Princess Farhana
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Missives From The Royal Palace: Princess Farhana's thoughts on dancers and dancing; costuming, make up, reviews,vignettes and oh yeah....glitter!
Princess Farhana
1y ago
Tons and tons of stage makeup...and it's gotta come off somehow! photo: Maharet Hughes
Ah, stage makeup: where would we dancers be without it?
By using careful camouflage and strategically placed contouring, we can make our features look larger, smaller or way more dramatic. We become wide-eyed, pillow-lipped seductresses with chiseled cheekbones and jaw-lines. We morph into Pirate Wenches, Dying Swans, Roaring Twenties Flappers and mid-century Pin Up Girls. With the addition of metallic powders, glitter and crystals, we turn into Fairy Queens and Every G ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
Photo: Maharet Hughes
Golden milk, sometimes called called turmeric tea, is hugely popular these days. There’s definitely a reason- actually, there are several- that it’s all the rage among Paleo Diet devotees and really, anyone whose into self care and looking after their wellbeing.
The health benefits of turmeric,which, along with coconut milk, is the main ingredient in golden milk are numerous. Among other things, it’s active compound curcumin is a powerful inflammation fighter, and that’s what makes this four thousand y ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
On-duty at my regular restaurant gig
Restaurant gigs are one of the primary jobs for many belly dancers. They can be very lucrative, and they’re usually lots of fun because the dancer gets to interact with the customers up close and personal.
However, while we sometimes are completely in the moment and being transported by the music, there’s also a litany of “dancer problems” that go hand-in-hand with these intimate shows, which are often done in very small spaces, with no stage, dancing among the tables.
I’ve been dancing ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
Winter beauty and health for dancers
Is that a shimmy or are you just shivering?
Winter has hit in LA, and I’m freezing! I’m also reasonably sure that all you dancers in colder climates are laughing hysterically at me, but it really is winter here in Hollywood. We’ve had cold storms non-stop the past month, and more rain than in the past six years of drought!
But no matter where you live, there are some things about our dance practice and presentation that really need to change when the ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
How many times have you shared a dressing room or studio space with a dancer who was a total train wreck? Every other dancer in the place just sort of backs up and watches in horror as the crazy person -who, of course has shown up late- digs frantically in a suitcase scattering it’s contents all over, yells loudly on a cell phone, or has a complete meltdown.
We’ve all witnessed that, right?
Baby dancers can be excused (ok, once or twice) because they haven’t learned the ropes yet and don’t have the experience -or guidance to know exactly what’s up. But ironically ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
Photo by Maharet Hughes
Turns and spins may look effortless on stage, but the components that go into them are many, and sooo much more than just moving through space.
When I first started dancing, turns seemed like an elusive, unreachable goal. I knew nothing about the mechanics involved... and all too often, I found myself in classes where it wasn’t properly broken down, either. It seems that outside of beginning ballet classes, it’s just assumed that dancers already have the foundation technique or innate ability to execute a turn-or series of turns- and t ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
You put on your favorite costume, the one that always makes you look and feel amazing, but like a slap in the face, you suddenly realize you can’t possibly wear it. It’s not because the hooks need to be replaced or you’ve gained or lost a few pounds, and certainly not cause you dribbled some form of condiment while scarfing down a post-gig meal backstage.
It’s because your summer wardrobe doesn’t match your dance costumes!
Maybe you wore a halter-top this past weekend and your SPF wore off. Your chest and midriff are now evenly tanned… but the tops of your boobs look like ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
Believe me- that jawline, cheekbones ( and my cleavage) were NOT given to me by Mother Nature...just sayin'!
Photo by Maryann Bates
Contouring has always been around, but suddenly it seems to be all the rage. The shading and highlighting techniques that were once the sole realm of high fashion photo shoots- or drag queens- have practically gone viral- suddenly; everyone is chiseling, shaping and molding their features as part of their every day makeup application. All the major cosmetic lines have introduced contouring kits, and every inexpensive drug store or  ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
Photo by Lapis
Feathers look absolutely sensational onstage.
Whether you’re using huge Sally Rand fans, rockin’ a lusciously fat boa, or wearing a costume and/or headdress trimmed with feathers, they always look glamorous and amazing. The plumes waft through the air looking elegant and ethereal or flirtatiously accent every shimmy. They also make the audience swoon like nothing else. But beautiful plumed costumes, props and accessories are also expensive….so you should definitely know how to maintain them!
The first thing you need to know is that p ..read more
Princess Farhana
1y ago
If there’s one thing dancers have in common, it’s that we are all absolutely certifiably insane when it comes to injuries. An injury is our worst nightmare. We dread them, we fear them, and many of us ignore them, hoping they will go away. Ultimately, we work through them, but no matter what, we always obsess about them. Though many of us can easily identify the difference between a major acute injury and those that are minor or temporary, we still stress out over the very thought that we are injured… and this leads to obsessive behavior.
Rec ..read more