I am working in a marionette waist using Christmas baubles. It is based in the Jim Gamble's ball and socket joint http://www.jimgamble.com/how/ball/ball.html

I am not sure if it will work, but I am telling now just in case anybody wants to experiment, now it is easy to find them... when I have finished, perhaps not 

The ball and socket need perfect circles and spheres to work well so I am trying to use Christmas baubles. I am making a belly dancer, so I built a breast on a bauble with plasticine


and cover the plasticine with papier mache. When it is dry, take off bauble and plasticine. botton part of thorax and abdomen is make with further baubles or pieces. I am intended to cover them with papier mache too.
Here you are the pieces disassembled

And assembled


That's all. I hope it works and will be useful for you

Wow!!!  You're doing such a great job.  I would have never thought to approach the project from the direction you are.  It's turning out beautifully so far.  Can't wait to see out it all comes together.

Great job!..................... one of our members made a large scale belly dancer in the past. It is great to see a different approach to making the same character. Thank You for sharing.

Billy d.

It looks to me from what you have so far that it should work just fine!  I love finding stuff like you have and modifying it to do other things.