LOL...

Susan, my entire troupe went "white" so to speak.

We have our white costumes that have main elements in white, including white choli's, even for me.

people.tribe.net/0eb196e3-...0a5d90847a

Only in colour did we stray away from the ATS uniform. We still have pantaloons (Mine were white, the girls had red and green), the girls had white skirts over coloured skirts (the skirts that would usually be on top!) and we each had white choli's with black and gold Turkish vests. Tassle belts were a variety of colours, as were the usual accessories.

If your students are all in black and one wears white, I can see where she would stand out in the grand scheme of the troupe. But I don't believe it is verboten to have choli's in white. On Volume 7, one can see the delightful Anita in a white choli while all the other ladies of FCBD and Devyani are in black cholis. There is so much luxurious colour happening with everyone that a white choli is absorbed into the melange. Anita doesn't stand out in a bad way.

And your students who think you are taking away their artistic expression? They need to suck it up. :) This is a dance form that stresses uniformity, and they need to focus on the dance and THAT being uniform. Same applies for the troupe.

It is funny, I've had this same clash within my own troupe.

I want us to be as uniform as is possible with a guy and two gals. I don't wear a skirt, they don't wear turbans. So I am constantly trying to get us to match as close as possible, leaving artistic freedom to be expressed in our belts, jewelry and what we put on our heads. And I agree, if there is too much difference the tribe vibe doesn't come across. But again, the tribe vibe comes across in the polish of the dancing.

I have found that even when Shades Of Araby dance in completely different coloured costumes (more informal hafla's) the tribe vibe comes across in the tight, clean moves being executed at exactly the same time.

I still vote for the Turban. Not only do I have thin brown straightish hair, my head is small too, so I have difficulty attaching things to my head, the head bands either slip off, or not enough hair or head surface to attach all the bits and pieces. Another dance troupe in Newcastle's (small industrial city) "trademark" is the headwrap look. I am a friend of the director, so am hesitant to "take on" the middle approach of headwaps in the "gypsy" style, which is acknowledged in our community as her trademark.

Have seen unflattering turban shapes, but this can be easily remedied with a get together with the dancers and help each other out to work out the most flattering shape. For me, personally, I like the less is more for decorating my turban, if it has enough volume, a good shape and some coloured scarves wound in.

Love this discussion.

Cheers, Susan

Mz Crankypants (LOL), around the web is the picture of all of FCBD in turbans...it looks like a fairly recent picture as it includes the current members. YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. It seems like wearing the turban really accentuates your facial features...eyes, lips and decorations. My only thought is because of this, maybe one needs to be a bit more dramatic in that department. BTW, whatever you do, your blue eyes are knockouts!