What is a long frilly bata de cola dress?

Answer 1

It is a ruffled dress or skirt with a long train worn by flamenco dancers for some dances. There are usually around three ruffles at the front and up to eight at the back, depending upon the wearer's height. The length of the skirt from the waist to the end of the train should be about the same as the height of the dancer. There are ruffles on the underside of the train as well. These are stiffened to allow the train to fly when kicked (really, lifted) by the dancer's foot, and the train often has a cord around the bottom to help weigh the train down. The dancer's aim is to keep the train the right way up, unfolded, at all times. A folded train is known as a "tortilla francesa" or French omelette, because it is folded (and Spanish omelettes are not). The bata de cola should ideally be made to measure so that the skirt doesn't move around the dancer, enabling greater control of the train, and so that the length is correct (the dancer needs to get her foot into the frills).