Props and animals in dance - Page 4

Suheir · 04-08-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenc

What do you all think of veil poi or veil fan. In my mind that's a fusion too far

I think they distract from the dance, rather than enhance it.

Brea · 04-09-2008, 04:08 AM

Recently I saw on a website someone listing 'sword swallowing' as a prop stunt in bellydance. I can't imagine that's safe!

Shamsa · 04-27-2008, 05:57 PM

that's a bit too much!

Shanazel · 04-27-2008, 06:00 PM

Well, at least if the performance is not well received by the audience, one could throw oneself on the sword as a final gesture.

Brea · 04-27-2008, 07:26 PM

Would that be seppuku bellydance fusion?

Machiavellia · 06-10-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suheir

I think they distract from the dance, rather than enhance it.

Not at all, I think they can be used very beautifully, for many of the same things an ordinary veil or Isis wings can. I find they are more versatile than either of those things and don't detract from the dance anymore than any other related prop.

PriscillaAdum · 07-06-2008, 07:55 PM

Ok, so I've always been taught that swords are a western prop, mostly American Cabaret and they are not a part of middle eastern dances, folk or otherwise.
So now I come across this and I don't know what to make of it:

Tunisian tribal belly dance: sword dance (raks al saif) - raqs al juzur (jar dance)

I know that it's become customary to put all kinds of outlandish claims up online regarding the origins of bellydance, but this one actually says that sword dancing is an ancient skill in North Africa and that some tribes brought in sword dancers at weddings for good luck. Uh..... and that it was "seen" in Egypt as early as the 18th century. And finally....that sword dancing was widely spread in Turkey, the Middle East and India.

WHERE are they getting this info? I haven't seen anything anywhere that agrees with this!! And the two dancers in the picture holding swords might well have been dancing for tourists with "western" props. Heck, they might even BE western dancers.

Regards
Priscilla

gisela · 07-06-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote from the same website:
"A few paintings and engravings of the french artist Jean-Léon Gérôme (who stayed in Egypt in the 18 th century) show sword dancers balancing an sabre on their head. Sword dancing - in arabic called Raqs al Saïf - is widely spread in Turkey, the Middle East as well as Pakistan-India (remember the sword dance in the movie Qurbani?) and Iran (Shamshir-bazi)."

Well, there's proof for you. A few paintings and a movie!

How can you not be satisfied with that?

Here's one I found by said orientalist painter:

Jane · 07-07-2008, 04:48 AM

There are some strange claims on that site. There are no sources listed, so I'd assume it's because none were used.

"We could define tribal bellydance as all dances that are indeed tribal and form in one way or another a source of inspiration to oriental dance and modern tribal style dancing in particular."

?????WTF?????

"What is common that it is not a solo dance but a troupe or tribe dance, the cues and transitions system makes the improv dance a chain of sisters."

I thought synchronized dance groups were origianally a Western European concept?

Synchronized sisters dancing as a tribe using cues and transitions:

Shanazel · 07-07-2008, 06:04 AM

Were those particular sisters a tribe or a flock?

04-09-2008, 04:08 AM	#32 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Recently I saw on a website someone listing 'sword swallowing' as a prop stunt in bellydance. I can't imagine that's safe! __________________ www.breamorgiane.com

04-27-2008, 05:57 PM	#33 (permalink)
Shamsa Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: France Posts: 54	that's a bit too much! __________________ a belly dancer is a queen, and queens never go on the floor.

04-27-2008, 07:26 PM	#35 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Would that be seppuku bellydance fusion? __________________ www.breamorgiane.com

07-06-2008, 08:06 PM	#38 (permalink)
gisela Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 842	Quote from the same website: "A few paintings and engravings of the french artist Jean-Léon Gérôme (who stayed in Egypt in the 18 th century) show sword dancers balancing an sabre on their head. Sword dancing - in arabic called Raqs al Saïf - is widely spread in Turkey, the Middle East as well as Pakistan-India (remember the sword dance in the movie Qurbani?) and Iran (Shamshir-bazi)." Well, there's proof for you. A few paintings and a movie! How can you not be satisfied with that? Here's one I found by said orientalist painter: __________________ You need chaos in your soul to create a dancing star-nietzsche Last edited by gisela; 07-06-2008 at 08:19 PM. Reason: adding pic

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04-27-2008, 06:00 PM	#34 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,199	Well, at least if the performance is not well received by the audience, one could throw oneself on the sword as a final gesture.

07-06-2008, 07:55 PM	#37 (permalink)
PriscillaAdum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 154	Ok, so I've always been taught that swords are a western prop, mostly American Cabaret and they are not a part of middle eastern dances, folk or otherwise. So now I come across this and I don't know what to make of it: Tunisian tribal belly dance: sword dance (raks al saif) - raqs al juzur (jar dance) I know that it's become customary to put all kinds of outlandish claims up online regarding the origins of bellydance, but this one actually says that sword dancing is an ancient skill in North Africa and that some tribes brought in sword dancers at weddings for good luck. Uh..... and that it was "seen" in Egypt as early as the 18th century. And finally....that sword dancing was widely spread in Turkey, the Middle East and India. WHERE are they getting this info? I haven't seen anything anywhere that agrees with this!! And the two dancers in the picture holding swords might well have been dancing for tourists with "western" props. Heck, they might even BE western dancers. Regards Priscilla

07-07-2008, 04:48 AM	#39 (permalink)
Jane Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In the mountains Posts: 348	There are some strange claims on that site. There are no sources listed, so I'd assume it's because none were used. "We could define tribal bellydance as all dances that are indeed tribal and form in one way or another a source of inspiration to oriental dance and modern tribal style dancing in particular." ?????WTF????? "What is common that it is not a solo dance but a troupe or tribe dance, the cues and transitions system makes the improv dance a chain of sisters." I thought synchronized dance groups were origianally a Western European concept? Synchronized sisters dancing as a tribe using cues and transitions:

07-07-2008, 06:04 AM	#40 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,199	Were those particular sisters a tribe or a flock?