Hi All. I know I know I have not posted as much as I should of in the last few months. *Bad Tarah*. Will blame it on being busy! ;)
Anyhow. Today I want to talk about colour palettes and creative mood boards. These are both amazing tools for all sorts of creative enterprises, from changing your room decor, designing a special occasion outfit, an event, party, ordering custom work etc. They help to focus your intent and to co-ordinate the overall look and feel of what you want. It is also very useful for any suppliers/ services you use so they can get into your head a little more easily.
As a accessory and costume designer I often ask my clients to give me some pics which inspire them,and to tell me what about those pics they like exactly. I DO NOT copy others work, but pictures help me to get an idea of the look the customer is wanting.
Now days it can be pretty simple to create a mood board or colour palette and that is thanks to the internet and pinterest. Besides pinterest there are other sites and even apps that can help you to figure out what colours and elements will work together.
One of the sites which is great for looking for Colour inspiration for weddings and events is Design Seeds . This site allows you to search by colour or theme in very specific ways, great for those who don't want just "blue and green" search results , but who would rather actually choose the colour blue they are looking for by mixing it on the site.
Using one blue the results show all the pictures that include it and colours that work well with it. pretty cool!
Another virtual mood board tool which seems to be user friendly is Moodshare . The basic premise is that you put in a query and it will bring up multiple options from a range of photo, font, video and colour palette sites. You then add them to your mood board, which you can edit and make look the way you want. You then can share it with whoever you want or get others to add to it. Great for group projects or working with vendors in other cities etc. (I haven't had a chance to use it yet- if anyone has or wants to try, let me know the results in the comments section)
The one I would use for fashion related boards is Polyvore. In fact I used it to help with my Magpie Calls accessory outfit inspiration posts here and here. Basically you can build a set around one piece of clothing or a colour etc. They have loads of clothes from the couture to the everday. It can be really fun. They also now do room sets, so you can even try make a board of your dream bedroom. You also have the option of sharing to facebook or other social media.
These are just a few ways to help you create visual feasts for the eyes and to bring a project or dream look together.
Do you have any other useful sites or apps you can recommend? Put in the comments!
Time for a blog post featuring some new Magpie Calls Pretties. :)
Some CUSTOM CREATIONS:
A Headdress modification for Briget- Original base and flower by Alibelly Costumes. Additional handmade fabric flower, fringing and forehead swag by Magpie Calls.
Custom Handmade fabric flowers for Briget.
Custom fascinator for Lisa for a wedding.
For MC Bridal a custom pair of off-white handmade fabric flowers for Ally.
New Designs for MC BRIDAL (Magpie Calls new Bridal Range). :
Handmade satin sash with handbeaded and ruffled detail.
Made from scratch a wire, glass pearl and crystal tiara crown.
Handbeaded lace hair accessory. Pearls with crystal button details.
A Pale Gold satin sash with handmade flower and wire detail.
Handmade Dusty pink sash with handmade flower details in pinks and greens.
Handmade black sash with black and white flowers detail.
Some Fun new MAGPIE CALLS creations:
Some new versions of my fabric flower clips
Fun embroidery cotton stacking bracelets with charms.
Fun bright Elastic headbands with signature MC fabric flowers.
Fabric and beaded pendant necklace.
Hand- made and sewn fabric cuffs with button details and chain clasp.
Fabric Heart pendants with chain and a fab new colab with my Mother Di Van Wyk who is an Artist- Hand drawn OOAK mini art-work pendants handbeaded by Moi!
Fabric and hand beaded statement cuff with braided leather.
Lastly a few headdresses I have made for Bellydancers:
Bronze and warm metallics headdress with chain dangles.
Red and Black asymmetrical headdress with fringing and feathers.
This is just a taste of what I have been getting up to since the last "It's all in the details post".
Got some awesome ideas to come in the next couple months so keep an eye out for that!
I love making pretty things and really adore making custom creations that are special and OOAK for my clients. I am learning all the time how to do things better and make them long-lasting with a whimsical charm.
So Finally I have gotten around to processing and writing down my thoughts of This years Massive! This is a long one.
