Welcome to Bellyrine Bellydancers Website
Bellyrine Bellydancers have been establsihed for over 12 years
in various locations on the beautiful
Bellarine Penninsula just outside of Geelong.
We firmly believe that all women can enjoy bellydancing.
At Bellyrine Bellydancers women of all shapes, sizes and ages are warmly welcomed.
No dancing experience or any special clothing is needed
to start bellydancing, just bring yourself and a positive attitude.
Bellydancing is good fun and exercise, and a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
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PUBLIC FUNCTIONS:
Have an event, gala or fundraiser coming up?
Add some colour and pizazz to your event,
with bellydancers.
The Bellyrine Bellydancers Performer Group are fun,
family friendly and made up of ladies of all ages and levels.
Let our performance group put some colour into your event.
Our performers came with their own music,
colourful costumes and twirling veils.
Let your guests try some fun bellydancing moves,
with our teaching packages also available.
Bellyrine Bellydancers are available Weekends and
Some evenings Only.
Price available on request.
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Bellyrine Bellydancers are proud to support our local Schools and are available to perform FREE at School Fete's, Functions and Open days.
Bellyrine Bellydancers are also available for community functions, such as Festivals, Parades, Gala's etc.
We also are delighted to perform FREE at Community Centers and Aged care facilities.
(30 min performance/teaching package)
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Bellyrine Bellydancers were proud to have recently taught at the VALID event at Deakin Uni, 2010 and 2011, 2012
offering Bellydancing classes for persons with disabilities.
The dance moves and very basic choreography were tailored to the disability level of the students and a good time was had by all.
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Apologies, but Bellyrine Bellydancers, perform as a group.
may not be hired solo and do not perform
at weddings, birthdays
or any male only function, such as stag nights.
Bellyrine Bellydancers are a Cabaret bellydance group. performing fully choreographed group Bellydance routines.Do not dance randomly around public restaurants/clubs,
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PAST EVENTS
Queenscliffe Music Festival 2011
2011 GEELONG GALA DAY - rained off
2011 VALID EVENT
2010 PAKOFESTA
2010 VALID EVENT
2010 GEELONG GALA DAY
2009 PAKOFESTA
2009 GEELONG GALA DAY
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Bellyrine Bellydancers perform in public events,
at schools nursing homes, gala days etc.
While these performance opportinuties are available,
they are voluntary and
No student will ever have to perform if they do not wish to.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below, weve included a list of questions frequently asked by ladies
interested in trying bellydancing.
If you have a question which is not listed here,
please feel free to e-mail us and we will be happy to answer you.
- How much is a Bellydance Class?
The Class prices are listed on the 'Our Classes' page.
- Where are the Bellydance classes held?
The Class locations are listed on the 'Our Classes' page.
- Do i have to bring anything?
No, The teacher will have a supply of any props used for students to borrow during class.
- Can anyone learn to Bellydance?
Yes, anyone can learn the basic moves.
How accomplished you become is up to you, it depends on how much time and effort you put into it.
Practicing a dance form like Bd can also help some become more co-ordinated
and more gracefull.
NO No No No and NO.
Tradional BD was danced by women for women, it was a celebration dance and not designed to be shown off for men. Mothers taught daughters and the women of the family danced together, without men present.
BD is no more smutty (and these days a lot less so) than getting up and disco dancing at your family party.
No clothing is ever removed during bellydancing, and it can be danced completely covered up if you wish and never ever has to be danced in front of anyone else, if you dont wish to.
If you want to learn a more 'provocative/sexy' type of dance form, which main function is to excite, then maybe try fun burlesque or even pole dancing instead.
- How should I dress for class?
This entirely depends on you. Some ladies do like to dress up for class, and some dont.
The more advanced the students are the more they do tend to dress up.
Most beginners just wear loose comfortable clothing, track pants/leggings and t-shirts. PLEASE DO NOT WEAR JEANS - these are too restrictive. Long skirts can be fun, but dont allow the teacher to see if you are moving your legs correctly.
Costuming in class is very much encouraged as it can be great fun and an excellent way to become immersed in BD.
