This post was deleted by principessa crankypants

in fatchance we do have basic requirements. at the most basic level are choli, skirt, pantaloons. then there are the coin bra and tassel or coin belt.
the basics are required to create a uniform look, but our individuality and creativity comes from the fabrics and colors we each choose for those items, and how we put them together. also, we each have our own jewelry, and makeup techniques. that way we maintain uniformity, but still have our own individuality.

there have been times where we don't use a coin bra, generally if we have a choli that is decorative enough on its own.

we had one choreography where we didn't wear pantaloons under our skirts, but that appears to have been a one-time thing.

we don't always do the head wrap, either, it depends on the show, but if we don't wear it, we have our hair up, with flowers, pretty hair sticks, jewelry, to not only create a look that is finished, but to balance out the silhouette of the costume.

we really like the big skirts for the amount of movement they provide. also, fringe and tassels enhance movement in a big way, but still maintain an elegant look.

I don't dance ATS but there is a beautiful group up her and i have never seen them wear their ATS costumes without pantaloons, this is mainly because when they do spins you will notice their skirt can come up and out quite far and the pantaloons cover those legs, remember ATS takes from the tribes of the middle east and these ladies are modest and cover more skin than those who dance say..Egyptian Cabaret.

I am also slowly assembling a performance wardrobe.

> I guess I need to get cracking and brave the machine and 4 yards for a pair of them!

I'm a beginning sewer & made pantaloons as my first project. It was almost TOO easy - there were so simple that I didn't really learn much about how to read & execute a pattern... The Folkwear Sarouelles - Turkish pattern only requires about 2.5 yards of 45" fabric... One suggestion: The pattern directs you to cut & sew 4 pieces to make the gusset. I cut the gusset out of 1 solid piece on the fold so it would be less bulky inside. In my next pair, I'm going to use 2 or 4 pieces as directed, and make a split crotch (skirt+belt/jewelry+pantaloons = hard to tinkle, esp. in a public facility).

I'd call them a requirement for performance - the costume just looks better without bare legs and your skirt can really flare out to near-bum level in spins & such. If it's quite warm, for class I'll just wear the pantaloons & skip the skirt...

I probably wouldn't call the coin bra a requirement, but a choli is (for modesty and the general style)... I'd say the type of choli is open to intrepretation - I don't do the FCBD backless style because I like to wear a bra underneath...

Another requirement would be a headpiece of some sort. It's important to get your hair off your face & neck. I see a lot of buns & wraps HIGHLY decorated with flowers, chopsticks, ribbons, feathers, kuchi jewelry, etc. I've got short hair so that's not really an option and I do a full turban with some jewelry & flowers instead. 3 yards of simple $2 fabric (45") has been working great for me and its so cheap I can have many colors...

One thing to remember - practicality. When dancing with a group, remember that you might be dancing close together. Last time we danced my troupemate and I got tangled because we both had long dangling bits on our belts and we were in a small restaurant space. Note to self - short tassels or coins for close spaces, longer tassels and fringe for large spaces!

I personally like the pantaloons because my legs are not my most attractice feature. Plus I love how the pantaloons and skirt(s) hide a lot of the movement mechanics, and everything looks like it happens by magic!

I would say the coin bra is optional, but some sort of choli is standard. ATS dancers don't wear the bras alone; that's more of a fusion thing. My ATS teacher just gave me a run down for an upcoming performance, my first: pantaloons, with or without big skirt, choli or similar ethnic top, minimum of one scarf of some sort on the head, optional coin bra, sash/belt/whatever and as much tribal jewelry as we can round up.

Thank you thank you thank you!!, so much blessed detail! I love it. And as I noted here I go on the pantaloons! I have officially created three skirts one hip belt, two triangular tassel belts and one beaded bra and I love it ALL! So pantaloons here I come. I haven't settled into any one dance, but I know I love tribal, I'm self taught up to this point but classes begin shortly! So stoked about the pants, well that and my cowrie shells just arrived so I get to being playing with my falls! Thanks so much ladies, you're half my inspiration (the other half comes from that crazy insane peaceful feeling that everything is just OK when you dance!) I'd never be eyeball deep if it weren't for the many beautiful dancers before me!

Jo