Petite Bellydancers

Amethyst

New member
In petite I mean 5 foot 3 and under! I am 5 foot 3 so just about petite in terms of height, and also I have small bones/frame. Not so small boobs, belly, bum and thighs (and I am slightly pear shaped).

It seems to me that it can be a bit difficult getting some costumes (made for average heights, I'm guessing 5 foot 5 inches?) that fits right for petite height and/or frame.

A skirt that I bought on ebay, which was 2 inches shorter than the average length one, was about an inch too long, not much, enough to have to pull it up a bit so that I did not trip over while dancing! (unless they are supposed to be that long, lol).

I found this site that sells petite size costumes
Petite Costumes
 

Farasha Hanem

New member
Hi, Amethyst

I moved your thread because I think it will get more response here than in Beauty and Fitness. I'm 4 feet 9 inches, and weigh 94 pounds, and have a tiny frame. This might be something I look into in the future. :)

Farasha Hanem
Moderator
 

Amethyst

New member
Hi Farasha,

thanks for moving this thread to the right section (it seems obvious to me now!).

It seems from looking on the net and here that many dancers adjust or make their own costumes, so that is one way of making sure that they fit well. I'd like to give it a go one day, first got to keep practicing the new moves!

I've seen some lovely individually made costumes here :)
 

Nath

New member
Hi Amethyst! I'm under 5' but well padded all over and am having a hard time getting a starter costume. I sympathize completely! Thanks for the link!
 

fluidhips

New member
yeh I am tiny too.
I did find a great seller on ebay for my dance trousers,they are slightly long but not too much.

I know what you mean though.
those costumes look really beautiful,you gonna treat yourself soon?
 

PracticalDancer

New member
Amethyst, with most dance styles, the bottom hem of your skirt should skim the floor and the top (what would be the "waist", but you don't wear it at the waist) should fall somewhere below the top of your pelvis and above the ball and socket joint of you hip. There is some "personal preference" on that top of the skirt based on your individual build.

The rational for the floor skimming is that a) feet are not considered attractive, clean, or polite in the Middle East and b) it allows the dancer to "float" as she moves. While your feet and knees will work, there is something to be said for letting it appear effortless.

So, dance styles with "floor skimmer hems":
- American Cabaret / American Oriental
- Oriental "Egyptian" style (versus some folklorics, below)
- ATS
- Saudi

Examples of dance styles with shorter hems, along with where the hem falls:
- Melaya Leff (knee length, angled hem)
- Saidi (with or with out cane) can be between about 4 inches above floor to all the way to the floor. Some will say that while your hem is short, you would still wear Harem pants


There are probably more that could round out this list; but, these are the ones I am pretty confident on.

and, being 5'2" (6'4" with attitude), I am VERY used to altering hemlines -- usually by rolling from the waist and pinning like mad! :lol:

Regards,

Anala
 

alosha

New member
In petite I mean 5 foot 3 and under! I am 5 foot 3 so just about petite in terms of height, and also I have small bones/frame. Not so small boobs, belly, bum and thighs (and I am slightly pear shaped).

It seems to me that it can be a bit difficult getting some costumes (made for average heights, I'm guessing 5 foot 5 inches?) that fits right for petite height and/or frame.

A skirt that I bought on ebay, which was 2 inches shorter than the average length one, was about an inch too long, not much, enough to have to pull it up a bit so that I did not trip over while dancing! (unless they are supposed to be that long, lol).

I found this site that sells petite size costumes
Petite Costumes

There's another thread on here about Lila's costumes, and I believe we're to be wary of her. (steals images from other designers if I remember correctly)

For skirts, go custom. It's going to cost you a bit more, but well worth having a skirt that really fits.

Do you have any sewing skills? If so, making your own bra and belt would be a great idea.
 

Nath

New member
There's another thread on here about Lila's costumes, and I believe we're to be wary of her. (steals images from other designers if I remember correctly)

For skirts, go custom. It's going to cost you a bit more, but well worth having a skirt that really fits.

Do you have any sewing skills? If so, making your own bra and belt would be a great idea.

Thanks for this. I didn't go to that link and look, just made a note. If I'd known it was Lila's I wouldn't have even done that.
 

walladah

New member
it will be very time-consuming at the beginning

but if you do not learn at least to adjust the costumes you buy (better to create them yourself or with a seamstress' help), there is no solution to the problem. Because, no matter whether there are specialised shops (petite, whatever), each body is different. And for a performance, we cannot want less than perfect fit.

It is among an oriental dancer's skills: creating or at least amending constumes.
 
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