Adeventures in Sewing: Batwing Top

For the UCT Vaudeville Circus, one of the dances I did was a Tango to fit into a medley of the Phantom of the Opera music. The colours were red and black, a colour I don't own in a ballgown.

Thankfully I had some red fabric stashed away for a rainy day and red stretch lace, the result, a batwing top with lace insert in the back and lace basque. I paired it with my ballroom practice skirt and a some improvised floats made from the scraps. The best part was it only took an hour and 4 seams!

I now have a batwing top to practice in for Latin while my new dress takes shape :) 

UCT Ballroom Vaudeville Circus

The UCT Ballroom Vaudeville Circus show was a great success, especially since it was put together in a few week by amateurs and on a tiny budget.

The 6 Acts were littered with guest performances and a number of solo and groups dances by members of the UCT Ballroom and Latin Dancing Society. I performed in 2 Ballroom and 2 Latin solo numbers.

I haven't been doing much Ballroom recently so it was quite crazy doing a performance Quickstep and Tango with so little training time (4 days!). But we survived, as always :)

Thanks for the sneak peak photo from AM Photography! Haven't had a chance to wear my ballgown in a few years.

Adventures in Sewing: Horse-hair Braid

In my adventures into sewing a dancesport dress, I have come across are variety of sewing items that can make an outfit flounce, curl and create volume, the latest of which is Horse-hair Braid or in South Africa: Mesh Tape.

The pictures below are of the tape that you can buy at material shops that sell bridal haberdashery. This one is an inch thick.

While exploring the various tutorials I came across this tutorial that showed how to sew the tape to the bottom of the skirt. This their case, they folded it up again to create a hem, but in my case I left it exposed to add to the effect.

Unlike the tutorial, I did not pin it before sewing, as I stretched the Lycra as I hemmed it.

Each ruffle is two full circles to make the many curls needed to create volume in the skirt. In my case I could only get hold of white mesh tape, so the dress is decorated in silver crystals to match.

Adventures in Sewing: Crystal Designs

Every Latin outfit needs to be bling, the word opulent springs to mind, and the best way to do so is to apply a LARGE number of rhinestones to a dress, but cleverly, to suit your design.

I have a Hotfix applicator wand that heats the crystals and the glue on the back of them. Each crystal is applied by hand, following a design of some description.




Some advice I followed for the large crystals  "Make sure you glue AND sew your large sew-on stones! The larger Swarovski stones are now available in a wonderful variety of shapes and colours, and they can really add a great look to your stone design on your dress. But be sure to remember that these stones will stick the best if you glue AND sew them."


My dress half way through stoning:

Latin Bangle Bling

I've been experimenting with making various bracelets and bangles for dancesport competitions (Latin) and following advice from the wonderful interwebs and Pinterest, I have finally got a set of 4 bangles.

The set of 4 bangles are made from (plastic) boning and crystals. The plastic makes the bangles lightweight and the thinness of the boning means it is not ungainly to dance with. Boning is also hard enough not to break, but not stiff enough that you cannot bend it into a shape (secured obviously).

I vaguely followed this tutorial. I didn't wrap my fabric around the boning and glue it, but made lycra tubes and threaded the boning into it. Seems to have worked out, especially since the threads can't rub against my skin.

Each bangle took about 130 SS20 Swarovski Crystal AB Hotfix crystals. I prefer the Hotfix, as the glue takes ages to dry and the crystals can fall off. I've never lost a Hotfix crystal yet (I've probably jinxed myself).

I tend to use a cork board (or anything heat resistant and not fabric) to layout all the crystals to make it easier to pick them up with the applicator wand.

The first 3 that I finished

Latin Jewellery

I am going to attempt something this weekend that I have little experience in doing: creating Dancesport jewellery that sparkles.

Materials needed:

• Flesh coloured stretch material
• Swarovski hotfix crystals (or glue on)
• Fabric glue
• Vilyn 
• Elastic
• Hooks and Eyes
• Clear press-studs   

The first dilemma is that flesh coloured stretch fabric is not abundant in Cape Town. The stuff that is around is about 3 shades lighter than me and I have to still tan that 'wonderful' orange colour for competitions.

The second dilemma is keeping ironing stiffener between lycra type material that melts with heat.

This shall be a experiment. Results to follow. If successful maybe I will add a few items to Purple-Gecko for others looking for similar items.

New Colour, Old Style

In May I wrote about the red skirt which seems to pop up in all official ballroom events (Intervarsity, medal tests, socials etc). I've been meaning to make another one in a different colour and my mom beat me to it recently. Turns out the pattern is fairly straight-forward. A simple tube skirt made from Lycra and six full circles inserted at regular intervals. The only terrifying thing is making sure you sew on a straight line (not my forte).

Latin Flavour

As well as my ballgown I've been sewing a Latin outfit. The joke goes about a 1/10 of the fabric and the same amount of sparkle. After much debate I went for blue (options were lumo pink, green, red or blue). You need to be bright and sparkle for Latin, not my strong suit!



I wish I had proper photos of the inbetween steps but I changed design halfway through the process so what I started with is not at all what I ended up with.

