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Costuming For Flamenco

August 17, 2010 by 4dancers

4dancers contributor Karen Stelling joins us today to talk about the costuming in flamenco dance…

Thinking about costuming for dance, especially flamenco, isn’t so easy!  There are as many thoughts and feelings about costumes as there are patterns of materials and fabrics out of which they are made!

The flamenco look was originally born of the traditional clothing of the gypsies. For women, the long brightly colored skirts with tiers and ruffles and scarves and shawls were “borrowed” when flamenco began being performed by professionals.  It is said that the popular use of polka dots on fabric or “lunares” as they are called in Spanish, represented the “little moons” of glass that gypsies would sew onto their clothing to ward off the evil eye!   The gypsies every day wear was all they needed to express themselves.

Karen Stelling

Flamenco, as it was danced fifty or more years ago, before the current emphasis on fast heelwork, focused on the arms, hands, torso and the “spirit” or “aire” of the upper body especially for women.  Sleeves and fancy ruffles at the cuffs or shoulders were not just to cover the body but to highlight the movements that emanated from there.   The materials used for costuming were much heavier than current materials as well.  Dancers moved more slowly but did so in a very measured way. It may have been less spectacular than much of the dance we see performed today, but there was a certain drama that could be built to an intense yet calm finish.  Footwork was minimal for early female dancers and if they did lift their skirt or dress hem, or wore the “bata de cola,” the long dress with a train, to show their feet, they did so subtly and with style.  The dancer, who wore the bata, represented an artist who was committed to total artistic expression, using legs and hips to demonstrate the movement in rhythm, making the costume and the dancer appear as one.  Dancing well with a bata de cola remains a challenge for most dancers but when it is done well, it is a sight to see!

Men’s costuming has remained virtually unchanged over the years.  There remains the basic look of trousers and shirt or shirt and vest.  Early male flamenco dancers adopted the look of the bull fighter with spectacularly decorated jackets which were very ornate but may have detracted from the dance.  They also were made of heavy velvets and brocades and could not possibly have felt cool and comfortable!  The high waisted pant showed off a long, lean and elegant line.  Current male dancers have certainly dressed down to more comfortable fabrics and fewer pieces because there is so much more athleticism in the dance and the focus is on what the dancer is doing and less on what they’re wearing.

As flamenco dance technique has evolved over the years, with faster and more rhythmically intricate footwork and women totally keeping pace with men regarding their own “chops,” costuming, although still attractive, now has to serve the dance in an economical way.  With a dress made of light blends of fabric, rather than a bata, female dancers can make many turns and generally just move more quickly across the floor.  There is still use of accessories such as shawls, which may be worn as part of the costume, but are more often used as part of the choreography and usually wind up being used briefly then put to the side.

For most dancers, it is a matter of personal style but all costumes for flamenco work to represent the total body in movement, to be a companion in the dancer’s expression, not just a beautiful body cover.  Flamenco costuming is very sensual with a mystery to the lines that are created and ever changing by virtue of how the fabric clings and then moves on, again and again.

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Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Dance Clothing & Shoes, Editorial, Flamenco & Spanish Dance Tagged With: costuming, flamenco, gypsies

Canvas Or Leather Shoes?

July 28, 2010 by 4dancers

This post is more of a question than an informational piece. You see, I’m curious…

Do you prefer canvas or leather ballet slippers?

Personally, I have always used and liked leather shoes, but I know many people who swear by canvas. I always felt as if the canvas shoes were bruising my toes, whereas the leather had more “give”. Even so, I do like the look of canvas shoes on the feet…

So tell me–what is it for you–and why? Are you a canvas aficionado or a leather lover? Either way I’d love to hear from you!

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Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Dance Clothing & Shoes, Editorial, Studios Tagged With: canvas ballet shoes, leather ballet slippers

Tying Your Pointe Shoes

June 4, 2010 by 4dancers

If you are new to pointe shoes, learning how to tie them so that they stay looking pretty is a part of the package. If you are a ballet teacher, you’ll want to be able to show your students the proper way to tie ribbons. This video on YouTube is a good one for going over the basics.

I used to use hairspray to keep my ribbons tucked in for performances. Every dancer comes up with their own tricks for keeping things neat and tidy. Feel free to share if you have something to add…I love hearing how each dancer does things. It’s always a suprise to see what other people come up with!

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Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Dance Clothing & Shoes, Pointe Shoes, Studios Tagged With: how to tie, pointe shoes, ribbons

Terrific Ballet T-Shirts!

April 12, 2010 by 4dancers

Ballet T-ShirtsDavid Hunter from Ballet For Men has a line of ballet t-shirts that are pretty terrific…

To check them out, click on the graphic to the right and browse…

Dance t-shirts make a great gift, and Hunter will be adding to them over time, so be sure and keep checking back for more! You won’t find these shirts anywhere else. (I really love the one with the pointe shoes!)

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Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Dance Clothing & Shoes, Dance Gifts, FOR SALE, Studios Tagged With: Ballet, ballet for men, dance, david hunter, t-shirts

Free E-Book: Ballet Apparel For Men

March 24, 2010 by 4dancers

David Hunter over at Ballet For Men is always up to something interesting…if you haven’t checked out his blog, I highly recommend it. Recently he launched a line of dance t-shirts.

This week it’s a free e-book on ballet apparel for men. Perfect for the beginning male student (or the parent of one), this e-book outlines everything you could possibly need in terms of attire–including information on the dance belt, how to sew and prepare your ballet shoes for class and what the “dress code” is for guys who want to dance. Be sure and pass the word–this is a valuable resource–and you can’t beat the price!

Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Dance Clothing & Shoes, Online Dance Resources Tagged With: apparel, Ballet, ballet for men, dance, dance t-shirts, david hunter, free e-book

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