How to get Latin skirt to 'fly'?

[Brookedancer]

Hi I am designing a Latin dress and the skirt is a full circle that comes to the knees. However, when I dance, I don't see it twirl that much. I have a different design underneath that I'd like to show off. I've been looking at photos of other similar dresses and they come up pretty high. Do I need to add weight to the hem or something? I see many people add ribbon or something to the bottom - is functional or just for looks?

Thanks!

[_malakawa_]

Hi I am designing a Latin dress and the skirt is a full circle that comes to the knees. However, when I dance, I don't see it twirl that much. I have a different design underneath that I'd like to show off. I've been looking at photos of other similar dresses and they come up pretty high. Do I need to add weight to the hem or something? I see many people add ribbon or something to the bottom - is functional or just for looks?

Thanks!

can you take a picture of a dress (skirt) and i will tell you what you need to do.

[Laura]

Sometimes it helps to sew bias fold or ribbon or polyester horsehair braid into the hem. Sometimes dance technique makes a difference, as in are you spinning fast enough and moving sharply enough to make the skirt move? I ask this question because my old dance partner used to say that I didn't cut my floats properly to make them move. Well, the truth was we just weren't moving enough when we were dancing to make the floats move! Years later, and much improvement later, my float flies up around my head sometimes. So it's possible that it's not just the skirt.

[black_light]

Sometimes dance technique makes a difference, as in are you spinning fast enough and moving sharply enough to make the skirt move?

There's something to it, but, a girl at my studio has that kind of skirt and she does not spin fast or make any sharp movements (yet), and her skirt flies beautifully.
I think what matters is the weight of the fabric (nor too light neither to heavy), but mostly, I think one circle isn't enough. With one circle the maximum you can get is a flat looking flying skirt. if you want that wavy look, you will need more fabric.

[dancingmomof2]

I recently made a circle skirted gown as well and I am about to take it a part and use it differently. I think what can happen is that the circle begins too close to the waistline to really flare. My fabric is a little heavy too which isn't helping the twirl. Some of the pictures I have see have had the circle skirt start right at the opening of the legs. Im no expert, just experimenting still, but that is my hypothesis.

I also saw a circle skirt that was as full as mine float like Laura is saying. At several points however she raised her skirt by grabbing it before she spun. Then one time it looked like maybe a cork screw cut underneath. I'm not sure how that worked.

[Laura]

The last time I made a skirt for Latin it was a six-paneled skirt. I cut the skirt to the shape of the body down over the hips, and then I flared out the swishy part of the skirt by drawing a close-to 90-degree angle. You do need a good deal of fabric to make a skirt swish and fly a lot. For instance, when I do a Standard dress, the circumference of the skirt at the hem is about 16 feet for a rather slim-looking (but still danceable) skirt, 20 feet for a nice full-looking skirt that is still economical on fabric, and 24 feet for one that starts looking lush.

[Brookedancer]

I think one circle isn't enough. With one circle the maximum you can get is a flat looking flying skirt. if you want that wavy look, you will need more fabric.

Interesting point. I guess you need waves to see the fabric underneath? Now when I think of the photos of the skirts I was trying to imitate, they were much fuller. I went with one circle so that the transition from top to skirt would be flat....I may have to rethink this.

I have cosidered it may be my dancing since I was looking at top amateurs, but just to make sure I did some really fast spins. The result is ok, just not what I imagined. Maybe I'll have to rely on some styling with the skirt if I can't get more fabric added in.

Thanks!

[Summer_Gray]

You need more than one circle- and a little weight at the bottom wouldn't hurt. Try ribbon, horsehair or a few stones. Make sure you attach the circle to a dropped waist- or it will fly up -too- far- likely exposing more than you intend.