Thread: Teaching sword

So I'm preparing to do a session on sword and thought I'd check in with bhuzzers about history and essential topics.

My understanding is that sword in belly dance originated in American Cabaret/ Vintage Oriental, possibly inspired by this painting as noted on Shira's site:

Sabre Dance in a Café by Jean-Léon Gerôme

But I also heard something from one teacher that she had been taught women danced with swords to tease men: it was along the lines of all you (men) can do is hurt people with a sword, while I (woman) can dance beautifully with this one my head...anyone else heard that?

History aside, what do you think are the fundamentals to sword? Types of swords, balance points: head, torso, hip, leg, arms and hands, isolation, floorwork, spinning and traveling etc.

Any thoughts welcome...

Originally Posted by mathkitty

But I also heard something from one teacher that she had been taught women danced with swords to tease men: it was along the lines of all you (men) can do is hurt people with a sword, while I (woman) can dance beautifully with this one my head...anyone else heard that?

History aside, what do you think are the fundamentals to sword? Types of swords, balance points: head, torso, hip, leg, arms and hands, isolation, floorwork, spinning and traveling etc.

I think the women teasing men comes under myths. Yes, it may have happened on occasion - all sorts of thing can happen. But that doesn't mena it then became a tardition - which is what she was suggesting.

There is a short excerpt of a bedouin woman balancing a sword after a group of men did a dance with them. But there is no suggestion that the women then took turns doing a balance or that it was actually traditional. It may have been - but the one short excerpt does not prove this.

Main rule with a sword - always treat it as if it sharp - even if it isn't. Sword "dance" is 80% drama. Lesser rule - don't swing about like a cane or threaten audience members with it (not only can a nasty accident occur but many sexual/violence abuse survivors are attracted to belly dance and it can set them into a spin).

Originally Posted by kashmir

Main rule with a sword - always treat it as if it sharp - even if it isn't. Sword "dance" is 80% drama.

Yes PLEASE make sure your students understand not to grab it by the blade. So many people are still doing this all over the world, it totally ruins the illusion!!!

My understanding is that, in many places in the ME, owning a sword is illegal unless you are in the military or of a privileged class, so that would support the AmCab / vintage oriental theory. (that having been said, there are dances which men do in parts of the ME which use the sword.)

Types of swords - mostly we use scimitars or faux scimitars. My favorite is a real one which I got from a gun store in a heavily ME neighborhood here in Los Angeles. I have one of the lion head ones which come in a velvet scabbard. Not a s impressed, but you also don't have to take the edge down because it's sharp. The one I really like, but am just not willing to pay $175 fr at this time is the big hookin' Turkish / pirate scimitar. These come with a live edge and have to be dulled. But they are really scary looking! ;-)

Be careful about the pressed gold ones. Many times they don't balance properly and there is nothing you can do about it. As a rule of thumb, the tang should be equal to the weight of the blade. On a lot of prop swords, this is not done.

As for dancing with the sword, I am going to agree with Kashmir that much of it is indeed drama. It's that great contradiction of a beautiful woman in beads and sequins and a big flippin' sword!

{{{HUGS}}}

we were told, mocking men...here i go again
we do a spin on head, sholder , w/ it on hip, hiplifts.
i go to the floor with it in my chin, backbend thing. do standard floor work w/ it on head. then we do the roll overs to a sitting position to pop it from head to chest, roll or flutter it down. back bend, come up with drum solo, choo choo's etc.

sword tips i've appreciated:

"introduce" it to the audience - show it off a bit before balancing

it's ok to take some time balancing it... 1) it shows the audience it's difficult and 2) it's better to take time and get it right where you want it, than to have to adjust it 10 times during your dance

if you must adjust it... don't fight it, just fix it. that is better than having it fall off!

question about "swinging" it - is it ever ok?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M6ojzbkjoI]YouTube - Yasmina sword dance[/ame]

she swings it a bit... and it seems ok... is it a matter of when/where/how you do it?

If you're going to swing/brandish, make sure the sword is strong enough to do so, some of them will snap apart, because the metal is not made for brandishing. The dragon scimitar for instance, I'd never swing because the blade is attached to the hilt by a thin screw top, and the metal is 'potted' so not sturdy enough. Imagine the sword sailing off into the audience...eek! If you want to brandish, be sure and check the quality of the metal and construction.

I also have an article on bhuz about sword tips and tricks if you care to check it out.

xoxo,

KS

I agree that most sword dance is illusion. You must create the illusion that it is sharp and can cut you if you don't balance it properly.

One of the easiest and very effective moves is this. Balance the sword on your shoulder and spin, increasing how fast you spin. by the time the world is a blur most audiences will begin applauding.

Also, a neat trick for people with slippery hair or not much experience with balancing a sword is putting rubber cement on the edge where you balance it. It's cheating I know but whenever my sword slips because I put too much conditioner in my hair, I curse myself for going the "honorable" route.

If you get Saroyan scimitar, Harry says to not swing it as they are not made from a solid piece of steel and will snap at the base of the tang.

Okay, I am such a geek because I know that. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

I think it's important to stress that you should dance with the sword before you balance the sword and dance. The balancing aspect sometimes hinders the movement ability and I like to see a dancer move and then balance and move again. When a dancer comes right out and balances the sword I often feel like she/he runs out of tricks before the song is over.

Originally Posted by dancingstar

question about "swinging" it - is it ever ok?

YouTube - Yasmina sword dance

she swings it a bit... and it seems ok... is it a matter of when/where/how you do it?

If I remember correctly, isn't this particular routine supposed to be based on the men's Al Ardah from the Khaleej? That might account for a difference in handling of the sword from the pretty much pure Am Cab fantasy version.

i remember something like that... that puts it in perspective.

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

I think it's important to stress that you should dance with the sword before you balance the sword and dance.

agree. there are a lot of cool things you can do with it that aren't balancing.

Originally Posted by dancingstar

question about "swinging" it - is it ever ok?

YouTube - Yasmina sword dance

she swings it a bit... and it seems ok... is it a matter of when/where/how you do it?

Could any one give me tips on how to Spin with the sword balanced on the head as Yasmina did @ 4:20? I can only do the basic balance. How does one turn? Thanks.