“What is your favorite belly dance beauty secret?”
Halaki aka Charlotte Aaberg (Thetis Island, B.C., Canada)
I have short hair but love to wear a long hairpiece when dancing my “Gypsy-style” of dance.
After wearing the hairpiece for a number of times, the heat from my body makes the hairpiece
go a little frizzy and uncontrolled. Since my hairpieces are synthetic, in order to tame them, I
take a Bounce fabric softener sheet and run it over my hairpiece before and after performing.
It really helps to keep them looking soft and controlled!
Bahaia (Texas)
Here is the icing on the cake! You have the choreography, and the costumes, but don’t forget
the finishing touches. You can create a more unified look for your troupe performances simply
by using the same lipstick color. This is especially effective in group photographs. We’ve found
these two favorites that work well on many skin tones: Mac Dubonnet (darker - shown in
photo), and Nars Red Lizard (brighter). Photo of Bahaia (left) and Lily by PixieVision
Linda Grondahl (California)
I never worry about my beauty before I dance. I just pick a colorful outfit, put on my red lipstick, a
little purple eye color, brush my hair and head out to the stage. My beauty comes alive when I hear
the beautiful music (I am so lucky to dance to live music!) and see my beautiful audience. Since
people tell me I did a beautiful job, I choose to believe them!
Korsha (New Mexico)
My favorite beauty secret is taking my time to get “costumed up”. I put the music I am dancing
to on plus other music I like. I start by thinking who am I; what character am I portraying? Am
a mysterious, sensual, strong, romantic… what story am I telling? When I decide who I am, I
take the time to create my character first through my eyes then the rest of my face. I then put on
my costume, fix my hair, jewelry, and head ornaments and I become the character I am dancing.
To me, taking time, to get really ready, allows me to live the dance. When I rush, my dancing is
rushed. I consider this preparation my “beauty secret” as when you feel beautiful in your costume
and how you look, you dance beautifully!
Deborah of The Saltanah Dancers (New Mexico)
My beauty secret involves flowing movement, full breathing, elegant posture, deep listening to music, being present
in my body in the moment, and expressing the joy of being alive. It turns out that Dancing itself is my best Beauty
Secret! Of course, I like lotions and potions, shimmers and sparkles too, but nothing makes a dancer more beautiful
than the Dance itself !
20
The Belly Dance Chronicles
October 2016