Costuming Elements Continued
The
Pantaloon or harem pants are Arabic in origin, popularized
by
Europeans for ballet depicting Middle Eastern scenes and themes.
The
Tassel Belt is an amalgamation of textures and colors
originally
from blankets of horses and camels. They were often given to dancers
when the observer wished to express appreciation but had no cash for
the performer. It is Arabic in origin.
The
Tribal Tattoos were originally used in nomadic tribes so
as to
scarify and protect children from marauding tribes. They are now used
by dancers in a decorative fashion. The symbolism is individual to each
dancer.
The
Bare Belly is another Americanization. Its primary purpose
is to
accentuate the wonderful variety of the female form.
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