PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

This craze for the backless choli has caused no end of headaches. Most women with B or C-cup and larger bust prefer not to dance without a bra, nor is it flattering for most. The breasts will be bouncing, and this is distracting for the audience, as well as uncomfortable for the dancer. Those with an A-cup bust might be comfortable, but will appear completely flat-chested - which is fine for some.

Here are some alternatives.

Low-Backed Choli

The East Indian choli more often than not does have a back, so there is no traditional reason to wear a backless one, that I know of. A choli with a wide, deep back neckline, in a scooped, square, or V shape, still shows a lot of back, and will cover a bra underneath, as in the photo. If it tends to slip off the shoulder, add ribbon ties to the back neck, just as with a backless style, to avoid that problem.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Buying Coins For A Costume. Find out how to shop for coins that match your coin belt to use in covering your bra or making other accessories.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: How To Cover A Bra. Before attaching the coin or chain bra cover, you need to cover the bra with suitable fabric. Here's how.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Bras For Dancers With Large Bustlines. If your cups runneth over, here's how to shop for a large-sized bra to use as a costume base.

Dina has been sewing for more than twenty-five years (yes, she started as a toddler!)

She's also an artist (Maryland Institute of Art) and perfected her sewing techniques apprenticed to various designers, freelancing for small theaters, restyling vintage garments, and altering wedding gowns.

Dina fell in love with belly dancing costumes upon her very first lesson. Now the pleasure of wearing her own designs, and seeing others wear them, offers as much pleasure as dancing. She's become expert as well in altering those troublesome ready-made Egyptian costumes, and modifying designs to flatter individual figures.

She holds workshops in Seattle to teach design and construction of cabaret costumes, and analysis of figure characteristics. She will also give private lessons, or resize or repair a secondhand costume. She's thus earned her Costume Goddess title.

The Costume Goddess Tells All Costuming Books

Dina has published six books of her own on belly dance costuming as well as writing nearly all the costuming section for The Belly Dance Book. For information on her series of books, The Costume Goddess Tells All, see her web site at www.costumegoddess.com. For reviews here on Shira.net of some of her books, see:

• Volume 1: Flattering Costume for Bellydancers. Advice on designing a belly dance costume that will look flattering for your figure type.
• Volume 2: Easy Costume for Bellydancers. Explains how to create easy-to-make costume items if you have very little sewing experience.
• Volume 3: Cabaret Belt and Bra for Bellydancers. Detailed instructions for making your own bra/belt set. Emphasis on the beaded/sequined look, but some coin information too.
• Volume 4: Arm Costume for Bellydancers. Creative ideas for sleeves, armbands, gauntlets, and drapes.
• Volume 5: Tribal Toppings for Bellydancers. Cholis, vests, and other tops suitable for U.S. Tribal costuming.
• Volume 6: Thrifty Chic for Bellydancers. Transforming thrift shop bargains into belly dance costume pieces.
• Volume 7: Headpieces for Bellydancers. Many simple, inexpensive ideas for costuming from the neck up.