Thread: Help! Attack of the 10 foot fanveils!!!

Okay, so maybe these 10 foot fanveils aren't actually attacking me.....but that's what it feels like...LOL.

I've danced with the 1.5 metre (5 foot) ones, and really liked them, so decided to make myself a longer pair. Several days and tubes of glue later, they're finished..g.:....but....I'm finding them almost impossible to dance with...c::

I know Mahsati mentioned that it took her a while to get used to the longer fanveils, so I'm not about to take a scissors to them quite yet... but I'd really appreciate any advice on how to learn to use these.

Thanks.

I would try just using one at first. Practice with one until it's familiar, then try two.

Ask Mirabai!

I saw someone selling them at Desert Dance Festival. One dancer was doing lovely movements with hers. Wish I could remember her name but I was in awe. She made it appear so easy. I was challenged with the shorter ones so I didn't attempt the longer ones.

I had a quick go with some at JoY. They look wonderful, but it seemed like to get the best out of them you needed to be travelling constantly. Barrel turns looked amazing.

My main problem is getting and keeping them off the ground. I'm fine with 5 foot ones but with the 10 foot ones I'm really struggling. You're probably right about the need for constant motion Emma (thanks! :) I'm only 5'2'' tall (short), but Azhia indicated that Mirabai uses them, and I think she's quite petite too (?)

Originally Posted by mellilahdance

Okay, so maybe these 10 foot fanveils aren't actually attacking me.....but that's what it feels like...LOL.

I've danced with the 1.5 metre (5 foot) ones, and really liked them, so decided to make myself a longer pair. Several days and tubes of glue later, they're finished..g.:....but....I'm finding them almost impossible to dance with...c::

I know Mahsati mentioned that it took her a while to get used to the longer fanveils, so I'm not about to take a scissors to them quite yet... but I'd really appreciate any advice on how to learn to use these.

Thanks.

Yay! My new dvd is actually in pre-production right now for using the huge ones, so I have a few things that might help off-hand.

1. Start with only one - do not practice with two until you can use one in either hand without strangling yourself.

2. Remember that everything you do is delayed by a few seconds. Whatever you do with your hand/arm/wrist will flow out to the veil and you want to give it time to do that. If you change movements too quickly it will get muddied in the veil.

3. When you first start practicing with them keep your arms at full extension and watch your posture. If your posture or arm extension starts to droop, the veil will react to it and fall on you.

4. Keep air in the veil. You will want to hold it out in a way that keep air flowing.

You can see some pics of me performing with mine here:
2008 - Momo in Durham - a set on Flickr
2008 - Summer Oasis, Ringgold, GA - a set on Flickr

I should have some video up soon as well. :)

Good luck! It is fun, but definitely takes a little time to get used to that delay when you are dancing (especially if you are trying to time it to the music).

Thanks Mahsati, those are really good suggestions. Your pictures are fabulous and have inspired me to persevere with these monstrous fanveils for a little longer.....now that I can see how good they can look when used properly.

Can't wait to see some video clips..w.: Any idea when your next DVD will be due for release?

Originally Posted by mellilahdance

Thanks Mahsati, those are really good suggestions. Your pictures are fabulous and have inspired me to persevere with these monstrous fanveils for a little longer.....now that I can see how good they can look when used properly.

Can't wait to see some video clips..w.: Any idea when your next DVD will be due for release?

No worries - you will do *fan*tastic with them ..g.:

Assuming everything continues to move on schedule the new video should come out towards the end of this year or beginning of next year. I am hoping for sooner rather than later, but have to work with everyone's schedules. It is going well though!

Did someone say fan veils!! They're such fun! But I haven't even seen any that are 10 feet. Where can I get me some?
Here's a clip where I'm dancing with the demis - [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BeMImYTM3k]YouTube - Mirabai Dance Silk Fan Fusion[/ame]

Originally Posted by Mirabai

Did someone say fan veils!! They're such fun! But I haven't even seen any that are 10 feet. Where can I get me some?
Here's a clip where I'm dancing with the demis -

Great clip! BellyDanceFans.com : Home has the long ones in several colors. A friend of mine bought the 3 meter waterfall and just decided to stay with the shorter ones...

Originally Posted by sha-ri

Great clip! BellyDanceFans.com : Home has the long ones in several colors. A friend of mine bought the 3 meter waterfall and just decided to stay with the shorter ones...

You can also get the huge ones from Faye at Originales by Faye - Welcome to Faye4U.com

I love them - but they do take some getting used to!

Originally Posted by mellilahdance

...so decided to make myself a longer pair. Several days and tubes of glue later, they're finished..g.:....but....I'm finding them almost impossible to dance with...c::

Thanks.

Sorry for the thread hijack, but I'm just dying to know: How did you make your longer fan-veils? Just all glue or did you sew extra silk together to an existing shorter one?

Fantastic video clip Mirabai....I'd love to see you dancing with the longer fan veils if you decide to buy some.

In answer to Lesgemini_Zafirah's question about how I made mine, first I would say that the main reason I decided to try to make some was that they were out of stock at BellyDanceFans.com : Home at that time, although I've seen them back in stock since.

I already had a pair of Fayes Fanveilzz (albeit the shorter ones) so could see roughly how the fans were constructed. Basically though I took a pair of Tai Chi fans (these were quite heavy duty ones, but as I've done a bit of flamenco in the past I'm kind of used to the heavier fans), removed the original fabric and replaced it with a silk veil that I bought from universal curio (these are 36 inches wide which is about right for most fans), then covered the other side of the fan with a smaller piece of silk from another veil.

For this particular set I used a red veil as the 'longer piece' and part of a black veil as the 'shorter' piece on each fan (3 veils total for the pair) as I was aiming for a flamenco-style look. I have to admit that the gluing got a bit messy, partly because the glue decided to dissolve the red paint that was covering the staves and partly because it's just a fiddly process. Luckily though the staves on these fans are a bit further apart than on the usual bamboo dance fans, so I was able to add flat sequins to the surface of the fan silk (not the 'tail' though, it'll wreck the flow) and cover some of the glue marks without causing any problems in terms of opening and closing the fans.

One day (when I have time LOL) I'd love to try to make some using really nice veils (e.g. a'kai)....but this was a very much needed trial run ,r:;

Just digging up old fan veil threads to say ... OMG!!! It is finally out! You can go to www.MirabaiDance.Blogspot.com to find out more about my new Chinese Silk Fan Fusion DVD :)