(see costuming tips)
- Do I have to show my belly?
NO, Never if you do not want to. This is entirely optional.
- How many students are there in a class?
This depends on the class level and time of year, however we do have a class size limit, so that the students receive enough of the teachers attention.
- Will i have to dance/perform in public?
No, never if you do not wish to do so, this is an extra opportunity given to students at Bellyrine Bellydancers, which is not usually available elsewhere, but is always optional.
Performing in public, can be fun and exciting, it is very good for personal and BD growth.
You may be asked if you would like to perform, but students are never pressured to do so.
Some performances are paid for your time and some are not. Some students like to attend performances and just work behind the scenes.
Belly Dance Costuming
Bellydance costumes can have a big influence on the dancer as well as on the performance, can help you feel beautiful, or set the mood of the dance and
bedazzle the audience.
When you practice belly dancing you will find that costumes add to your self-confidence and help you feel like a beautiful belly dancer.
For students costuming can be one of the most fun aspects of Bellydancing, where else can women again get the chance to dress-up like a princess? Or wear all the sparkly jingly things we wouldn’t dream of wearing to the office?.
The light fabrics also have the added benefit of being lightweight enough to dance in. Dancing in a stiff and solid fabric would only inhibit the free movements of your body.
The colours used in costumes are usually jewel tones. They are bright bold beautiful colours that enhance the dance.
Make sure you like the costumes that you choose. They are an expression of your personal taste. Also be sure they are comfortable enough to dance in. You don't have to dance half naked to be considered sexy. In fact, most belly dancing costumes will cover a good deal of your body, usually with several layers.
Hints and Tips
COSTUME EMBELLISHMENTS:
Extra details/embellishments can complete your BD look and can be great fun.
Coins, chains and jewels are the common accessories used in dancing costumes. The most traditional is the use of coins. This tradition began in the days when belly dancers were given coins for their performance. They are typically attached to the costume with fringe and added to the tops and the skirt
- Fake ‘Stick on’ and ‘Clip on’ Belly jewels are becoming more available, so you can get the ‘look’ without actually having your navel pierced.
- Bindi’s are inexpensive and can complete your face make-up. They range from plain shapes to elaborate crystal studded swirls. Bindi’s can be re-used by touching a little false eye-lash glue to the back.
- Most costume jewellery shops have items that will look great with your costume. BD specific jewellery is not needed.
COSTUME PROPS:
Props can be an integral part of your Bellydance routine, and should be measured to your own requirements for the best use.
VEILS:
These can be very easy to make, choose any appropriate material
approx 2.5 meters long and 1-1.5 meters wide and then hem it all the way round.
Ready made veils can be bought, just choose the right size for you.
- LENGTH – This should be long enough for you to hold an end in each hand with arms outstretched, the material loose behind you, but not fully sagging down. There should then be approx 10-20 inches hanging down extra on each side.
- WIDTH – This is a personal choice, however we recommend that approx, knee length when held as above, is about right. Remember you need to be able to step backwards without tripping over your veil.
- MATERIAL – This again is a personal choice, however there are a few things to consider.
- Swishing, the lighter the fabric the better it will swish. Silk floats nicely, but should be used for slow floaty dances as it wont swish quickly. Silk can be hard to control and is recommended for advanced dancers. Chiffon is a very good all purpose veil material . Organza looks great, but tends to be too stiff to swish well.
- Wind, if using a veil outside, consider a heavier material or one with coin or bead edging, so it won’t blow around as much.
- Space, If dancing close to others, be aware that coin/bead edging can be dangerous when spun round quickly.
- Look, if dancing inside/behind your veil, ensure that the material is see-through.
DANCE CANES:
Again these can be bought or made.
To make buy a length of dowel and cover with material/ribbons/sequins etc.
· The best tip we can give you for dance canes, it to tie a rubber band or hair tie around the end you hold so that it’s tight and won’t come off. This will give you something to grip with your fingers, so that the cane will not fly out of your hand while twirling.
