Mata Hari Bellydance

My solo at a recent small fundraiser show. Improvised to "Dunya" by Niyaz. There are still a lot of things I need to work on, but it's not too bad.

I made the costume from scratch (except the skirt, which is a sari) to closely replicate the costume worn by Mata Hari in 1908: http://sarcasm-hime.net/matahari-side.jpg

Note: The veering off to the side during the spin is actually intentional, as I realized I was standing on my veil so purposely spun to the side to get away from it.

http://sarcasm-hime.net/bellydance.html

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• bellydance
• tribal
• mata
• hari
• fusion

[ssopasa]

This is the best belly dancing costume I have ever seen! I also like to make my own costumes and jewelry. I have a few questions for you although I will not be duplicating anything of Mata Hari's, I would like to learn a little...Is the jewelry Indian that you then altered, period stampings and replicas, or middle eastern elements creatively put together, or some of all 3?

[Sarcasmhime]

@ssopasa Thanks! I made the costume attempting to replicate the look of her actual costumes with elements that I could find and piece together; most of the jewellery is filigree metal pieces, rhinestones, and found jewellery pieces that I assembled using photos of Mata Hari for reference. The bra and belt are fabric with the above elements stitched down.

The skirt is one sari that has simply been folded and stitched; I just made it up with my best judgment, no special training.

[SirTannerham]

Why is this a mata hari dance?? the only things that made mata hari dancing so special and famous was that she striped while belly dancing and that she was naked in the end... and this was truely not that intense and erotic like mata hari wanted the dance to be... sorry...

[Sarcasmhime]

@SirTannerham If you read the description, I am a costumer and was mostly interested in replicating her costume, and since I also bellydance I brought the two interests together. I am not trying to replicate her exact dancing because nobody knows exactly how she danced, and because I am not interested in stripping. If that's what you're looking for I'm sure there's other videos out there for you. :P

[NuhadRS]

love the costume!! please a really loved that song can you tell my the name?

[Sarcasmhime]

@NuhadRS It's "Dunya" by Niyaz. Many Youtube videos have a little music-note symbol under the video that shows the song name. :)

[Annonymus]

costume is fine, dance is charming:)

only a small notice:maybe shoulders should be a bit more back and down,hip tucked under.

[Sarcasmhime]

While Nejla's videos are beautiful and evocative, I disagree that she is any more 'authentic'. There is no footage of Mata Hari's dancing, and by contemporary accounts she was not a trained dancer (in fact some accounts by other dancers claimed she was a rather poor dancer who got by mostly on her exoticism). I simply chose to interpret her using my own modern bellydance training. I do not see that as a less valid choice.

[tmilehorie]

AWESOME! :)

[Dawngael]

I have to say this is the most beautiful, graceful dance I have ever seen.

Wow!

[ssopasa]

Any details on what the belt is made of? Is the skirt one sari that has simply been folded in an Indian way like an Orissi costume? If so how did you learn? Were you self taught or took classes? Books or articles you recommend? Thanks for responding....

[IAmARedSpecial]

How did you make the headpiece? I love it so much! Love your costume to!

[Shaynaz]

FABULOUS job on the costume and the dance!! love all the detail work you did on it. just amazing!

[Cachetitos30]

WOWWWWWWWWWWWW I love dance and costume! Everything Great!