dancing with a saber

marob · 03-29-2008, 04:46 PM

hey everybody

So this is my first thread ever

I've been bellydancing for about 3 years now... and I'd like to try dancing with a saber. But I'm insecure.

It's cool and shows people your skills, but I'm worried about my principles. For I'm against any sort of war and weapons in everyday life. And I think if your dancing with a saber you're showing men that weapons are sexy. So I'd like to know if you're dancing with a saber and how your attitude towards weapons is?!?

Greetings to you!

Fatima · 03-30-2008, 12:39 PM

Marob: You've a very good. The weapons-are-sexy message can be received by some members (regardless the gender) of the audience. But I don't think it will be perceived that way for most of the audience. You can try balancing some other prop like a teapot tray (including the service) or a candle tray.

Shamsa · 03-30-2008, 03:18 PM

honestly, i think it's cool!

but you need a good skill for that!

Reen.Blom · 03-30-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marob

hey everybody

So this is my first thread ever

I've been bellydancing for about 3 years now... and I'd like to try dancing with a saber. But I'm insecure.

It's cool and shows people your skills, but I'm worried about my principles. For I'm against any sort of war and weapons in everyday life. And I think if your dancing with a saber you're showing men that weapons are sexy. So I'd like to know if you're dancing with a saber and how your attitude towards weapons is?!?

Greetings to you!

Welcome to the forums!

I would love to learn it one day, and my message would be that rather use the sword for dancing than fighting!

Salome · 03-30-2008, 05:07 PM

To be honest I have never thought of it in that light and this is the first time I've ever heard a comment like this. Personally, I wouldn't be concerned about passing this message on because when you dance/balance a sword at no point do you wang it around like a weapon, strike fighting poses or posture in a 'I have a weapon and I am a bad ass sword fighting machine' type of way. As you already acknowledged the point is to show off your dexterity.

nicknack · 03-30-2008, 07:29 PM

I don't know what the general public perception is, but speaking as someone who spends two hours every Sunday practicing sword technique, it's obvious that swords used for bellydancing could never be used as war weapons... for a start they're all so darn pretty.

Shanazel · 03-30-2008, 08:10 PM

Interesting question.

A sword is a prop with a number of symbolic meanings. It can symbolize a cutting away of the past, the severing of affection, or the slash of emotional pain. If it is presented in a violent manner, then of course it can symbolize aggression and war. No prop is innocuous if it is used to depict violence. Imagine a presentation wherein the dancer uses her veil as a garrot or her candles for arson. That beautiful silk, those glowing candles take on new symbolism then, hmm?

Quote:

I think if your dancing with a saber you're showing men that weapons are sexy.

If this is your perception of sword dances, then I can see how you might struggle with the issue. Are you seeing the sword as a symbol of masculinity that contrasts with the femininity of dance, which automatically translates to passion? War is a kind of passion, too, and so you could easily use a sword to depict violence with sexual overtones. I know some very small women who drive very large pickup trucks simply because some men perceive the juxtaposition of tiny woman/big masculine vehicle as sexy.

(By the way, folks, this is not an attempt to resume the old feminine essence of belly dance argument, so don't even start- I'm talking about a particular instance of perception.)

KuteNurse · 03-30-2008, 08:16 PM

It is an interesting perception of using a sword for dance. I don't think the sword portrays fighting and weapons as much as the sword portrays balance and elogance in your dance.

marob · 03-30-2008, 08:45 PM

Thanks for all the kind advice.
@Fatima: Thank you, I'll try the tray

though I think (but I don't know for sure) trays are harder to balance. And yeah you might be right about the audience: maybe just one or two will think weapons are sexy. But I admit I'm still trying to change the world and if I am "convincing" one or two it's already too many for me. Some might say that this isn't my thing to do and the world is getting worse, no matter if I'm handling weapons. But I think it's important to care in every way you can. Save the earth it's the only planet with belly dancing costumes!
Nah, just kidding.

@Shamsa: I think it's cool too, dangerous and hot. But it's still a weapon...

@Reen.Bloom: Nice Idea (I'm serious!)

@Salome: *Lol* I would like to see the dancer who believes she's a "bad-ass-sword-fighting-machine"

You' re right partly it's about dexterity. But the sword is like a symbol for danger. It's supposed to be sharp (well at least the audience thinks so) and if a dancer is good you can almost hear the front row whispering: OMG, she's putting that sharp thing on her waist! It has a certain thrill, with an umbrella it would never work. And guys think that women handling weapons are sexy (The brother of a friend of mine says so quite often and I have seen a place to play paintball where girls are paid to play this in bikinis). I have no idea why this is. Maybe it's the thrill as well. So why aren't we using something different like canes? It would show our skill. But we (this is me included) do want to make the maximum impression we can have on the audience. I don't know what is stronger - my will to persuade everyone I'm a good dancer or to be truely one and serious about changing the world.

