Thread: Learning Candle Tray ... Tips?

Hi All:

I've set the goal for myself to learn candle tray. Any vital info or techniques that might not transfer from other balancing props like sword, shamadan, etc.?

I have seen dancers rough up to center of the tray or put a small piece of the fuzzy part of velcro there to prevent sliding, much as you would rough up that part of a sword.

I have well-qualified mentors who will help me with this, but I always like other input as well. Thank you!

It is helpful if the tray has an indentation in it to fit on your head, rather than being completely flat on the bottom.

A super large tray will be harder to balance than a shorter tray.

I use that removable "gum" stuff that people use to stick posters on the wall, to secure the candles to the tray.

I use electric flickering candles in the votive cups and real candles in a small candelabra that I place in the center of the tray.

I find tray balancing easier than sword, actually.

I've heard Neon's "Queen of Flowers" DVD was helpful for learning tray. Not sure why I'm having trouble finding it on the WDNY site, so here it is on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Bellydance-Tra.../dp/B00030LNWQ.

Bear in mind that MANY venues do not allow open flame. Battery-operated tea lights -- available at the dollar store and other locations -- work fine. And as Dunyah mentioned, stick the votive holders (or whatever you put your candles in) to the tray so they don't slide.

If you have a problem with the tray slipping on your head, you could attach a small circle of non-slip rubbery shelf liner to the bottom of the tray.

Be very selective with the tray (that is saying you're not buying/using a tray made specially for belly dance). This was my pet project in the summer so here are my tips:

1) As I said select a good tray, make a dent in the middle of the tray (make dent on underside of tray). *Start with a good small sized tray, once you get comfortable with it you can get a bigger one.

2) Sticky tack the candles to the tray (real candles or flicker tea lights) I recommend you placing the bigger votives in the center of the tray in a circle and as you either feel comfortable or want, put more on the outside of this circle.

3) This is my secret trick when it comes to candle tray: before you perform, literally as close to performing time as possible, hair spray the top of your head. It works like a dream for balancing tray and sword!

*Helpful hints: to decorate space on tray add flowers/flower petals etc. Also, the way I've practiced sword works well for tray: run through your routine in front of a mirror and then without one. You want to feel 100% confident when you have a tray of fire on your head, otherwise you make what I call 'nervous face' and generally put customers in a panic that you might drop it on them ;)

Good luck! (hopefully you can find venues that let you perform it with real candles, i've gotten lucky, hoping you will too)

If you buy a piece of rug backing and cut it to fit the bottom of the tray, it will stick on your head quite well. Be sure the tray you choose has some weight to it.

Originally Posted by la_soraya

1) ... make a dent in the middle of the tray (make dent on underside of tray).

What is the best way to go about this?

Thanks!

I never put a dent in my tray. I put a little beeswax on the bottom and some hairspray on the top of my head, and that helps. IF you look on the very bottom of this page, under similar thread, there is a "constructing a candle tray" with about 25 replies - lots of advice from others, and myself :)

okay my secret is velcro(small piece), with a bit of hairspray. I also practice balancing while doing dishes, laundry walking and doing things around the house. I second "handi-tak" poster adhesive and battery operated tea lites. i've also balanced a tray of flowers.(troupe number way back when) For real live flame candles I use shabaz candles. Like zills or anything belly dance for that matter. practice, practice, practice. good luck

for some places, you can't use wax candles because of the sensitivity of their smoke detectors, but you still want the drama of real fire. i use the little oil candles http://www.candleland.com/images/sl10.jpg from restaurant supply companies. i lit my pillar candles and hollowed them out so that i can put either one of these oil candles, a nice cheap votive, or the electric candles depending on what the venue calls for.
unless your tray is quite large you don't need a dent in it, i got the adhesive felt from the craft store and cut a small circle for the center of my tray, i try to make sure the audience doesn't see it before the tray goes on my head, even though you're still balancing it a lot of people want to believe no one could do it and will take any small modification as "proof" that it's a "trick".
the heavier the easier, just like sword. turning is a lot easier tho ^_^
when do two show sets at one place i try to do sword first and tray for the second. once you put fire on your head, even tho sword is harder, people aren't as impressed by it. :P

Originally Posted by Marianna

I never put a dent in my tray. I put a little beeswax on the bottom and some hairspray on the top of my head, and that helps. IF you look on the very bottom of this page, under similar thread, there is a "constructing a candle tray" with about 25 replies - lots of advice from others, and myself :)

Same as Marianna. I rub a bit of candle wax in the centre of the tray bottom.

surf wax :)

I advise against using velcro, rug, or other items glued to the bottom of the tray. Why? Because if an audience member gets hold of your try (you never can tell, they sometimes do), they'll instantly lose all respect for your skill and think the balancing was no more than some kind of deception.

Now you and I both know that even with one of those "cheats" it still takes real skill to keep the silly thing on your head while you dance. So, do yourself a favor and use "helps" that won't be obvious if someone sees your try. I concur with the hairspray - it does help. Surf wax or beeswax are also good because they're not so obvious.

