Thread: Cane length?

What is the generally accepted formula for "correct" cane length (for Raks Assaya)? Is it to the hip, waist, belly button, or something else?

For sentimental reasons, I dance with a cane that is definitely WAY too short for me (although I'm used to it and have adapted), but would like to know the "real" answer when asked (as I have been a few times)...

I would like to know the answer to this as well!

I believe the canes I normally dance with are WAY too long for me, and they come up to my rib cage (4'11" here).

Perhaps it depends on personal preference and proportion??

Originally Posted by Azhiadancer

Perhaps it depends on personal preference and proportion??

No doubt! There are a couple or three different ways of "correctly" sizing a veil - I go into that in one of my veil articles, but stress that it is only a starting point. The individual dancer's preferences and experience count also! I know how to compensate for my "too short" cane, but am wondering what the "rule of thumb" is...

Originally Posted by Azhiadancer

I would like to know the answer to this as well!

I believe the canes I normally dance with are WAY too long for me, and they come up to my rib cage (4'11" here).

Perhaps it depends on personal preference and proportion??

Hey, you're the same height as me!!!

My cane comes about the same height and I like it. Someone once told me that I should have my cane end at hip height, but I don't mind them. I prefer the longer length, especially since I've worked with it for so long. I've also seen dancers from "over there" with various lengths so I really don't think there's a standard. Hey, the male tahtib are pretty long

As long as you can manage it and dance well with it, I don't think it should make a difference!

Hello hello, petite one! ;0)

I wondered what it would be like to work with a shorter cane, like if it would be easier, especially when going into a Turkish drop while twirling. I have to be careful not to whack the floor (unintentionally).

And I have worked with various lengths of veils, and depending what veil, shorter lengths are better than longer. 3/4 large double veils for someone my size: NOT GOOD. I had my 3/4 double veils made smaller and they still do the same beautiful effects, I just don't trip and swim in them!

That's true, tahtib are pretty long and I've actually considered dancing with one of those, too. It would be like long staff. ;0)

I agree with Safiyah's recommendation about if it can be managed and danced with, it's okay.

Zorba, what is the length of the cane in relation to your height?

I like belly button height, but I know some people prefer ribcage height. I think I like mine shorter not only because I'm a shortie in general, but because my arms are dispropotionally short to the rest of my body. The hubby says I have T. Rex arms. ..l;,

Originally Posted by Azhiadancer

Zorba, what is the length of the cane in relation to your height?

Well below the hip - I could almost straddle it if it were straight upright - in fact I can if I stand on tiptoe. Very short. If Laura 2's preference is "the norm", that makes it EXTREMELY short!

I'm not worried about "my cane" (thank Goddess) per se; but because of its shortness, I've had dance sisters ask me what the "correct length" is. Their seeing a big guy with a short cane tends to confuse them a bit - "is my cane too long?"

I hear you about veils - esp. 3/4 circles! They can be awesomely HUGE!

I like the bellybutton guide for an Assaya and you can go shorter if you have longer arms. For Asa (cane for Tahtib) it should be about rib cage height as most of the work you do your hand is held higher than in Raqs Assaya.

for cane, i think minimum = hip or belly button height
but a lot depends on the venue and if you have to be careful of low hung lighting, disco balls, fog machines, chandeliers or other crazy stuff in the ceiling.

my little guide of cane-buying-considerations:
[good for beginners who might read this thread]

consider the thickness of the cane in addition to the length in terms of how heavy it is and how fast you want to move it.
of course heavier canes take more work to move and are harder to work fast, but make better sounds if you whack the floor.
type of wood makes a difference too, but hard to tell on the wrapped stage canes

also give a cane a good spin test before you buy it to make sure it is not crooked and will spin straight

the pretty sequin covered canes can catch on certain costuming elements so may not be the best choice for your fav. delicate mesh dress

Who was at the Nagwa Fouad workshop? Didn't she indicate that it should be waist high or hip high? Gash I can't remember....I think it was waist. Help someone! My memory is slipping...

I've always been told that it was hip height...belly button would work well too...
Gia

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

consider the thickness of the cane in addition to the length in terms of how heavy it is and how fast you want to move it.
of course heavier canes take more work to move and are harder to work fast, but make better sounds if you whack the floor.
type of wood makes a difference too, but hard to tell on the wrapped stage canes

I've become quite spoiled by mine. Its very thin, and made of balsa wood, so its very light. I'm given to understand that the balsa canes are "impossible" to obtain anymore.

The cane takes care of itself, I only have to worry about my dancing! I've borrowed canes that were very heavy - in a word, they suck.

As for Tahtib, I'm no expert having only performed it once. However, I have a white fiberglass staff that comes up to my breastbone. My instructor liked it so much that I made her one!

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

consider the thickness of the cane in addition to the length in terms of how heavy it is and how fast you want to move it.

I am such a pervert - I read the above thinking about "cane" as a euphamism for, uhhhh, you know and I can't stop laughing! ..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

Nothing to see here..back to your regularly scheduled thread....w.:

Originally Posted by zorba

I've become quite spoiled by mine. Its very thin, and made of balsa wood, so its very light. I'm given to understand that the balsa canes are "impossible" to obtain anymore.

The cane takes care of itself, I only have to worry about my dancing! I've borrowed canes that were very heavy - in a word, they suck.

I prefer a heavier cane, myself--not super heavy, but something with some heft to it that will make a sharp sound when I hit the floor with it. And somehow a heavier cane feels more secure to me. When I've used lighter canes, I'm always afraid they're going to fly away while spinning.

