Sword balancing dance - questions - Page 2

janaki · 06-28-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chryssanthi sahar

He is true again

Balancing is nothing special, if you can isolate. Also in Greece we balance all possible stuff on the head while dancing. For example a glass of wine while dancing Tsifteteli or even Zeimbekiko. I balance also one single candle, as well as a glass full with wine (or whatever dark liquid

it just has to be visible that the glass is not empty). I usually just take this stuff from some table, if I happen to dance in a restaurant. This whole balancing thing is funny, but it is just show. But as a professional dancer you need to impress your audience, even the part of it which doesn't understand much about the dance

Hi Chryssanthi,
When you come to HK we are going to do glass balancing, Red wine, white wine, champagne and all. Drink some and dance some. LOL!!!!

Yes, I agree a performer needs variety and some tricks to keep the audience interested!!!

Hugs
Janaki

chryssanthi sahar · 06-29-2007, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janaki

Hi Chryssanthi,
When you come to HK we are going to do glass balancing, Red wine, white wine, champagne and all. Drink some and dance some. LOL!!!!

I'm looking forward to

What about balancing Chinese lanterns? I think, if we are drunk enough we'll make it

janaki · 06-29-2007, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chryssanthi sahar

I'm looking forward to

What about balancing Chinese lanterns? I think, if we are drunk enough we'll make it

Lets go for it Chryssanthi!!!

Swords, candles. goblets, lanterns and all.

MisMira · 06-29-2007, 06:15 AM

I've read an article on hipcircle online magazine by Morocco where i think she states that sword dancing is authentic (Raqs Sayf) and that it's still done among many berbers. She gives examples of evidence and what she saw with her own eyes. And the disappearing of sword dancing she explains with new type of weapons coming into fashion - guns. So now men will dance with their riffles rather with their swords. Don't remember specific info - you can search among "ask aunt Rocky" articles on hipcircle

Salome · 06-29-2007, 07:24 AM

Morocco is a great wealth of info, isn't she?! Can't wait until she finally publishes her book. One of the things that I think can get kind of convoluted in these discussions is that, an implement can have a long standing tradition and be authentic to a certain region/dance/gender but it does not make that implement authentic to other dances of the region.

Kharmine · 06-30-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salome

Morocco is a great wealth of info, isn't she?! Can't wait until she finally publishes her book. One of the things that I think can get kind of convoluted in these discussions is that, an implement can have a long standing tradition and be authentic to a certain region/dance/gender but it does not make that implement authentic to other dances of the region.

I think "variety" is something we forget about on the topic of belly dance origins. Raqs sharqi is certainly a blend of various ME dance styles which come from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, etc., and different tribes within those countries, so there is a pretty diverse ethnic root system there!

You look at all the credible sources who report different experiences and realize that some dances in some areas were performed as instruction for those wedding night couplings, some were done to encourage the birthing mother in labor, some were done just for celebration, some for money. You always have folks who bring a new movement or prop back from having seen it done elsewhere.

There are all kinds of reasons why people dance, and lots of variation in how and why they do it. Always has been. Dancing with swords, I think, is just more variable that can be hard to pin down.

TiaSerena · 06-30-2007, 07:26 PM

This thread is a great topic for me. I am going to be taking a sword workshop next weekend. I'm afraid for my toes and a bunch of falling swords! Any words of advice for those who can sword balance?

Tia-Serena

Kharmine · 06-30-2007, 07:55 PM

I wanna learn to balance a smokin' hookah on my head while I dance! Saw it performed by a man in what seemed to be an early 1950s-era "Stars of Egypt" clip featuring Liz and Lynn Gamel.

Granted, he only did it for about a minute, and he wasn't real active but it looked so cool as he took a little puff!

miriam · 07-02-2007, 05:44 PM

TiaSerena ~ If you're taking the workshop with Nathalie (I took one with her to help my sword work as well when I was in Miami), she'll go over proper posture first and you shouldn't have anything to worry about b/c the trick to balancing is just keeping the chest lifted and having good posture.

Have fun!

TiaSerena · 07-02-2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miriam

TiaSerena ~ If you're taking the workshop with Nathalie (I took one with her to help my sword work as well when I was in Miami), she'll go over proper posture first and you shouldn't have anything to worry about b/c the trick to balancing is just keeping the chest lifted and having good posture.

Have fun!

Hi Miriam!

I am taking the workshop with Nathalie. I am soooo happy you say she teaches proper posture. I am very excited about it. I will tell you how it goes!

Tia-Serena

06-30-2007, 07:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
Kharmine V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Foot of the Rocky Mountains Posts: 1,248	I wanna learn to balance a smokin' hookah on my head while I dance! Saw it performed by a man in what seemed to be an early 1950s-era "Stars of Egypt" clip featuring Liz and Lynn Gamel. Granted, he only did it for about a minute, and he wasn't real active but it looked so cool as he took a little puff! __________________ What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

06-29-2007, 06:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
MisMira Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 8	I've read an article on hipcircle online magazine by Morocco where i think she states that sword dancing is authentic (Raqs Sayf) and that it's still done among many berbers. She gives examples of evidence and what she saw with her own eyes. And the disappearing of sword dancing she explains with new type of weapons coming into fashion - guns. So now men will dance with their riffles rather with their swords. Don't remember specific info - you can search among "ask aunt Rocky" articles on hipcircle

06-29-2007, 07:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
Salome Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Posts: 1,840	Morocco is a great wealth of info, isn't she?! Can't wait until she finally publishes her book. One of the things that I think can get kind of convoluted in these discussions is that, an implement can have a long standing tradition and be authentic to a certain region/dance/gender but it does not make that implement authentic to other dances of the region.

06-30-2007, 07:26 PM	#17 (permalink)
TiaSerena Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 95	This thread is a great topic for me. I am going to be taking a sword workshop next weekend. I'm afraid for my toes and a bunch of falling swords! Any words of advice for those who can sword balance? Tia-Serena

07-02-2007, 05:44 PM	#19 (permalink)
miriam Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA Posts: 105	TiaSerena ~ If you're taking the workshop with Nathalie (I took one with her to help my sword work as well when I was in Miami), she'll go over proper posture first and you shouldn't have anything to worry about b/c the trick to balancing is just keeping the chest lifted and having good posture. Have fun!