Thread: Fan dancing

Not fan veil, just straight up fan. What's the history, who does well, how to learn, etc.

Is there a specific type of fan you're talking about. Smaller, more flamenco or Asian silk fans or the big Sally Rand ostrich fans?

Either way, I don't think dancing with fans is traditional to belly dance. I think some of it comes from Flamenco fusion, or the feather fans have their origin (I think) in Vaudeville and Burlesque and old Hollywood. They're additional glamorous props one can use.

There is a clip of Egyptian belly dancer Katy using a fan, but she's not belly dancing with it

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnVeURAtGf8&feature=related]YouTube - Katie - كيتي[/ame]

Bozenka uses them:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgEjREwNY20&feature=related]YouTube - Bozenka abanico[/ame]

If you're interested in the big feather fans, watch Sally Rand:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTEIWK9CaEs]YouTube - Fan Dancer Sally Rand at 1934 Chicago World's Fair[/ame]

Also watch Sharon Davis, she is a Burlesque performer among other things, but her fan dancing is beautiful:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_jEu-Fc1bk]YouTube - Sharon Davis Performance Provence Swing Festival 2009[/ame]

Princess Farhana is also pretty well known for fan dancing, she has a fan dancing DVD called Fantastic:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYI_BvveR7g]YouTube - Princess Farhana Fan Dance[/ame]

And here is a group silk fan fusion from Vivant (starts around 2:30):
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DnvVOnE_sc]YouTube - Vivant at Dead Men Tell No Tales[/ame]

Hopefully that helps and bit and other can add...

There are separate fan dance traditions in Spain, Japan, Korea, and China at least, so it would depend on which style of fan dancing you are considering. There is also the burlesque or variety show styles of fan dancing which differ from the other traditions.

Elena Lentini of New York teaches fans as part of her Zambra. I believe Amaya does as well.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what fan dancing I'm interested in... I've only seen photos or people mention that they can dance with fans. Some I assume is Burlesque (big, fluffy feathers), some I'm not sure.

I figure if I've learned a bit of fan veil, I probably should learn a thing or two about regular fans. Thanks for the clips; they were fun to watch.

Here are some other samples:
Korean:
YouTube - Korean Fan Dance

Chinese:
YouTube - 放风ç*� - Flying Kites

Japanese:
YouTube - Beautiful Japanese Fan Dance

Flamenco:
YouTube - Spanish Flamenco fan dance at Sophisto

Vietnamese:
YouTube - Traditional Vietnamese Fan Dance performed at VSA UCI's Culture Night "1306"

Thanks for all of those links Mahsati, they are awesome!

Originally Posted by kahaz

Elena Lentini of New York teaches fans as part of her Zambra. I believe Amaya does as well.

Yes, Elena is AMAZING! She does a dance with a fan, a flamenco shawl, and it is all underneath a veil.

I have always wanted to study with Amaya. She will be in Charlotte in a month or two. I am going to try to make it to her workshop.

Amaya is one of my very favorite performers! There are a lot of dancers whose workshops I love, I love their teaching, but their performances leave me cold (and in a couple of cases just make me shudder!). But Amaya is a 'total package', along with being just a super person and great fun to hang out with.

Here's some big ostrich plume Sally Rand fans for you:


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qXFWIIU8g8]YouTube - Princess Farhana[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-wC1grNWz8]YouTube - Princess Farhana at Cairo Caravan 2009[/ame]

Beautiful, beautiful, Princess Farhana! ,r:;

cool thread!