[mathkitty]

I'm going to be teaching a special session on veils in April, and would like to be able to give my students an accurate overview of the history and origins of it.

Veils are not really traditional to ME dance...My understanding is dancing with veils, the complicated full routines, wrapping and unwrapping, big spins and tricks came out of American Cabaret. Maybe some connection or origin with Ruth St. Denis and/or the Ballet Russe oriental fantasy routines--but not sure. Then multiple veils stuff is very recent, maybe 70's 80's?

While there is Egyptian veil, it developed independently from American Cabaret. It's used for a grand entrance, and then it's tossed aside. I heard that many of the "Golden Age" dancers were receiving training from someone from the Kirov Ballet, who didn't think Egyptians knew how to hold their arms right, and gave them veils to improve it. It's one of those things that could be true, but might not.

Anyway, looking to be enlightened...