· Length, This obviously depends on how tall you are; most bought canes will be too long and will need to be altered to fit you.
o Stand the cane on the floor, rest you hand on top, your elbow should be bent approx 90degrees, but you shouldn’t need to lean forwards or lean down to reach the top of the cane. (about waist/hip height)
o The cane should not be long enough for you to hit the floor accidentally whilst twirling it.
o The cane should be long enough for you to tap the end on the floor without having to lean down.
COSTUME STORING:
It’s important that your costume items are stored appropriately; they will last longer and look better.
- Keep coined Hip Scarves/Items from tarnishing and lasting longer, by placing them in an air-tight container or re-sealable plastic bag whilst they are not being used.
- Hang plain BD costume items when possible. Ironing BD costumes can be a headache, try not to fold and pile them up, as you’ll then need to iron them every time you’re going to wear them.
- For heavily beaded items, lay flat in storage boxes to keep them clean and dust free.
- Air items completely after wearing (at least 24 hours) before storing them.
- Hand wash/not machine wash items whenever possible. Dry them flat. Follow any labelled care instructions.
CHOOSING YOUR COSTUME:
BD costumes can be a big investment. The right costume can make you look and feel wonderful, but get it wrong and your performance will suffer.
- Don’t rush out and start buying costume items when you’ve only just starting BD. Wait until you’re sure that you’ll stick with it first.
- When you are ready, choose costume items that you feel comfortable in, if you don’t feel comfortable or you constantly have to re-arrange the things you’re wearing, this will show in your body language and will compromise your performance.
- Professional BD ‘full’ costumes can be very expensive from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Most are hand stitched/beaded/sequined. While these do look good and give a professional image, to avoid embarrassment, it is a good idea to wear costuming that is appropriate to the type of BD you do and to your level of experience/training.
- It is always a good idea to buy good plain basic items, a circle skirt, wrap/tie top in good colours which can be mix and matched. Then splurge on a fantastic hip/coin belt, as that’s where you want the audience’s attention.
- Most BD skirts are designed to be worn at hip level, not at waist level. This shows the movement in the hips and belly better. However wear them a little higher, on top of your lower stomach, just under the belly button if you have an ‘overhanging’ lower belly.
- Skirt levels change as further layers, scarves etc are added, try everything on before you start having the length of items altered.
- Experience will help you find what shapes and colours suit you best, use the same rules which help you choose your day time clothing.
- Don’t (and we’ve all done this at least once) be tempted to buy a BD costume that looks lovely, but is the wrong colour/shape for you. It may be stunning on the model, but you won’t look or feel great in it.
- Generally darker colours are better for the majority of people. So unless you specifically suit them (and only a very very few do) steer clear of light peach/orange/pink/yellow/gold, or skin coloured costumes.
Purples, Blues and reds are the most popular and suit the majority of people.
Black being a very draining colour, is actually used far less than you'd think.
- Flowing circle/half circle skirts will hide your leg movements, ideal especially for beginners.
- The plainer/more form fitting the costume, the better a dancer you need to be, as the audience will be watching your body not the costume.
PERFORMANCE COSTUME TIPS:
- When performing always wear something (harem pants/leggings etc) under your dance skirts, as skirts tend to fly up when your are twirling. Also if you are dancing on a raised platform the audience will have a good view up your skirt.
- Whenever going to any location to perform, you will not know what the floor surface will be, always take some small dance /jiffy shows with you, that you can dance in, should you need to.
- Never dance barefoot on carpet which you do not know, even if it looks clean, it has been known for the carpet to have small pieces of glass stuck in it, which will seriously injure a dancers feet.
- Always practice your performance in your chosen costume before the big night. So you’ll know if it will stand up to the choreography and you know the feel of it and how it’ll react to your dance routine.
- Pin Pin Pin, safety pins are a BD’s best friend. Its always a good idea to keep some in your dance bag, lending them freely will endear you to other dancers.
- Pin all layers together and to your underwear for a performance to ensure everything stays put.
For further tips, check out the BD costuming on a budget section.
All this said, however. The most important things are that you feel great in your costume, look good enough to capture the audience’s attention and feel comfortable enough to do any dance move you are able to do and remember…..
