Thread: STRONG entrances in small spaces with big props

say you are a tall dancer and are using wings or double veils or another 'large' prop requiring a good deal of space and you are dancing in a small restaurant space

how do YOU make a powerful entrance and not 'hold your wings in'

I probably wouldn't use a large prop in such a setting, myself. I'd probably use finger cymbals to add energy to my entrance.

i agree with shira
xx
athena

yeah, wings aren't a good idea in a small setting. I might use a half circle veil as long as I knew I wasn't going to hit someone or drag it in the hommous while I'm using it

I'm a tall dancer and unless I'm in a wedding hall I don't use wings. Period. At 5'10" I can make a dramatic entrance. Period. ;)

Controlled veil / finger cymbals are the way to go!

there arent enough places to dance with large spaces! (needs football field)

well i just did a wing solo at a small restaurant setting for our hafla last friday. i couldn't back out of it then since we had to announce beforehand what we were doing and i didn't wanna just bail out...what i did was enter with my wings forward, then once i got to the small (VERY small) dance area i just spread them open dramatically like the music called for. i had to be careful tho since i'm tall too (5'9"), my wings are HUGE and there were decorations hanging from the ceiling. i just made sure to be at an angle so i didn't knock over anything and made sure that when i raised the wings upwards that i was away from the decorations
here's some very short footage of the hafla actually composed by one of the dancers there. u can see me for a couple of seconds (she was sitting at a table behind me and i was facing the 'guests of honor', my instructor and her husband so that's y u mostly see my booty lol)
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-DcQzQzJHY]YouTube - hafla[/ame]

p.s.-no idea y she put a pussycat doll song at the beg. but the rest to the 2 songs were from our bollywood & polynesian workshop performances (which i also did but there's no good coverage of that)

that's a lovely wing costume!

my first instructor and i performed a double isis wing dance at Tajine Alami, i'm spoiled and think all restaurants should be that big. we knew every arch way, every rug corner, somehow we made it work. it's not on youtube just vhs and i have no idea how to convert. we both did manage to rake a chandelier but otherwise it worked great

the problem with most restaurant or small space dancing is even when you use the large props you have to pull in your arms and dont have that full extension (by you i mean in general)

very very very few spaces i've run across so far can accomodate the biggie props. i danced at Ala Moana mall on a raised stage (Honolulu) i HATE stage dancing but DID have the entire stage to work it ..first song was wings and then during a lull in the music i grabbed the zills then jumped down in the crowd and danced amongst the people with the zills (camera man told me not to but i did it anyways..i'm not good with dance rules)

mid spin:

Wow, that's a beautiful picture, jessenia.

My initial instinct is the same as the others. I've seen eyes almost taken out with those things, but if you think you can 'wing' it *groan* then go for it!

Apologies for the terrible pun. ;o)

lol! well silk is more forgiving..i havent even used wings since..this show actually..

I've been an audience member with a dancer using a prop too big for the space and it put me on edge, I couldn't relax and enjoy the dancing! Even a sword in a too-tight space becomes more of a distraction than enhancement.

~~Kimahri

Originally Posted by Kimahri

I've been an audience member with a dancer using a prop too big for the space and it put me on edge, I couldn't relax and enjoy the dancing! Even a sword in a too-tight space becomes more of a distraction than enhancement.

~~Kimahri

I agree, I'm often just waiting for big old "oops!" instead of appreciating the dancer.

I wasn't there, but my troupe saw an audience member get smacked in the head with a dancer's twirling cane once.

I have a pair of mini-wings that would be ideal for a restaurant setting. In fact, thats what I bought them for, just haven't done any gigs since LOL.

Yep, me too - I don't want to be scared when watching a dancer perform with over-sized props!!!

An alternative might be a flashy veil (I agree that semi-circle are great for small spaces as easier to control). I find I can dramatically spin in most small spaces - pick a spot where it's safe and work between the obstacles with a few spin variations. I like to sometimes flamenco-turn the veil over the audience's heads a bit for dramatic effect (esp. if they aren't paying attention), and this is pretty safe with a light-weight, non-sequinned veil. Combined with some varied veil drapes going from one drape/hold to another (oooh, how did she do that???), that might make up enough of a wow-ish entrance without the risk of eye-gouging!