I also oppose cutting notches into swords for the same reason.

Wow, these tips are all great!

Shira, I know what you're talking about; I am able to disguise the roughing-up I do on a stainless-steel sword by doing the entire edge of it, not just the part where it will be in contact with my head.

Yes, I'm a big fan of hairspray; on that note, I want to mention that those silicone sprays and serums are the opposite of sticky, and it's best to avoid using them on the top of the scalp.

I am really digging all the assorted candle hints. Carving out big pillar candles, mixing real flame with batteries, etc. There are several fake candles on the market now that are fairly realistic when obscured somehow.

It is heartening to me that one of you said that candle tray is easier than sword ... I love doing sword, and while I don't know if others agree with this statement, it's been very encouraging to me!

Thanks again, everyone!

One thought regarding hair spray....

Is everyone SURE it's safe to use hair spray around open flame? I've never used it when balancing a candle tray because I've been concerned the hair spray might be extra-flammable. If the tray were to drop and a candle bump my hair on the way down, I'd hate to magnify my risks by using a spray that is highly flammable.

While I'm on the subject of fire safety....

If you use live flame, make sure there's someone in the room sitting near you with a fire extinguisher close at hand. Just in case....

Think carefully about the fabrics in your costume. Some are highly flammable. Try to choose fire-retardant costume fabrics, or think about whether the costume fabric would tolerate being sprayed with fire retardant. Those lycra fabrics may be fashionable and look fabulous, but they'll melt, stick to your skin, and give you serious burns if you have an accident with your candles. Natural fibers are safer.

Maybe obvious, but one rule I work with is to not put a move into the choreography that I cannot practice succesfully 9 times out of 10 (succesfully of course meaning the tray stays on my head). With the added nerves or adrenaline of performing, balance will be affected and I only do the moves I am very very confident in. Especially when you are playing with fire!

I've never had any problems with hairspray, ever. I even use it with the fire tray.
Of course, you want to be careful, and I don't want to talk anyone out of thinking about being extra cautious, but this is my reasoning:
- in the event you tray slips off your head, it is VERY unlikely that it will flip over on the top of your head, and the flames would come in close contact with the hairspray
- if the tray fell off, most likely the candles would blow out by the time it hit the floor; maybe not all of them, but I definitely don't see the candle/hair contact. (maybe carpet/candle)
- while the tray is on top of your head, it is impossible for the small flames to reach downwards and touch your hair. Even with the big flames. In fact, i think the most dangerous part is when you have your tray in your hands, in front of your face: it's easier for it to catch on your long hair, blow into your face (especially big flames), or catch on to your chiffon sleeves (if you're wearing any), etc. I always feel safe once the tray is on my head.
- if the tray fell off, it is most likely to just slip right off. I mean, how many of us had ever dropped a tray? I've been using the tray regularly for about 6-7 years now, and only one time, in the beginning I lost enough balance that it really wobbled on my head, scared me to death.
Have you ladies ever completely dropped a tray, or have seen anyone do so? I haven't - i heard someone once said it slipped off, away from the head. So the chances of it falling off is not very big.
And like others suggested, you have to be absolutely comfortable using it before you perform. And try out all your moves ahead of time - no new ideas with the tray on your head, please :)) Adrenalin will make you do weird stuff, and you might become careless, or judge the move wrong, and disaster happens...

But you also have to be careful about how your using the hairspray. You only need some on the top of your head, right in the middle. I like to part my hear on the side, but when i use a tray, I part it in the middle. That makes the tray more stable. If you part your hair on the side, that means you'll have all this hair on the top of your head, that can move around, causing the tray moving with it. So i either part in the middle, or brush the whole thing back, and then add some spray.

And please no headbands on top of your head. I hate when dancers do that, in my opinion, that is really cheating.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

One thought regarding hair spray....

Is everyone SURE it's safe to use hair spray around open flame? ...

if i didn't i'd start the night with Mona-hair and end it with Zaki-hair.

eta: i did once see someone drop their tray... probably 7-10 times over the course of the song. it was at what must have been a student show/hafla, i think. the tray had a BIG green felt disc under it and small votive candles still in their metal cups, which made them slide around. they fell and were all over the floor, by the end of the song there was only 1 or 2 of them left on the tray. i think she got a little bit of wax on her costume but nothing caught fire, and the candles blew them-selves out on decent and like Marriana said, the trajectory kept them from contacting the dancer until about her bust (and this with a *very* small tray, a bit smaller than your average dinner plate)

Is sugar-water a safer option than hairspray? Although I have to admit I've never seen anyone drop their tray/shamadan/candles -- but if it HAD to happen, and somebody HAD to set their head on fire, it would be me.

As an aside, in my county and in most of southern Indiana, fire laws prevent you from performing with open flames in a public building, without a special permit and paying a fire marshall to be on site. Not that the law actually STOPS everybody, but the fees are expensive enough that I am happy with electric candles.