Oh, and belly button height here too ..g.:

My mind already went there, too! This whole thread could go there...(I feel so Beavis and Butthead)...

Anyways, I would love to find a belly button height one. I'm going to get a new one to replace the one I left (and loved!) at a gig. I suppose I could shorten the bottom, non-crook end of it and see how that goes. But then, it could look weird if it is disproportionately small compared to the size of the crook.

Zorba, does your balsa cane (sounds awesome, by the way) have a small crook? I've seen teeny tiny ones on Egyptian canes and then HUGE ass crooks, like Little Bo Peep sized on others.

I prefer a slight weight, too. I nearly impaled somebody at a Lebanese Festival when my super cheap $5 bamboo cane flew right out of my hands. Good thing into the laps of other belly dancers who could empathize. Of course, every time I turned to the band they ducked. ;'0/

Originally Posted by Azhiadancer

Zorba, does your balsa cane (sounds awesome, by the way) have a small crook? I've seen teeny tiny ones on Egyptian canes and then HUGE ass crooks, like Little Bo Peep sized on others.

I prefer a slight weight, too. I nearly impaled somebody at a Lebanese Festival when my super cheap $5 bamboo cane flew right out of my hands. Good thing into the laps of other belly dancers who could empathize. Of course, every time I turned to the band they ducked. ;'0/

Its kinda hard to see, but its a small to "normal" sized crook, no Little Bo-Peep (although my instructor has one like that with a BIG crook):



The bamboo canes are "ok", but slightly heavier than I'm used to. I found that some bamboo canes have sand sealed into the crook end to give them some weight.

I always suggest taping the crook with electrical or other heavy-duty tape on bamboo canes as they'll otherwise split eventually. Its not a bad idea on other canes too...

I would love that sized cane! Except I don't know if I could whack the floor with it. I'm a big fan of floor whacking...

Been cane dancing for decades and tried a lot of canes. I prefer canes with some weight, but not toooo heavy. My favorite is a bamboo cane, but I have one like Zorba's in his picture which I like very much too. Zorba, I think that size is just fine for you. A longer cane would be good too, but if you like and are comfortable with the one you have, it looks good to me. My "rule of thumb" for cane length is anywhere between my waistline and my hipline. I just have to adjust my movements to the cane length, ceiling height, lamp levels, etc.

I second (third? Fourth?) belly button height. If you twirl the cane at shoulder height it won't hit the floor, and it's a good length for hitting the floor without having to lean forward too much in an ungainly manner.

Heh heh, they said cane, heh heh.

I vote for hip height. If it's any longer I feel like I have to hold my arms up too high. Any shorter and I have to bend my knees to hit it on the ground, plus if you like to put the crook end on the ground and hold the top you have to walk like a duck or bend at the waist because it's too short. I can't remember who said it, but I agree that these are guidelines not rules. If it works for you then do it!

I was told (by Aida Nour I think) belly button plus a handspan.

If you are doing ghawazee pair stuff however, you need to have both canes the same length.

As for thickness, I have a real walking cane. Heavy enough to balance and strong enough to feel safe wacking it on the floor. No glitter for me.

Originally Posted by kashmir

As for thickness, I have a real walking cane. Heavy enough to balance and strong enough to feel safe wacking it on the floor. No glitter for me.

Same here ..g.:

I'm big on Saidi and cane dance. :-) I'm also kind of a shortie too (5'2"...though people usually think I look much taller on stage) and I have really crazy-long arms, so I think a lot about cane proportion. I don't want it too short (will look weird) but too long and I feel like I should either fold my arms up like a praying mantis or risk touching people in Iowa--neither is a great option.

My favorite cane came just below my navel. Unfortunately, the covering on it is coming off. My next favorite one is about an inch and or so above my navel, but I'm thinking about trimming it because, well, on my torso that's pretty high up.

The main criteria, I think, are personal preference, ability to control it, and that it looks good. (After all, remember, this doesn't come from some highly regimented discipline with a regulation-sized instrument--cane dancing comes from folk dancing and then grabbing hold of whatever stick was handy/available!) What you plan to do with it may affect it too. For general purposes, I usually recommed students aim for one somewhere between the hip and navel--it works for a lot of people and is a pretty flexible length (you can set the end on the floor and place your hands on top of it without looking stupid, it's long enough to look good swinging, it's short enough for most people and venues not take down the entire ceiling, etc.)

to your navel

Oh.... ..l;, oh.... ..l;, oh.......l;, Can't breathe! ..l;, Stop! ..l;,

Originally Posted by laura 2

I am such a pervert - I read the above thinking about "cane" as a euphamism for, uhhhh, you know and I can't stop laughing! ..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

Nothing to see here..back to your regularly scheduled thread....w.:

I recently bought a cane from Aladdins Cave at Fantasia and was told the ideal height is to your belly button.

another vote for belly button.

my test for length is that I need to be able to hold the cane in front of me with both hands, raise it overhead, and then bring it behind me to my butt without having to let go. that, and I need to be able to whack it on the floor. if it's too short, you can't do either.

(and thank you thank you thank you sabrina for the guidleline on tahtib length! I posted that q months ago and nobody answered...)

Originally Posted by elisagamal

my test for length is that I need to be able to hold the cane in front of me with both hands, raise it overhead, and then bring it behind me to my butt without having to let go.

I just tried that - it'd have to be about 5 feet long for that to work with *this* body! Joints were popping as it was! ..l;,