in how you apply the movements and how you should be costumed to interpret the performance. Modern music will call for modern costume, whereas classic music typically calls for classic dance costume. Ultimately, whatever message you're interpreting on stage is also reflected in your outfit ( ... )