@nicknack: I admire you for learning this art(For I don't expect you to kill anyone with it) Do you do shows with swords? I think you're one of the few people in the audience who could tell it's a "fake" sword. Well some are made in a way that even the audience can tell it must be fake (adornments!). But to me it's not about if it's fake or real...it's about it symbolizing a weapon. I also can't appreciate kids with faked guns running around and screaming "Bang bang", I just can't. Maybe I need a psychologist

Shanazel · 03-30-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Save the earth it's the only planet with belly dancing costumes!

I want a tee shirt...

03-29-2008, 04:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
marob Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 25	dancing with a saber hey everybody So this is my first thread ever I've been bellydancing for about 3 years now... and I'd like to try dancing with a saber. But I'm insecure. It's cool and shows people your skills, but I'm worried about my principles. For I'm against any sort of war and weapons in everyday life. And I think if your dancing with a saber you're showing men that weapons are sexy. So I'd like to know if you're dancing with a saber and how your attitude towards weapons is?!? Greetings to you!

03-30-2008, 12:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fatima Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 135	Marob: You've a very good. The weapons-are-sexy message can be received by some members (regardless the gender) of the audience. But I don't think it will be perceived that way for most of the audience. You can try balancing some other prop like a teapot tray (including the service) or a candle tray. __________________ I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself. Mikhail Baryshnikov Blogs: Fátima Baila.

03-30-2008, 03:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shamsa Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: France Posts: 54	honestly, i think it's cool! but you need a good skill for that! __________________ a belly dancer is a queen, and queens never go on the floor.

03-30-2008, 07:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
nicknack Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nottingham UK Posts: 269	I don't know what the general public perception is, but speaking as someone who spends two hours every Sunday practicing sword technique, it's obvious that swords used for bellydancing could never be used as war weapons... for a start they're all so darn pretty. __________________ *Cause I'm not here to let you down. But the costume makes the clown.*

03-30-2008, 05:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Salome Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Posts: 1,837	To be honest I have never thought of it in that light and this is the first time I've ever heard a comment like this. Personally, I wouldn't be concerned about passing this message on because when you dance/balance a sword at no point do you wang it around like a weapon, strike fighting poses or posture in a 'I have a weapon and I am a bad ass sword fighting machine' type of way. As you already acknowledged the point is to show off your dexterity.

03-30-2008, 08:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
KuteNurse V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,986	It is an interesting perception of using a sword for dance. I don't think the sword portrays fighting and weapons as much as the sword portrays balance and elogance in your dance.

03-30-2008, 08:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
marob Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 25	Thanks for all the kind advice. @Fatima: Thank you, I'll try the tray though I think (but I don't know for sure) trays are harder to balance. And yeah you might be right about the audience: maybe just one or two will think weapons are sexy. But I admit I'm still trying to change the world and if I am "convincing" one or two it's already too many for me. Some might say that this isn't my thing to do and the world is getting worse, no matter if I'm handling weapons. But I think it's important to care in every way you can. Save the earth it's the only planet with belly dancing costumes! Nah, just kidding. @Shamsa: I think it's cool too, dangerous and hot. But it's still a weapon... @Reen.Bloom: Nice Idea (I'm serious!) @Salome: Lol I would like to see the dancer who believes she's a "bad-ass-sword-fighting-machine" You' re right partly it's about dexterity. But the sword is like a symbol for danger. It's supposed to be sharp (well at least the audience thinks so) and if a dancer is good you can almost hear the front row whispering: OMG, she's putting that sharp thing on her waist! It has a certain thrill, with an umbrella it would never work. And guys think that women handling weapons are sexy (The brother of a friend of mine says so quite often and I have seen a place to play paintball where girls are paid to play this in bikinis). I have no idea why this is. Maybe it's the thrill as well. So why aren't we using something different like canes? It would show our skill. But we (this is me included) do want to make the maximum impression we can have on the audience. I don't know what is stronger - my will to persuade everyone I'm a good dancer or to be truely one and serious about changing the world. @nicknack: I admire you for learning this art(For I don't expect you to kill anyone with it) Do you do shows with swords? I think you're one of the few people in the audience who could tell it's a "fake" sword. Well some are made in a way that even the audience can tell it must be fake (adornments!). But to me it's not about if it's fake or real...it's about it symbolizing a weapon. I also can't appreciate kids with faked guns running around and screaming "Bang bang", I just can't. Maybe I need a psychologist