Susan Senator

The detritus of a dancer.
I get such pleasure out of this picture. These are my belly dance costumes, strewn across my bed. The red one is a Susan original (a Shoshana original? Sheherazade? what should my stage name be?); the white and gold is a gift from my darling sister. (Ned and I were talking about how I could have a business: SteamyBras.com; he suggested BellyBras, but I thought that sounded like something you wear on your belly!)

I thought the colors were so delicious I would photograph them. I am very proud of the red top; I made it myself. Yesterday I went to the fabric store and bought beading and trim with the color in my head and came home and laid it all out on an old red satin bra. You are supposed to build the top from a bra or bikini top; I found out the whole trick of it in a wonderful book, called, of all things, The Embellished Bra by Dawn Devine.I tried it with a pink bikini top but after I had finished one cup I tried it on and only then remembered why I never wore that bikini: it’s too small! D’oh. So, ripped it out and started over. But I didn’t mind; I was that into it. I sewed while Benj drew. Occasionally he would look up and ask me a question about it. He also wanted to understand the many uses of the word “boob,” being a third-grader. I tried to explain and to keep him from being too silly, so that he would understand that this was an actual dance costume, etc., etc.

I used to sew a ton B.C. (before children) and when Max and Nat were little, way back when I used to do all kinds of decorating. In fact I had a small business for a while, “On a Shoestring,” where I advised people about rearranging what they had to make a better, more aesthetically pleasing room. I started to get a lot of clients and I freaked. Plus I did not know how to charge friends of friends. Obviously I didn’t charge friends, but what about the friendly women who were almost friends? Oh well. Writing suited me better.

Back when I was home with two baby boys and trying not to go insane, I used to sew Turn-of-the-Century clothing (I mean 19th century) from original dress patterns; it was a company called “Past Patterns.” I made 1890’s shirtwaists (blouses) with all these beautiful tucks in them, and lots of lace at the collar and cuffs; I made a few skirts, a duster, and a little purple jacket. Sometimes I got up the guts to wear my 19th century finery, with laceup boots and a hat with a black veil. I know I probably looked like a freak but I was so happy being 19th century. I still love vintage clothing, but they are always cut too small.

So I haven’t sewn something for myself in years and years. But I got the idea suddenly after going to the belly dance awards the other day. I examined all the costumes that were for sale (and were quite expensive) and I realized that I could probably fake a costume.

All it takes is a bra and some beading. A shmata, some tchatzchkes and some chazzerai. What joy I felt browsing through rose-colored beading and green braid and shiny pink lurex! The colors I picked are saturated, jewel toned, luscious and festive. All my favorites. I don’t care if it’s gaudy. It’s kind of supposed to be! It made me think about my grandmas, too. One, so beautiful and elegant, the other, so passionate and pink-centric. They loved everything I did; what would they have said about the belly dancing? (“Oy! So you’re an Arab now?” Or what my Great Aunt Henrietta once said long ago, eying my developing figure: “Boys like dat!” Or maybe, “Ach, nice!” Actually, that’s what my grandpa used to say… now that was a non-judgmental man!)

I wish they were all here so I could really find out.

Now to work on my routine. I’m going to perform for my family at Thanksgiving, and I think I will ask Laura and John (Laura’s long, lanky, laconic physics geek darling husband) to accompany me on guitar!