Serpentessa

Hi Andrea,

Thanks for that info on Princess Rajah doing a "Cleopatra dance" with a snake in 1908. I hadn't heard that before. I will certainly look online to see if I can check out the video although I won't buy it if it's not well done.

I am extremely picky about dancing with a snake/s as an equal and always improvising partner. They are not props - end of story! It doesn't matter what type of dance, what context, whether it's entertainment, theatre or movies. Hence, I included on my dvd a very comprehensive Snake Dance Instructional, especially after seeing TV footage of some well known dancers who were dancing with their snakes as though they were not alive! The snake's head was bouncing all over the place. It was horrendous and painful to watch. The majority of snakes that are used in dancing and performing are the constrictors that will swallow their stress and get sick or react and bite to protect themselves. Yet all people will focus on is that the snake turned vicious, not assessing the inhumane treatment the serpent endured. It's sad and only contributes to the stigma of the snake.

All of earth's creatures are our teachers. We forget that at one time, the domesticated dog and cat were completely wild and "not to be trusted" when truly we needed time to learn from them and they from us through inter species communication. As someone who facilitates inter species communication and safe physical connection with certain types of snakes, it is my job as a snake priestess to be fully aware and respect everyone's instinctual responses to snakes. It is vital to pay attention to those instincts and I encourage that knowledge to guide one in their choice to be with - or not to be with a serpent. Sorry to hijack the thread for a few sentences, but I am passionately committed to this path.

Anyway, to answer Adiemus' question about snake dancing: I work in the entertainment field as a snake charming belly dancer as well as in the theatre. Throughout all my performing with serpents, I work hard to have a smooth integration or duet with my snake, so that the attention culled is more ancient and alluring rather than sensation focused. The majority of my theatrical dances incorporate a mythological theme experienced within a modern perspective that integrates the personal realm within the collective realm for the audience. There are small segments of these on Utube under my name for anyone interested.

Also, for Adiemus - as for "documentation from that period re circus acts and dance and animal props?"
I've only found a card deck showing vaudeville and circus people with snakes. PM me if you want the name of the company. But I haven't had time to do much research in this area. I too am interested in what people may know.

Your friendly neighborhood snake priestess,
Serpentessa