My first Massive was in 2012, and it was literally (and yes I am using it correctly) a life-changer for me regarding my dancing and how I think about it , and my place in it! It was me jumping into the deep-end of the Advanced-pro track with very little concept of where I or Tribal Bellydance in SA fitted in globally, and wow what a journey it was. I surprised myself by keeping up for the most part. Yes there was technique I didn't know , and there were dancers who were far beyond me talent and ability wise, and I probably did frustrate a few of them. But I absorbed and sucked up every morsel of dance-related stuff I could. I realised that even though I wasn't in the same league as some of those dancers, I COULD be. I had to look at it from the perspective that the other dancers for the most part had much more access to training, and more often. They had mentors and teachers who had been doing this for years before they started and therefore had people to turn to and ask advice and be fed themselves as teachers and professionals. But the biggest thing I found was that those dancers worked for themselves. They practiced, they researched and made sure they were fed in any way possible by doing other classes and styles. They made sure they weren't stale and were constantly working on their craft and skills. They also worked TOGETHER. So many collaborations and connections where they learnt from each-other meant growing the community and skills in an organic way! This all made such an impact on me coming from a tribal community that is still in its infancy in SA. It made me see that yes, we may not get as many opportunities to have international teachers come to SA, but that is no excuse to let us have bad tribal and teaching come from SA! We have the responsibility as first generation teachers to make a strong foundation any way we can! When I came back from the 2012 Massive my mind and attitude had completely changed, and while I slowly started working on myself it was really in 2013 when I took over Dance Tribe that I could really start implementing what I had learnt the previous year. I am extremely proud of my studio, my students and our place in the KZN and SA tribal scene.
Now I know this is a review on the 2014 Massive and not the 2012, but I thought some background would help put this years review in perspective.
For one, 2012 I went alone (after the director of Dance Tribe at the time pulled out due to ill health), and this year I got to experience it with my Dance Wife Benni. To have a dance wife or wives is important to a dancer. This is a person or persons who connect with your dance style, who you are able to choreograph with easily and who complements your dancing and who thinks on your wavelength. This means collaborations which are exciting and which have real soul to them. Last time I did a solo at the Massive Hafla, which was originally supposed to be a duet, but then had to be cut and improvised when Cindy Pulled out. This time Benni and I thought of our concept, I found music and we choreographed our set together. We were prepared to dance on the Massive Showcase stage and I am so proud of what we achieved.
Here is our dance from the showcase called "RED" ,all about dark fairytales and obsession, love,lust and possession.
some of the amazing pics captured by Yaniv Halfon of us:
Next- this time I really felt I had more stamina, I knew more technique (and was able to do it more easily)and I felt more confident than last time. It showed me that I had improved over the last 2 years. Once again I learnt soooooo much from the workshops and teachers. Zoe Jakes, Kami Liddle, Mira Betz, Sharon Kihara, Jill Parker and Amy Sigil. Some teachers I had last time and was so grateful to get the chance to learn from them again. I just loved how each is so different from each other but have so much knowledge to give us. I think having the variety of really solid Master Teachers meant we got a well-rounded approach, and their workshops complimented and contrasted enough with each-other so we could never be bored , and worked our entire bodies, minds and souls.
From Sharon we learnt about Japanese Butoh dancing and its place in cultural expression. From Zoe we learnt about the archetypes of the lady and the lion and how they can be utilised in performance. She also gave a crash course on Jamila Salimpour and her style and influence on Modern Bellydancing. She also introduced us to Balinese and Odissi styles of dance. We also did a choreography which incorporated many of these aspects called "Glamazon". From Kami we learnt more about musicality and rhythm,body geometry and fluidity. Jill Parker got us back to our juicy bellydance roots and got us out of our routine movements and transitions. Mira got us to work in groups for 2 days working with manipulations and choreographies, and also made us create dance wear from junk! Then to finish off Amy and Kari from Unmata gave us a crash course in slow ITS and multiple leaders which blew my mind! See what I mean about variety.
