Thread: where did isis wings come from?

Just that: where did isis wings come from?

They come not only from the image of winged Isis, but also (and especially) from the "Danse Serpentine", which became popular in Paris at the end of 19th century.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaU_cjzTTQ]YouTube - Danse Serpentine[/ame]

A pastel drawing of Loie Fuller, by Toulouse-Lautrec, from the same sort of time.

I believe the link with belly dance arose in 1991 with adancer called Ayshe. In her pre-belly dance period she had used them in shows. One night, as a belly dancer, and thinking of how to make a dramatic entrance for a big wedding she noticed her wings and took them along. The rest, as they say, is history.

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

They come not only from the image of winged Isis, but also (and especially) from the "Danse Serpentine", which became popular in Paris at the end of 19th century.

YouTube - Danse Serpentine

Cool video. What an amazing piece of history.

I adore Loie Fuller. There is a woman in New York who does recreations of her dances. They are stunning.

Regarding Isis Wings themselves.... I saw the exact same pleated lamé fabric used by a drag queen as far back as 1994. She used them for basically the same purpose as Isis Wings, with sticks and all, except that they were shorter. As well, I recently saw a documentary about Brazil's Carneval and I saw pleated lamé all over the place.

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

They come not only from the image of winged Isis, but also (and especially) from the "Danse Serpentine", which became popular in Paris at the end of 19th century.

YouTube - Danse Serpentine

WOW! I've always wondered what Loie Fuller's dancing looked like! That is stunning. No wonder she made history.

It seems that I saw them in Bellydance before the 90's, not sure though now. Anyone? Ayshe definitely did play a large part in their popularity. I have a gorgeous pair - flame iridescent - that I special ordered from her for my tall self a few yrs ago. Oh, they were in my profile pic until I changed it yesterday! :-)

Back in the late '70s I saw a picture of Helene Erickson (which I probably spelled wrong!) with kind of a prototype of them: big, pleated, with what she called a 'sunburst' sewing effect in the middle.

Years later, I met Shakira the dancer at Morocco's weeklong and she had them! Very cool; this would have been just before 'wings' became ubiquitous.

Originally Posted by kahaz

Back in the late '70s I saw a picture of Helene Erickson (which I probably spelled wrong!) with kind of a prototype of them: big, pleated, with what she called a 'sunburst' sewing effect in the middle.

Years later, I met Shakira the dancer at Morocco's weeklong and she had them! Very cool; this would have been just before 'wings' became ubiquitous.

Yes! That's who it was - Shakira of Ohio in pics with Isis wings, before the 90's.

There's an upper Egyptian folk dance called Kaff (very similar to Haggalah and probably has the same roots) where the female dancer wears a large shawl-type garment, and swings it open and closed, mimicking the flapping of bird wings.

Not sayin' the two are connected, but Isis wings are often used in a similar way.

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

They come not only from the image of winged Isis, but also (and especially) from the "Danse Serpentine", which became popular in Paris at the end of 19th century.

YouTube - Danse Serpentine

what a lovely clip!

Marliza Pons used a lame' cape that was the size of Isis wings, just without the sticks and pleats, she was using those in Vegas back in the 60's. I got my first pair of wings in the late 90's or early 2000 from Stella in NY, I love them!