I've been mulling this question over for a few days, doing some research on the net to see if I can answer it myself and I'm curious what all of you ladies have to say, especially the FCBD gals.
How much officialness is there to the costuming aspect of ATS? What pieces are considered required in a costume to call it an ATS-appropriate costume, if there are any requirements? I know that ATS and tribal style in general has a specific, non-tangible look that you can point to and say, "that's tribal style", but I'm wondering if those who head up the powers that be of ATS have any kind of requirements in the costuming. Can the costume only, and not any of the moves, mean that your act is out of ATS and into Tribal Fusion?
I'm only asking out of curiosity because the other day I saw a FCBD video in which one of the dancers (and only one) was wearing a white choli, and I thought, "neat, I haven't seen that before." And that got me thinking about how cool it could look to do an entire tribal-style costume in white -- white dreads, white cowrie falls, white top, white skirt, white make up, and lots and lots of tribal metal ornaments. Then I thought...wait, would that be too far away from traditional ATS garb that I've seen?
How much officialness is there to the costuming aspect of ATS? What pieces are considered required in a costume to call it an ATS-appropriate costume, if there are any requirements? I know that ATS and tribal style in general has a specific, non-tangible look that you can point to and say, "that's tribal style", but I'm wondering if those who head up the powers that be of ATS have any kind of requirements in the costuming. Can the costume only, and not any of the moves, mean that your act is out of ATS and into Tribal Fusion?
I'm only asking out of curiosity because the other day I saw a FCBD video in which one of the dancers (and only one) was wearing a white choli, and I thought, "neat, I haven't seen that before." And that got me thinking about how cool it could look to do an entire tribal-style costume in white -- white dreads, white cowrie falls, white top, white skirt, white make up, and lots and lots of tribal metal ornaments. Then I thought...wait, would that be too far away from traditional ATS garb that I've seen?
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/28There's no rule against an all white costume, although, if you are dancing with a group, you would want to think about how an all white costume would fit in with the rest of the group. If you are the only one in white, it could be distracting to the audience, and take away from the cohesiveness of the look of the group.
Years ago at an audition, one of our members wore a white underskirt, and the note we got was that that one white skirt was 'jarring'. Think about how it would look from the audience perspective, again, if you are part of a group.
I think the ATS aesthetic does lean more toward earthy, deep colors, as opposed to pastels, but Mars, with Devyani, has done a white costume. -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/28Heh, heh. Thanks for keeping my anonymity, Wendy. ;} That was me with the jarring white skirt. And it was UNDER a black skirt! So, yeah, think about balance when it comes to the whole group. :}
Generally tho, the costuming tends to stick to choli, coin bra, pantaloons, full skirt, tassel belt, headwraps or pretty updos. I think there's some room for experimentation, but that recipe tends to be the best for modesty and movement.
I think we had this discussion some time ago, but I can't find it.
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/28Is this the thread to which you are referring, Mistress Sandi?
ats.tribe.net/thread/bb2d...db3701f583b3 -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/28Thank you for the link Traci! Sandi, Wendi, how bout entari's? (sic) I just did a Ren Faire and had to have a covered belly and arms and I got to wear this beautiful entari that was sort of like a ghawazee coat w/o the opening or a dress with a skirt and pantaloons underneath. I like how it gives the illusion of having a longer waist by wearing your belt lower. Sandi, I think you modeled something like it one year at Tribal Fest when they had the outside stage, with the arm drapings....love those! Thanks in advance! -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/28 -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/28Soooo....would you say that these are ATS appropriate?!?! Love the look! It covers the belly but soooo elegant! -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/28I think they lend well to the movement of the dance. I personally feel funny wearning something too snug over my belly while dancing, but I do like the way it looks on people. And they make great coverups!
Here are one's that Kathleen made, which she and Saaidi wore for Rakkasah one year.
people.tribe.net/kathleencrowley -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Costuming and ATS
04/28That was supposed to be her photos page 23.
people.tribe.net/kathleencrowley/photos
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/29Yup - like Wen, sorry...Principessa Crankypants said - I've played around with white costuming a bit.
When I was soloing some in DC (which for the record - I love doing *a* solo - but not *being* a soloist!) I pulled out an all black & white costume.
people.tribe.net/dc-mars/p...3826bca648
people.tribe.net/dc-mars/p...a347059fda
I've also done the white with a blue Jaipur skirt and full colors in the tassels and such - this pic was from after the show, so the tassels were already gone:
people.tribe.net/dc-mars/p...a68fd7436b
BUT - I will say that I've only done the blue/white twice - the first time it was with Sammati at a small venue and there were a total of three of us. We all looked different enough that I think it worked. I tried it again with Devyani at the Alabama Dance Summit this year and after seeing photos, I have to say that it looks distracting to me. We had a total of three white underskirts - but mine was the only light colored choli. Just looked out of place. -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/29What Mars said - white works if it's used across the group. I think a whole group with a lot of white in their costumes could be very striking. One white choli or one white skirt though is so eye-catching it's distracting.
In general, ATS costume seems to work best when it emphasizes the shape of the movement and the flow of dancers around the space. The big skirts & little cholis both contribute to the shape of individual movement, and the color and ornamentation help draw your eye across a whole group. There's no reason a group's color choice has to be earthy or deep or involve black at all, as long as it's coherent across the group. -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/29I think a white or light costume is beautiful. I was just talking to Boo about this the other day. I ordered myself an ivory 25 yd skirt a few months back and I want to get a lighter colored choli. A few weeks ago I picked up some yarn in three colors that I want to mix the theme in...ivory, sage, and lavender. I'm looking for a banjara belt that has neutral/light tones. But I wouldn't wear that costume without my dance partner in the same colors. So, we're talking about it and hoping to do something with those colors at the end of the summer.
Mars...your costumes are stunning!!! -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
04/29My troupe mate Laura wears a white 25 yard skirt... and I think it works with the three of us mostly because we're all into bright colors. I wear fushia, yellow and orange a lot, and our Miss Trixsta wears a lot of purples and bright blues, so I tend to think that the white blends well..not the best pic ever.....
www.saqarah.co.uk/index.php
but I do agree with Wendy, if most of your troupe wears earthy or dark colors, wearing white can be quite startling...
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Re: Costuming and ATS
05/02I bought white fluffy skirts for myself and the other girl in our troupe recently and we LOVE them. They add such a pop when worn under a dark skirt - of course we both wear them together so it doesn't look jarring.
Unfortunately I'm probably way too pale to wear a white choli; I'm already incandescent under stage lights or in flash photography. LOL -
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Re: Costuming and ATS
05/07We did white costumes for a show last year and they were a HUGE hit with the audience, we used sheer drapery fabric and all made different tops and over skirts. We only planned to use them once but so many people have commented on them that we may have to do it again one day, I think it was so stunning to the spectators as the show was outdoors at night with very low lighting compared to being on a spot lit stage. Our drummers said we had a glow!
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