Once again I used Swarovski Crystals from Crystal Catalyst and had to Hotfix each crystal on by hand with an applicator wand. Talk about taking forever. The sense of accomplishment when you're done is awesome, the hours prior are just painful. You can vaguely see the starburst pattern on the top and then there are crystals dotted over the whole skirt.



The skirt is two full circles, so it flares nicely when it spins and because it was sewn on the diagonal it flares more on one side than the other.

Ballgown Construction

I previously wrote that I've been working on a ballroom gown for Intervarsity. Well Intervarsity has come and gone and I can breath slightly and put up my aching feet (you try dancing in 2.5 inch heels everyday!).

I stated that I had learnt a lot while doing the project but my first major learning curve was a lack on any pattern that fitted me. I went browsing online and found this wonderful blog post: Step-by-Step Gown Construction Project but you needed a pattern. Never fear, when you can cut until it looks vaguely the same shape :)

I cut the dress out of Bon Bon Spandex, something I hadn't heard about before but has a beautiful 4 way stretch. My fuchsia/purple/pink fabric was attached to the mannequin (roughly my size) and cut to fit according to the step by step process outlined above.

The basic finished "shell" ended up looking like this. Please Note the black triangles that are added. Each is a quarter circle and makes the dress flare when you turn, looks cool, not so cool to sew.


At this point you can decorate the dress however you like. I ended up cutting out the back of the dress and adding criss-cross straps for my effect (turns out its pretty cold without material on your back) and adding lots and rhinestones and crystals from Crystal Catalyst (and a few sequinned flowers). The result...


A ballgown is not finished without wings (or whatever they are called). There are many different styles, sleeves, bits etc. Given my lack of sleeves I made three bands to slide onto my arms and attached chiffon in purple and black.

Gearing up for Intervarsity 2011

Its that time of year again. I missed Intervarsity last year due to my jaunt in Europe for the YSSP but as it is my last full year as a student I'm dancing again!

Things have been a little chaotic over the last few months preparing to dance a level I've never tried before: Novice. For those non-dancers, its the first level where you can wear sparkly outfits.

Cue sewing time :)

I've been sewing frantically for the last month to create both Latin and Ballroom outfits for this Saturday. The final pieces are going to a surprise (so no final photos til then) but I've learnt a huge amount in the process. I'll post the full process when I have decent final pictures, I've been capturing the inbetween stages on my phone with its poor excuse for a camera. Sneak peek:

Medal Tests 2011

It is that time of year again, Medal Tests!


This year I did both Gold Ballroom and Gold Latin which proved to be a bit of challenge, mainly in finding time to practice. I'm busy moving, so that has taken up all my free time. I've also learnt something new, Corenza C and Vitathion when mixed will get you through a dance test if you have flu! (it is not advised for more than 1 dose).

Notice the red skirt, it seems to make an appearance at every medal test for the last few years, next time I promise to wear a different colour (my goal is to make another just like it). I'll post the results when I'm done.

Ballroom Comm 2011

I'd like to congratulate the new committee for 2011. I'm sure they are going to come up with some crazy themes, plan a kickass formal and lead us to the trophy at IV.

Chair: Lara Milne
Vice Chair: Anique Kruger
Treasurer: Alistair Bowen-Davies
Socials: Bryce van de Laar
O-Week: Claire Martens
Medal Tests: Bernie Hubbart
Formal: Lucy Farrow
Intervarsity: Dominic Nunes
IT: Richard Parry

The photo comes from the formal a few weeks ago, the UCT IV winning formation gave a demonstration of their efforts.

Rivendell reaches Cape Town

Saturday night UCT Ballroom Dancing Society held their annual formal at Kelvin Grove. The theme this year was Rivendell and we had a few elves drop in for the evening. My table for the evening could be classified as one of the two "golden oldies" table as we've all been around for a long time.

In true form I only finished my outfit the afternoon of the formal (and it fitted!). Months ago I made a necklace from a pattern called a Curl. Its composed of waves of beads that are woven into a necklace. I matched the beads to directly mimic my outfit (yes I plan ahead of time).

UCT Ballroom Formal 2010

It's that time of year again! The UCT Ballroom Formal is on the 25th of September at Kelvin Grove. The theme is Rivendell so prepare yourself for a night of dancing in the world of JRR Tolkien…

Here's what you need to know:

Price: Members - R170 ; non-members - R240
Date: 25 September
Venue: Kelvin Grove

Bookings can be made by emailing Claire Hanley on claire.carebear9@gmail.com.
Payment can be made at dancing from Tues the 24th of August, or by emailing ontheball.uctballroom@gmail.com for our banking details (please send the proof of payment to claire.carebear9@gmail.com).

For a few past years check out 2009 and UCT FB Photos

SA Ballroom Social Intervarsity

I would like to wish the UCT Ballroom Dancing Society the best of luck in the Intervaristy (South African National Student Ballroom and Latin-American Dancing Competition) at Rhodes University, I know you're going to be spectacular as always. As the chairman of the society I would normally be competing but cannot physically be there this year.

