Ep 328. Dawn Devine (Davina): The Story Behind Writing 20+ Belly Dance Books About Costumes And More
Dawn Devine, also known as Davina, is a costume designer, author, and lifelong dancer with a passion for belly dance and all things that sparkle. Best known for her popular books on how to design and construct belly dance costumes, she has built a unique career at the intersection of dance, fashion, and education. With a background in tap, jazz, modern, and ballet, Davina discovered belly dance as a teenager and has since taken the stage as a performer, teacher, and creative mentor. She is dedicated to helping dancers create beautiful, well-fitting costumes and is constantly writing—whether it’s books, blog posts, or magazine articles. A true costume historian at heart, Davina also enjoys diving into archives to uncover the origins and evolution of fashion, textiles, and stagewear.
In this episode you will learn about:
How Davina’s passion for sewing turned into costume repairs for local dancers and eventually her own costume book
Learning self-publishing from sci-fi zine culture, selling her first 50 books on spot, and writing over 20 books since then
Challenges of affording professional costumes in the 80s and the importance of the costume making skills
Her research into vintage Assiut fabric and what makes it so magical
Deep dive into zills—why dancers need more context, not just technique
Show Notes to this episode:
Find Dawn Devine (Davina) on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, website, and Patreon.
Publications in Print:
Cloth of Egypt - Amazon, Etsy.
Zills: Music On Your Fingertips - Amazon , Etsy
Becoming a Belly Dancer - Amazon , Etsy
Embellished Bras - Amazon , Etsy
Skirting The Issues & Pants for the Dance - Amazon , Etsy
Costuming From the Hip - Amazon , Etsy
Bedlah, Baubles, and Beads - Amazon , Etsy
From Turban to Toe Ring - Amazon - Etsy
Gloves and Gauntlet (Sewing Pattern) - Etsy
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