Hi there, I have dancing for just over a year now and have been a lifelong admirer of all things gothic, so I was so excited when our teacher announced we were to have a gothic themed dance night here in Belfast. I'm just preparing my routine now...have danced a solo once before but it was to Roots Manuva and Coldcut's True Skool so it was a sort of Egyptian/Indian mix. For my solo I have chosen to do a quite cabaret version of The Dresden Doll's My Alcoholic Friends. I was so inspired by Tempest's routine to Evil Night Together, it was dark yet witty, I hope to bring some of that to my performance.I'm just having some thoughts about costuming. I want to do an Amanda Palmer style look, but still keep it as something I could dance in and to make my moves look. There'll be lots of hip bumps, shoulder shimmies and other fast (but not hugely difficult moves). I was thinking of a corset style top, hotpats with a burlesque style bustle and maybe even Amanda style stripey stockings with heeled mary janes.

Any advice on costuming would be great, or any sites you can direct me to so I can be part of the punk cabaret, therefore achieving freedom ;)