create your own

How to Choose a Belly Dance Balancing Sword

78
rate or flag this page

By Marisa Wright


Adding a sword to your belly dance performance adds a different dimension. There's a soupcon of danger (how sharp is it?) and the thrill of suspense (will she drop it?). The audience will "ooh" and "aah" as you balance the sword effortlessly on your head, your arms or even your hip, and admire the graceful shapes you can make with it.

You'll often see beginners trying to learn sword using a cane or stick, but in reality, nothing gives you the same feeling as a real sword. A good belly dancing sword is much heavier than a cane, and the weight isn't as evenly distributed. If you really want to learn belly dance sword, the only solution is to beg, borrow or buy yourself one!

In this video, you can see the Mexican belly dancer Shazadi show how it's done.



Belly Dancer Irina Akulenko

When you decide to buy your first sword, make sure you buy one that's specifically described as a "belly dancing sword" or "balancing sword".

Every sword has what's called a "balance point". For many scimitars (curving Turkish swords), that point is way up near the hilt (handle). If you try to dance with a sword like that, you'll find the sharp point hanging way out past your shoulder on one side (like Irina's in the photo on the right).

It takes a lot of practice to move your arm on that side without knocking the sword off your head - or worse, impaling your arm! Take another look at the video and you'll see that Shazadi's sword balances quite high up towards the hilt, too, but she's experienced enough to deal with it.


A sword designed specifically for belly dancing is more likely to balance in a more central position, so you can move both arms equally - like the one in the video below. That's a lot easier - and safer - for a beginner to deal with.

Some makers helpfully carve a few notches in the blade at the balance point - otherwise, find it by balancing the sword on your finger.

By all means, once you're more experienced, be adventurous and buy some of the cheaper non-belly dance swords - but to begin with, it's much safer to stick with swords that are designed for dancing.


Scimitar
Scimitar

Other Points to Watch

  • If you're a beginner, steer clear of chromed swords - lovely and shiny but also slippery! It's hard enough to learn to balance your sword, without making it more difficult for yourself.
  • It's fine to buy a sword with a real, sharp blade - but have it blunted please! Even a blunt sword can be dangerous to dance with, and don't forget the point is still sharp!
  • You can buy purely ornamental swords with a thick, rounded edge. They're more comfortable and safer - but if you're dancing in cabaret, your audience can see it's safe, so you'll lose the "thrill".
  • Don't be afraid of a heavy sword - in fact, they're easier to balance because they're less disturbed by drafts or small movements.

 


Tribal hair ornaments add an extra degree of difficulty!
Tribal hair ornaments add an extra degree of difficulty!

Using Your Sword

You'll find it much easier to balance your sword if you haven't washed your hair. Clean hair is far too slippery. If you're one of those people who washes their hair everyday, putting gel or mousse in your hair may help - but hair that hasn't been washed for a couple of days is much better. You can also try rubbing the blade with a candle.

If all else fails, buy or make a plain velvet headband until you feel more confident in your moves - but please, please don't be tempted to buy or make a "sword headdress". A big part of the excitement of a sword dance is the risk factor - will it fall off or not? Audiences aren't stupid - if they can see that your turban or headdress is helping to hold the sword straight, they're not going to be nearly as awed by your skill. Start relying on artificial aids to control your sword, and you'll never develop a truly amazing sword routine.

*

All text copyright Marisa Wright. Photo of Irina Akulenko courtesy of Toast to Life , 'Tati Chilli" photo by Index Photograph, tribal photo by Dalliedee, pink dancer by Jae Yong, all on Flickr.com


Comments

RSS for comments on this Hub

Benson Yeung profile image

Benson Yeung  says:
13 months ago

what a topic! thanks for sharing with me something I know absolutely nothing about.

amreen_b profile image

amreen_b  says:
9 months ago

Lol benson, Marisa this is a good article. I have never tried something like this and am to much of a chicken to try this! But looks like fun if done right.

Stephanie Boles  says:
2 weeks ago

I'm new to Belly Dance, but I intend to learn the art of the sword. This article was a great help. Thank you!

Submit a Comment

Members and Guests

Sign in or sign up and post using a hubpages account.


optional


  • No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked
  • Comments are not for promoting your hubs or other sites

Belly Dance News

  • Belly Dance Fundraiser plannedStevens Point Journal3 days ago

    The fifth annual Belly Dance Fundraiser will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at Moose Lodge Family Center. Dance and drumming performances will be held throughout the event, showcasing area belly dancers and musicians. The event also will feature henna art, palm reading, a clothing bazaar by Shama Inc. and a grand raffle for five gift baskets. Indian cuisine will be available for purchase ...

  • This week in the artsThe State8 hours ago

    Raquy and the Cavemen, the Brooklyn-based group of Middle Eastern percussionists and musicians, will perform Tuesday at 701 Whaley. The concert, which will include two collaborations with Delirium Tribal, is a fundraiser for the local belly dance company.

  • Pittsburgh Dance and Theatre Arts to launch cabaret seriesPittsburgh Tribune-Review2 days ago

    Laura Hodge, the artistic and education director as well as the owner of Pittsburgh Dance and Theatre Arts, envisions the once-a-month cabaret series as an outlet for local talent as well as a potential late-night entertainment.

  • Belly Dancing for Fun and FitnessThe Kitsap Sun3 days ago

    BELFAIR — “Half-drop … up … down …down … shimmy … hold … quickly but graceful ...” Tessa McGowan elegantly moves her arms and hips as she instructs a group of students at the Mary E. Theler Center. She is teaching belly dancing — and to make the experience a little more authentic, the students are wearing colorful hip scarves made of “coins” that jingle during certain moves. McGowan, who lives ...

  • SCC belly dance classSpartanburg Herald-Journal4 days ago

    Spartanburg Community College has a belly dancing class this semester. Here instructor Stephanie "Ra'eesah Ra'naa" Pack gets the class started.

working