Thread: Sword Dancing

I was introduced to dancing with a sword last week and I REALLY like it! I am interested in hearing from my bhuz friends on 2 points pertaining to this style of ME dance.
First-music. Tell me your favorite songs to dance sword to, or what kind of feeling you look for when choosing your music.
Second-costuming. Do you have a favorite costume you prefer when doing sword? Any tips about what to wear or not to wear? Feel free to post pics if you like.
Any additional comments are welcome as well.
Share your experience, opinions, knowledge about this aspect of the dance.

I love dancing with a sword!

As far as music goes, I tend not to like really soft melodic music, I always think the music should have an edge ,r:;. It should be a little bad ass, since you are dancing with a weapon after all.

I tend to like slower music, it's always good to take your time with a sword. Chiftitellis are good to use, they give you lots of room. The piece I'm currently using is essentially a slow Chiftitelli drum solo.

For costuming, I like a more old-school 70's look to the costume. Or maybe a Tribaret look. I have a coin costume I sometimes wear or another homemade, vintage style look. Maybe it's an earthier, less refined look I prefer. The costuming will need to depend on what you're planning to do with the sword. If I'm going to do floorwork, I will usually wear a circle skirt with slit harem pants. If I'm not planing to do floorwork, I may choose a straight skirt.

Coin outfit with straight skirt, no floorwork cause nobody would see me:



Homemade, slightly 70's style with circle skirt and slit harems:

Ditto on the slow music.

I also usually favor a more tribaret look. I'll also wear full pants with a short skirt/scarf over them if I'm doing floor work.

LOVE the sword! Have fun with it!

Another sword lover here! Welcome to the club :-)

For sword I like music that has drama in it. My favourite piece is Sayat Nova by REG Project. Our troupe did a double-sword dance to that a few years ago. I like to choose music with some changes in pace throughout the piece and with a nice slow bit around the three-quarter mark for some show-offy slow moves, maybe some floorwork if the venue is suitable.

Yep, music with drama, edge, slow bits, pauses, not-quite-traditional all fit the feel of sword-work for me. One piece I love to use is 'Wusul Il Baghdad' from the CD Essential Bellydance. For something a little more rhythmical, 'Move Your Belly' from Showtime.

If I'm throwing a sword dance into a Middle Eastern set (ie: not on it's own), I might dance to some taxim music, then segue into 'Ya Galbi ' from Champagne Bellydance, by Setrak Sarkissian. It's a short piece of slow maksoum rhythm, so perfect to take you from slow sword to a-bit-of-rhythm-and-hip-dropping-ooh-how-tricky to a faster melody for the non-sword finale.

As to what to wear - if you're just doing a sword dance something with a modern, non-traditional twist would be perfect. I like to wear harem pants or a split skirt so I can kneel down and get up without an issue, because that's a cool move with a sword on your head (and not as tricky as it looks!). I also like a bare belly, so I can balance the sword on my waist (it slips off a tummy cover or dress).

Oh, and think carefully about what you wear on your head...a headband in just the right place can help balance your sword, but a clip or band right on your balancing spot won't help at all!

(Ahh, you've got me reminiscing the magic of when I was first introduced to sword dancing...I bought a foam mat to practice on and that thing sure got a lot of holes in it...I was forever dropping the sword onto the floor!)

It's all good! I wouldn't recommend a sassy 9/8, but a medium tempo works fine. LIke veil, you sometimes feel slow and sometimes faster. I've gone for the ultra dramatic (but not too often; solemn just isn't me), and the show-off fun.

Due to health issues, I haven't worked sword for a while but these were my favorites in the past:

Sirhanee by George Abdo. It's a rhumba and does GREAT with martial music and zills. (I'm old-school; I've always got zills on).

Dina Tata It's faster, but has lots of great changes in it.

Marco Polo by Lorena McKennit. It got overused for a while there! Still a great piece of music.

My current favorite that I think I must use is Zen Arabianna on A Dancer's Odyssey by Amaya. It's delish!

Costuming: I"ve done it all! Again, old-school, so I started this in cabaret, and still prefer to be in full bedleh and circle skirts, usually with harems underneath. This is also a great place for fakelore: yes, I have a gold glitterdot beledi dress! Or harems and tunic with hipscarf.

I tend to like slower music, it's always good to take your time with a sword. Chiftitellis are good to use, they give you lots of room

Another sword fan here. I completely agree with the above comment. Slow to medium and feisty are my usual preferences.

I personally prefer it when sword pieces include a few balances done well, as opposed to every balance in the book, all done a bit frantically - its easy to get a bit circus-acty with sword, if you're not careful.

I have arthritis so floorwork is pretty much out for me but if you are going to do it I think it looks most fabulous and confident in a classy trousser costume.

yay! another convert :) i love dancing with a sword.
the music totally depends on the venue and audience. also, where the sword act will be place within your show. ime adults like slow, dramatic music. kids like something upbeat & "amazing" sounding.

if floorwork with a sword, def pants or at least a big full skirt with coordinating shorts underneath. better safe then sorry (or offensive)

you will get lots of funny audience comments when doing sword. one little boy asked if i have a magnet in my brain!

Originally Posted by mathkitty

I always think the music should have an edge ,r:;. It should be a little bad ass, since you are dancing with a weapon after all.

Word.

Originally Posted by mathkitty

The costuming will need to depend on what you're planning to do with the sword. If I'm going to do floorwork, I will usually wear a circle skirt with slit harem pants. If I'm not planing to do floorwork, I may choose a straight skirt.

This is what I do as well.

Sword is fun - I'd say add pretty posing w/ the sword in addition to balancing. I agree that excessive 'balance it here, balance it there' can detract from the dancing. Like w/ any dance, I think it's important to focus on the beginning and ending - how you start off with the sword, the last thing you do with it. On the beginning, I'd say don't start off w/ balancing right away - maximize the "oh wow, what is she going to do with that?!" that you'll probably hear from the audience.

I knw some people REALLY don't like fusion, but I feel like being a rebel today..... so here goes l;,

We're doing a group fusion-sword piece right now to "Elsium" by the Retrosic.
Everyone is dressed in black (melodia type pants), and huge black feather angel wings!! The theme is a battle between fallen angels.

Looks pretty good so far.
Can't wait to see the pics after the show.

I (heart) swords. Solo, since or double swords, troupe sword improv, I love it all.

When choosing sword music I look for something dramatic or slow-trancy, and /or with a melodic line that can be interpreted as slow or moderate. Something that speeds up & ends fast is a plus.
Some of my faves:
Aenaem by Solace (a 10/8 rhythm)
Solitude by Solace
Dangerous by Americanistan
Pangaia by Palyyrria
Maro Jailo by Maharaja
Immortal Egypt by Hossam Ramsey & Phil Thornton
Kassar Army by Pete List
The Shisha Room by Solace
Ou Est ma Petite Danseuse? by Gypsy Caravan
Country Dance part 2 or 3, by Sirocco

Costume ideas: be careful not to have anything dangling off your arms, or very large/tall bracelets that could hit the sword or prevent your wrists from rotating freely. Ditto for large rings.
If doing a shoulder balance, have a top that covers the spot where you balance. Slippery sweaty skin is not a good balance spot!
If doing floorword cover your legs. Also, very long fringe, tassles, or large ornaments dangling off the back of the belt will make some moves very uncomfortable and you might even get tangled up.

oh yeah, pictures!

Picasa Web Albums - Sabine - Asian Celebra...

Picasa Web Albums - Sabine - Jennie Harrim...

Picasa Web Albums - Sabine - Taipei 2007

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