- Making a bata de cola
Flamenco skirts with a long train are an inspiration to many dancers. Eva Yerbabuena seems to wear the longest and fullest.
I booked on a bata de cola course at Escuela de Baile Christmas 2007. But where was I going to get a bata? And should I invest in one before I’d tried it? I decided that I would have to make one, and set about adapting a skirt pattern into roughly the right shape.
I have lost count of how many circles of fabric I cut, stitched together and then stitched to the bottom of the skirt to make the layers of ruffles and the tail. I then stitched into the bottom layer some stiffening, to hold it out in place.
Well it looks pretty, but when I arrived at the class and saw the real ones I realised it wasn’t anywhere near heavy enough to learn the techniques and practise correctly. But it was enough to get me through that first course, and enough for me to know it was worth investing in a properly made one.
Vicky Ramos, who is head of the Centro de Baile in Jerez, and who taught the bata course, has a great contact in Jerez who will make a skirt to your measurements and your choice of fabric. And when you think what a lot of work goes into them it’s amazing how quickly and cheaply she produces them.
By the next course at Easter I had the real thing.
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