Making Middle Eastern magic

Angela Lambru shows the many types of material she uses to create belly dance costumes in her Astoria apartment. Photo by Rebecca Henely

In the subculture of belly dancing, there are few stronger images than the flowing, glittery costumes, but many of these outfits can cost more than $600 and are made in Egypt and Turkey. Astoria dancer Angela Lambru’s first costume cost $800 and she was typically paid $30 for each dance performance.

“So I was basically an indentured servant for a long, long time,” she said.

Lambru, who gives her age as somewhere over 50, now has a business that may make buying a costume a little easier for the next generation of dancers. Working for the last six years out of her apartment on 30th Street, where she lives with five cats, Lambru has created and sold belly dance costumes as well as accessories. She also alters expensive costumes brought from the Middle East.

“Everything is original,” Lambru said of her costume-making. “Everything is my own design.” more>>