I hope everyone has a wonderful time and that the bus ride is both fun and problem-free. I expect a video recording of the formation and some sparkly trophies to come home with you.

Look at previous post for a reminder of last year's competition that UCT hosted.

Mitte

I started my first day in Berlin wondering around Mitte starting at Alexanderplatz. I had no real preconceptions of Berlin besides my knowledge of the world wars. I purposefully didn't read up on the city as I do normally. So map in hand I left my hostel (A&O Hostel) and set out on a great adventure. The downside of not reading about sights beforehand is the lack on orientation.

My first discovery was Neptune's Fountain that is certainly befitting of Neptune. He is flanked by four maidens and held aloft by a clam shell. Why am I spending so much time of a fountain...I love fountains, there is something calming and whimsical about the cascading water. Soldiering on I passed the Rotes Rauhaus obscured by building material and an excavation site. Bypassing this sight I wondered the backstreets and found a little corridor into a courtyard full of tiny shops and a beautiful church/museum. One shop had family of bears sitting on the pavement watching the world go. Imagine the stories they could tell if they could talk.

Something I have noticed from both Hungary and now Berlin is the amount of woodwork, available here in ornaments, candle holders and toys. They are truly beautiful if very delicate and alas I'm not sure they would survive the trip home in my suitcase.

Moving onwards to Museuminsel I started playing with my camera's settings and found the Monochrome setting just in time to document the grandeur of Berliner Dom. There is a minimal entrance fee (3 euros for students) to get in which includes access to the dome, crypt, gallery and museum. I've seen a lot of churches recently, Europe seems littered with them in fact but I'm a sucker for giant copper domes and 360 degree viewing points.

The inside is just as ostentatious as other churches, not notably the Budapest St Stephens Basilica but I did find the crypt interesting. The crypt holds quite a few notables including a few kings and queens but the true eye opener was the number of royal children who died with the first 2 years, many actually within the first 3 months. A quite sobering fact.

I had this brilliant idea to leave the museums til the evening as all the museums stay open on Thursdays til 10pm but it turned out everyone had the same idea (the queue was 1 hr long when I went back).

I wondered through a local evening festival with a few sound stages and stopped for a snack of giant crepes with lemon and sugar. With renewed energy I took on Oranienburger and Auguststrasse to look at the local night-life.

Quite by accident (really) I decided to use the advice of eat where all the locals are and followed a German crowd into what I thought was a restaurant. Turns out it was a restaurant with a huge wooden dancefloor in the middle for Ballroom and Latin dancing for free! I was in heaven, they didn't even mind that I had no shoes (flip-flops don't count). I spent the rest of the night dancing with the locals. Happy happy times :D

We are the dancers, we create the dreams

I can slowly feel my sanity slipping away everyday I don't dance. For those who know me well, I have been dancing since I could walk, it is not really an hobby, its a passion. I haven't been dancing at all since being in Vienna bar one evening of Salsa. This probably the longest absence since my last injury 6 years ago and I can feel it. It like compulsion gnawing away at me.

My favourite dance quote reminds me daily why I dance:
"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams"

I'm actually very disappointed with the dance scene here or people's responses to me asking about it. Maybe its just the environment I currently find myself in. No-one seems to care to help. Every city I've been to has Ballroom socials open to the public (I'm not counting Jhb in this, they are weird), not closed to certain dance schools or partners only. For a city that is famous for its Viennese Waltz, they're terrible at welcoming individuals. I'm slowly resigning myself to hanging up my dancing shoes(and I bought some shiny new Supadance ones) til I get back to Cape Town. Thankfully CT has an amazing array of dance events in September/October for me to make up for the abysmal scene here.

Oweek: The undergrads are back

Oweek on Campus is always crazy with everyone signing up for courses, tutorials and societies. I've been splitting my tine between teaching Python to the EGS Honours students for CSAG and helping out at the ballroom stand.

Ballroom AGM

The UCT Ballroom AGM this year started with a recap of the events from the last year and the successes and failures and avenues to improve. The biggest area of improvement seems to be retaining beginners by exam time. Intervarsity will be hosted by Rhodes next year, "Roadtrip to Rhodes". The date has been pushed back later in the year, til the end of August, which will change the timetable for ballroom events in general. There will be an overall change in calendar next year as a result of the Soccer World Cup. Let us hope the disruption does not negatively impact on ballroom and university in general.

The 2010 committee is:
CHAIR: Hayley McIntosh
VICE CHAIR: Lara Milne
TREASURER: Gershwin Scheepers
SOCIALS: Clair van Eyssen
MEDALS: Adrienne Daniels
FORMAL: Claire Hanley
IT: Richard Parry
O-WEEK & IV: Rudi Botha

UCT Ballroom Formal

The UCT Ballroom Formal this year was held at Kelvin Grove. The Emperor's Palace was formal with a touch of Asian. Kelvin has redone their floor since I was last there and it is superb to dance on.

I was adventurous and made my first ever ballgown for the event. I never realised what a mission it is to adjust/fit a dress that is actually on you. You are looking down and from an angle and so the seams that you think are straight, turn out to be rather skew. In the end it turned out vaguely correct.