Thread: Is coin flipping on belly a must for all professional dancers?

I can flip a coin!! only going one direction though...

its an awesome Ab excersise!

I saw Helena's show last year in Phoenix, coin-rolling gimmick and all. Just like her dance, she did it with elegance, impeccable technique, humour and fully in control of the room the whole time. What a first-class lady!

The documentary American Bellydance Legends features Helena and explains how it happened by accident in a show and she embellished it over the years. I'm sure you can find that clip on youtube but the whole DVD is excellent. Treat yourself to an original copy.

I see nothing wrong with adding a gimmick in your show (like coin rolling, tabla solo on drum, standing on wine glasses, sword play, snakes, etc). We are entertainers, afterall! ESPECIALLY in a cabaret, restaurant setting. As long as it isn't the ONLY you can do (actual dance technique required here ;-), I think it's fine. Thank you Shira for presenting that side of the topic.

I'm currently reading Morocco's new book (fabulously dense!) and am inspired to see comments like that man's as invitations to education the general public, one ignorant soul at a time. ;-)

Helena Vlahos is in the Guiness Book of World Records for Abdominal Dexterity rolling Quarters on her stomache. she is known world wide for this skill, that is part of what some people hire her to perform, and in the right setting she will oblige an audience and demonstrate this skill. i do know that She is not comfortable performing it in every venue or situation.

Some people are disappointed when she doesn't perform it. It's like going to see your favorite band in concert but they don't play their biggest hit song that made them famous.

Personally I don't understand it being called a parlor trick or gimmick? That sounds like a negative comment. there is no magic, slight of hand or smoke and mirrors involved, it is a skill, something that has to be practiced and mastered.

Originally Posted by venusahara

Helena Vlahos is in the Guiness Book of World Records for Abdominal Dexterity rolling Quarters on her stomache. she is known world wide for this skill, that is part of what some people hire her to perform, and in the right setting she will oblige an audience and demonstrate this skill. i do know that She is not comfortable performing it in every venue or situation.

Some people are disappointed when she doesn't perform it. It's like going to see your favorite band in concert but they don't play their biggest hit song that made them famous.

Personally I don't understand it being called a parlor trick or gimmick? That sounds like a negative comment. there is no magic, slight of hand or smoke and mirrors involved, it is a skill, something that has to be practiced and mastered.

Originally Posted by venusahara

Personally I don't understand it being called a parlor trick or gimmick? That sounds like a negative comment. there is no magic, slight of hand or smoke and mirrors involved, it is a skill, something that has to be practiced and mastered.

A belly dancer's job is to make the music visible. This takes skill which may result in being able to roll coins - but rolling coins is not belly dance - any more than standing and executing very difficult drills, even perfectly. Whenever the object of an activity is to make an audience go "how did she do that?" then you have moved from dance to circus.