That is one reason why I spend all the money and travel all that way to go to Tribal Massive. It is one of the few events that cater to different levels and who give that type of intensive training with the caliber of teachers that are there. The fact that it is so expensive for us SA dancers to travel and get training means we really have to prioritize what we spend money on with regards to where and how we train. I can only afford to go over every few years and so I want to make sure I can get as much in as possible in the time I am there. 49 hours. There is no ways I would ever get that much training in 2 years with international tribal dancers if I stayed in SA! The level is also important, when people come out to SA the workshops cater to a general level to make sure workshops are filled. While you still learn it does mean that you can't always get into the nitty-gritty details of the topics on offer. Tribal Massive allows the opportunity to spend 3- 5 hours on each topic and at a advanced level to really get the most out of it. It also means the participants are all on the same wavelength, even if they are not all of exact skill level. We all have the same passion and love of the dance, and most of us are teachers, performers and studio owners so we go through similar things. I learnt just as much from observing, talking to and dancing with my fellow adv/pro track dancers as from the teachers. The set-up of the event also allows for real group camaraderie . Mira actually commented on how special our tracks bond was when we danced, and how we all worked together so well. It was a really safe and non-judgmental space to create and learn.
My hard earned Certificate:
Our Advanced/Pro track of 2014 pic by Tori Halfon:
I love my Global dance family and made and re-connected with some special friends while I was there. What is amazing is that when we are there every continent bar Antarctica is represented! A truly Global gathering!
Now one of the highlights of the week was the Massive Spectacular. A stage show of Epic proportions. It is my chance to watch the dance crack I drool over on youtube in the flesh, from a few rows away! Getting to see the debut of Zoe's House of Tarot was AMAZING (specially as so many of my track-mates worked their butts off practicing after class because they were in it). Seeing Kami's Goldstar Dance Company, Sera Solstice, Ariellah, Jill Parker, Sharon Kihara, Unmata, Lady Fred,Mira Betz etc live and in front of me was just so.... huunggha! SO much inspiration and amazing skill on that stage.
Tori and Yaniv Halfon the organisers of the whole event really put on one of the best stage shows-and then they let it be put on youtube free for the dancers and the public to view and experience. They are really the most lovely couple and the kindest and sweetest organisers. They make sure everyone is taken care of and sorted out, and we all know we can go to them for help if we need it! They are our "dance Mom and Dad" while we are there.They say once you are part of the Massive Family, you are always welcome "home", and this is true! I don't envy the work involved in this event and I am grateful for what they do for the fusion bellydance community!
Here is a pic of me and Tori the organizer backstage at the showcase.
To finish off this review I also want to say how much fun our off time was. Getting to stay at the same place as everyone else meant we could have dinners together, make trips to the Strip, drink 1 dollar margaritas at the casino bar, walk to the studio each day together and just bond. It really makes for a special experience. I learnt so much more than what I can put in one blog-post, but I know that it will be filtered through into my dancing and into my studio over the next few years and that it will hopefully benefit the KZN community as a whole. I recommend that every dancer finds the event or festival that will give them the best training they can get and connects with the community which nurtures and grows them. That may mean travelling overseas, or to the next province or State, but it means you are actively taking your dancing seriously and to the next level. You won't regret it! Tribal Massive I will be back!
Today I am sharing with you one of the exhibits I visited while in Las Vegas. We just happened to be walking along the strip passing The Cosmopolitan when I spied this exhibit through the window. We realised it was free to go in and we were allowed to take photos. Being the Bellydancers we are , we could not resist taking a gander at an exhibit showcasing one of the most outrageous and blinged up performers ever: LIBERACE!
I love this quote!
I couldn't believe the detail that these costumes had! Also can't imagine how much they must weigh!
Puts Bellydancers everywhere to shame!
Each costume is its own work of art!
CRAZY!!!!!
I got so much inspiration for costuming from this exhibit! This cloak I fell in love with and I am so going to create a dance costume based on it! <3
Liberace had all the finer details included in his overall vision of Over The Top. Even his bowties and shoes got the bling treatment!
Then last but not least, his favourite accessories- His piano and Car... decorated as only he would have done, entirely in rhinestones! Gotta love it!
This was a fun and inspiring little aside on my trip and I love looking at the pics and just oohing and aahhing over the details and the boldness of design he had. Really was amazing!
Hope you have enjoyed seeing into Liberace's wardrobe! May be time to go watch "Under the Candelabra " for more inspiration!
