Thread: petite veils for dancers..width or length?

Petite dancers, need your feedback please..are veils easier to handle if they are shorter in length or if they are more narrow (like 36 inch wide instead of 45) ?

what size is perfect for you?

Hi Jesennia, very petite dancer here (4' 9") and I use standard sized veils just fine. It's all in technique...holding your arms away from your body, keeping your elbows straight(er) and always being aware of what the veil is doing (like monitoring a 2 year old). I find that narrow veils don't lend themselves to wraps very well and they lose something if they're anything shorter than 3 yards. Being a shorter dancer doesn't mean that every prop has to be shorter...we must adjust sometimes. I'm considering going to 3 1/2 yarders because I love how longer veils behave.

Canes are a different story however!

Oh yeah, I've been trying to contact you about something unrelated, possible pic thief. If you want to check it out I'll pm you the website.

For me, width is an issue. However, I started to use standard and it's ok.

I'm 4'10 and have only used standard size veils. They work fine for me.

Regular veils don't pose any problems for me, but I do love to work with smaller semicircles, around 2.5 yards. They seem very manageable and look more proportional with my 5'0" body. Small semicircles aren't too hard to find, but I have a heck of a time finding petite rectangles. This is definitely something I'd buy!

An overseas magazine ran a story on A'Kai about a year? ago..since then business has exploded from this area and all the dancers want are smaller sized veils...and they like hemmed. So am thinking of having a stock on hand..

I have had a few dancers who do the seven veil routine order the 36 inch from me, I guess it's a space issue, narrow-er silk takes up less room when wrapping

Sure Doozer I always like to see who helps themselves to the photos..probably an overseas manufacturer. Just once I'd like to order one and laugh at their attempt to make a true Merkaba. It's not just bands of color lol. And I do liken silk to two year olds as well. ..l;,

Hi Jes,

I do prefer 2.5 yard rectangles and 2.5 yard semi-circles. I'm 4'10" and thin.

I do own a 2.5 yard A'kai rectangle and love using it.

I haven't tried your little wings yet, but so far the colors for A'kai little wings that are available from other vendors just don't match my costumes.

I find that once in awhile I do step on a veil that is longer than 3 yards and with heels then I am worried that I may rip the lovely fabric.

It is mainly the length for me that matters.

Thanks for reading the input.

this is fascinating reading for me- i guess I'm not as petite as I thought I was at 5'2".

the veils I pull out most often are half circles and 36 inchers, but I have 2 heavy weight, 58 wide, 3.5 yard veils I dyed in an aurora borealis pattern that are fun to work with when I get the right venue too- friggin sails when I first started working with 'em & they're definitely not for every body (or every gig!)

generally speaking, I would cut down the width before cutting down the length, but then I be all crazy & play with 4 yard veils too!

My personal horror story was when ordering skirt/veil sets- despite our notes to the contrary, ordering a 32' hem meant they sent a 2 yard veil. 4 inches less leg does not translate to 3 feet less arm...

I'm not petite, but it'd be nice to have veils which are standard length but thinner width... esp for small places!

also not a petite dancer but for a little variety i do like me some narrow veils...i would never shorten the length but narrow i find is nice for some costumes. especially if they are a solid color.

thanks so much for the feedback, it's very much appreciated.. yeah I'm sorta obsessed with one small accessory in bellydance costuming :)

Hi Jesennia!

I'm 4'-11" and have only danced with standard sized veils so I'm not sure what a smaller veil would feel like. I have never had a problem with regular sized veils and I personally don't feel I would need a smaller size. Bigger just means I gotta work a little harder and I don't mind that at all!
Canes, yes canes can be a problem ..l;,

I've never danced with a narrow veil so I can't comment on that...

But as far as length goes I don't think I would go less than 3 yards. I'm 5'2" but have ridiculous long monkey arms. So I guess I don't count as petite as far as veils are concerned.

I'm 5"6' ish and in restaurants and other tight spaces I have used dupatti's in stead of standard veils because a regular dupatti is about 2.5 yards and 36" wide which means less opportunity to land in someones hummus!

For most venues I still like the 3 yard, 45" rectangles or the larger half circles, but it is nice to have a variety.

{{{HUGS}}}

We had a dancer under 5' in our student group once, I and I believe we took about 5" off the veil width but left the length at 3 yards.

Also, what a few others said about NOT getting your veil in somebody's hummus when dancing in tight spaces. I've recently started to do without veil for most of my party gigs these days, because I never have enough room to do a full veil routine to its best effect. It would be nice to have a few more options so I can attempt to do veil at my party gigs again!

A+++++ on the feedback, dancers ..instead of offering a zillion colors in each size/width I may just offer them as custom order..

I was practicing with Mia Naja's lurex head wrap scarf and I LOVED it. I don't know if it was the size or the fabric but both together, OMGGGGGGG, it was amazing. I don't like dancing with rectangle veils otherwise (this small veil was rectangular) and would stick with my 3/4 circular veils made slightly smaller than standard 3/4 so that I wouldn't trip on them.

Originally Posted by jesennia

An overseas magazine ran a story on A'Kai about a year? ago..since then business has exploded from this area and all the dancers want are smaller sized veils...and they like hemmed. So am thinking of having a stock on hand..

I have had a few dancers who do the seven veil routine order the 36 inch from me, I guess it's a space issue, narrow-er silk takes up less room when wrapping

Sure Doozer I always like to see who helps themselves to the photos..probably an overseas manufacturer. Just once I'd like to order one and laugh at their attempt to make a true Merkaba. It's not just bands of color lol. And I do liken silk to two year olds as well. ..l;,

The Bellydance Japan article?

You may want to contact these people and ask, it's a shop in Tokyo and I think it has carried your veils before.
First link is store, second is store/studio contact page.
ベリーダンス教室　ベリーダンスス゠¿ã‚¸ã‚ªã€€æ�±äº¬ 渋谷：Studio el Salaam スタジオ エル サラーãƒ*
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(the info boxes are name, name again (reading of kanji actually...but you have none) e-mail, e-mail double check, phone #, what you are writing about)

Or contact this dancer (totally TOTALLY bi-lingual)
ƒxƒŠ�[ƒ_ƒ“ƒX ƒtƒ@ƒ‰�[ƒVƒƒ - Farasha Official Website
She teaches at the aflliated studio and is also a very petite dancer.

They might be able to help with what the Japan/Asian market is looking for and petite dancer in general.

The shorter width would be better. A friend of mine has one that is shorter in width but the same length and it is perfect for those of that are vertically challenged.

Originally Posted by jesennia

Sure Doozer I always like to see who helps themselves to the photos..probably an overseas manufacturer. Just once I'd like to order one and laugh at their attempt to make a true Merkaba. It's not just bands of color lol. And I do liken silk to two year olds as well. ..l;,

I've tried my hand at dying veils, and it gave me such an appreciation for your work. Your veils are truly works of art (and mine are not!).

Petite dancer that uses standard size veils here, just wanted to say that.

i am 5 foot...120 lbs...i use 3 and 1 half or 4 yard veil.our 6 ties require at least 3 1/2. 35 " wide off the bolt.