If you’re local to me or will be in town on November 8, 2025, join us for a day of music and dance. We’ve landed the space and booked our DJ. Let’s have a dance party.
For more information, visit our event website and sign up for our newsletter. Our production group, BABDAMA (Bay Area Belly Dance and Music Association), sends out 4-6 notices in the coming months as details unfold. And if you want to sign up for a dance opportunity, the details are sent out in our newsletter.
I hope to see you there this fall, Dawn Devine ~ Davina July 2025
Belly Dance Mini-Magazine:
Taking the Newsletter in New Directions
This summer, we’ve decided to spend some quality time working on the Belly Dance Mini-Magazine. In the spring, I polled the Studio Davina Facebook group. Almost unanimously, the group voted for “Themed Issues,” but there was also a large number of folks who voted for “Regular Departments.”
For me, this felt like a mandate from the community for more quality content organized in an efficient and better way. This is the result.
“Focus on …”
We’ve chosen to create a collection of mini-articles and links to related content and call it “Focus on…” The first in this series is about legendary Mata Hari, notorious spy, courtesan, and dancer. Her career spanned the decade between 1905 – 1914, pausing at the start of WWI.
“Focus On…”
Curated Video, Articles, Publications
For this first “Focus On…” piece, I intentionally chose to share a variety of different information types for different newsletter readers. Included in this section are links to primary source materials, biographical videos, informative and well researched articles, historic and modern book recommendations.
Upcoming “Focus On…” subjects include particular dates, styles, props, and, like Mata Hari, focus on specific dancers. My main mission is to share quality information. This new segment allows me to share from the wide variety of images and links from my historical research.
Regular Monthly Topics
In addition to the monthly special feature, I’m honing in on a series of regular monthly topics. Much like a fashion magazine that includes columns on beauty, fashion, and travel, my goal is to create a regular list based on subscribers’ tastes.
During the second month of the year, I’m experimenting and brainstorming with my Facebook Group to dial in a good set of 8-10 topics to share each month. It’s going to be a fun project that will make the newsletter more entertaining and informative.
If you haven’t signed up for the “Belly Dance Mini-Magazine” yet, use the link below. Keep scrolling and click through the image below to read the entire July 2025 newsletter.
Thanks for joining me for this adventure in belly dance costume and history!
Interview with Iana for the “Belly Dance Life Podcast”
I was thrilled to be invited to participate on the longest-running belly dance podcast, “Iana’s Belly Dance Life.” I’ve been subscribed for many years, and it was so exciting to get an invitation to participate in her programming.
The Podcast
Back in May, Iana reached out to me and invited me to come and chat about my career in dance and costuming. During the conversation, I laid it all out there chronologically. I was happy to share insights I’ve learned along the way.
Before the scheduled meeting time, I went over to Iana’s podcast page and listened to a dozen or so podcasts. I listened to one or two a day while walking and doing house chores for about a week.
Pre-listening to a podcaster, helped me to learn Iana’s cadence and timing so that we could have a great flow. While most podcasts are edited, I always try to be provide clean smooth content.
I particularly enjoyed listening to colleagues in the field of dance history and research:
Dr George Sawa – Digging Deep into the History of Egyptian Music.
Dr. Audrey Cottet – REsearching Finger Cymbal Playing in the Roman Empire
I enjoyed my conversation with Iana and highly recommend listening to her podcast on your favorite player. You never know who she will reach out and contact for her next interview.
It’s June 1 as I type this intro to what is my latest video on YouTube. I realized last week that my channel has started growing, and I wanted to introduce myself to folks who are new to my channel.
June is a month of drawing and illustration. I’m continuing the graphic design work on the update for “Costuming From the Hip.”
Throughout my books, I’ve used my illustrations to present different styles, shapes, and wardrobe pieces that are part of the greater belly dance wardrobe.
In the next expanded edition, I’m including full-length illustrations, ensemble flat-lays, and individual garments.
In addition to illustrations, I’m flipping through my entire archive of photographs. More than 25 years of pictures! I’m systematically exploring nearly 10 terabytes of digital files to find gems to use in the next book.
In addition to fashion illustrations and photographs, we’re including new diagrams. From pattern layouts to step-by-step specialty techniques.
This edition is shaping up to be the best work I’ve done throughout my entire career as a belly dance costume designer and author of DIY books.
Thank you for your patience as I slowly work through this massive project.
It’s May, and I’m thrilled to collaborate with the uber glamorous Basinah and her mum to craft a multi-piece assiut capsule wardrobe. Our mission is to use a couple of assiut shawls and a dress to build as many wardrobe pieces as possible using a mix-and-match format.
Basinah
Basinah, and her mum Jiniko, have been part of our team since we worked on The Cloth of Egypt c. 2014. For the next edition of Costuming from the Hip, we are working together to create a small collection of ensembles that showcase different design and construction techniques.
Basinah appeared in “Cloth of Egypt,” “Becoming a Belly Dancer,” on stage at the “Fall Festival,” and goofing off with Jiniko. All photos by Alisha Westerfeld. Click through to see more photos of Basinah on Instagram.
The first ensemble is made from three purple assiut shawls and a dress. We’re building a coordinating bra and belt set, a two-panel assiut skirt, and a dress. Jiniko is executing the sewing for this design collaboration. We’re transforming the traditional dance dress in several ways:
Redesign Neckline
Remove Sleeves
Embellish with Rhinestones
Transform Sleeves
The official “Before” photo of the assiut robe, and a few informal in-progress snapshots. The next edition of “Costuming from the Hip” includes content from my booklet series as well as photographs and and new illustrations. The current edition dates to the rewrite of 2010.
“Costuming from the Hip” update
I’m very happy that the text of the book is basically finished. During May, I’m editing the bibliography and other end matter content.
My goal is to create a bibliography that will serve as useful tool for future researchers. We’re sticking to published books, and organizing them into logical groups for locating publications thematically.
In addition, #CFTH30 includes a new research guide for using archives. I’m including my best tips, tricks and methodologies for finding information in newspapers, magazines, and journals.
A sample spread from the bibliography in “The Cloth of Egypt.” I’m expanding the “reading list” for Costuming from the Hip based on the positive feedback from my colleagues in belly dance history and costume design. Photos by Alisha Westerfeld.
Sewing Resumes here at Studio Davina
Some folks might have heard over on Patreon or in my Studio Davina group on Facebook, that I’ve been having some issues with my right thumb. Over the past two months, I’ve worked on some rehabilitation and I’m happy to announce that I’m once again able to pull a needle. Hurrah!
Time to head back into the studio to resume work on the appliques for the “Blue Mermaid.” Photos to follow in the next post!
Happy Dance and Costuming, Dawn Devine ~ Davina May, 2025
Throughout my books, I’ve used my illustrations to present different styles, shapes, and wardrobe pieces that are part of the greater belly dance wardrobe.