Wear your costume; Don’t let the costume wear you!
COSTUMING FAQ's
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO SHOW MY…..?:
BELLY:
There are a few things that can be done, you can…..
Wear skin coloured or appropriately coloured tight fitting bodysuits.
Wear an appropriate tight singlet.
Wear a coloured lace bodysuit.
Choose a top with a frill, or lots of bead drapes.
Wear a full BD (Baledi) one piece dress.
JIGGLY ARMS:
There are a few things that can be done, you can…..
Wear a nice chiffon or lace tie top over the bra/bustier/singlet top.
Wear a ‘shrug’ over the top
Wear a small cardigan or bolero jacket
Wear a BD costume top with sleeves in it. (even short sleeves help)
Don’t wear arm bands on bare arms, or upper arm jewellery.
LEGS:
There are a few things that can be done, you can…..
Wear long skirts
Wear Harem pants under skirts
Don’t wear skirts with long slits/splits.
Don’t wear skirts with cut out pieces.
Wear a skirt which is not see-through, or wear pants underneath.
Wear dance pants instead of a skirt.
Don’t wear tight/mermaid/fishtail skirts
Belly Dance Costuming – On a Budget
While professional BD costumes can be very expensive, dressing up and looking good doesn’t have to be. Below are some ideas on how to get the look without the price tag.
- It is always a good idea to buy good plain basic items, a circle skirt, wrap/tie top in good colours which can be mix and matched. Then splurge on a fantastic hip/coin belt, as that’s where you want the audience’s attention.
- long gypsy style skirts are very good and can be bought from most clothes shops inexpensively. Then glam it up, add sequins, ribbons or beads.
- Clothes shops often have items on sale, which are too ‘out there’ for everyday wear, but which would be great for Bellydancing.
- Opp shops can be fantastic. They can have lots of things which can be used or adapted for costuming. Keep an eye out for anything with fringe, beads, sequins, or even just excellent material which you can use to make something out of.
- Embellish!, add sequins, beads or anything you like to your Bellydance costume, it’ll always be unique. The sparklier the better!
- Look out for good quality pre-loved costume items. Second hand doesn’t have to mean second best.
- Take an old t-shirt or singlet, crop it and then add a fringe of beads, or coins. Or put sequins on the front or add fancy appliqués.
- If you have a creative bent, try making your own. There are lots of websites which will give you patterns for costume pieces. And there’s bound to be someone in your class who makes their own, ask for advice, or help.
- Keep an eye out for Sales on the Bellydance shops websites, or E-bay.
- Take the heads off silk/fake flowers and use them for head dresses, on scarves or tops.
- Look out for sales at fabric shops and have a go yourself, or ask a friend.
- Use an old bra and cover it with sequins, tassels and anything you like.
- Old costume jewellery can be taken apart and used to embellish items. Often ‘children’s’ jewellery is very sparkly and colourful, just right for costuming.
- Fringe door curtains can be cut to length and used as a fringe belt. Or added to the edges of a triangle of material to make a lovely fringed hip scarf.
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Please do not download, copy or reproduce in anyway any content of this website,
without the express written permission of the current Bellyrine Bellydancers Owner.
All choreographies/routines performed by Bellyrine Bellydancers are the interlectual property of the current Bellyrine Bellydancers owner and are covered by copyright law.
Any person(s) copying, repoducing in anyway or performing these without express written permission of the current Bellyrine Bellydancers owner will be subject to these laws.
Bellyrine Bellydancers is a registered name and is not to be used by anyone other than the current owner. Current/Past students are not to use or perform under this name in way way or perform any of the Bellyrine Bellydancers routines without express written permission of the current Bellyrine Bellydancers owner.
The photographs published on this website are intended to show examples of the types of events that bellyrine bellydancers perform at.
They are not used to represent the current student lists and should not be taken as such
(they may contain present and past students)Please do not copy or reproduce them.
Bellyrine Bellydancers are a Teaching/Student group and as such are in no way professed to be professional bellydancers.
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