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

Click on the photo to the right to see the costume in more detail.

Since first grade I've been the shrimp in the front row. I feel I should've been statuesque. One of my priorities when I design a costume is creating the illusion of more height, or at least not emphasizing the lack of it. I've addressed this issue in my answers to the 95-pound dancer and the short pear-shaped dancer and apple-shaped dancers, but they bear repeating if you're well-proportioned, but concerned about appearing short onstage.

You want to keep the eyes of the audience high, away from the floor and your feet and lower body. You want to keep your silhouette simple and narrow, with small, elegant details and important center motifs. Make your head attention-getting with ornamented headbands or scarves and jewelry. A bare costume is fine, as is a sheath or fitted beledi dress, like the one pictured in the column on stretch marks.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Small Hips. Some suggestions to flatter your narrow hips.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Pear-Shaped Dancer. Advice for both short and tall pear-shaped dancers.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Apple-Shaped Dancer. Help for dancers who are short and apple-shaped.
• The Costume Goddess Tells All: Flattering Costume for Bellydancers. Review of book by Dina Lydia.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Thin Dancer. Flattering looks to go from skinny to slinky.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Creating Cleavage. Ways to make the most of your assets on top.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Baladi Dress. A costume style that can create the illusion of height.

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.