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 Dancing with Sword/ Scimitar
This is such an amazing prop to add to your professional dance routine. It gives variation and adds that touch of danger and mysteriousness to your performance.
It is however important to note that dancing with a sword is a real danger to yourself and your audience and is thus only recommended to those highly experienced and advanced dancers.
A Bit of History
Sword dancing can, as far as my research goes, be traced back to American dancers. It is not a prop that is traditionally used in the Middle East to dance with by woman. Swords were seen as weapons and used as such by men. The dances that there are in the Middle East where swords are used in dancing are traditionally performed by men and are all types of war dances.
It is however increasing in popularity in dance as dancers lend their own interpretation of dance to it as a prop.
Where to start
First of I need to state that you can not just use any sword that you pick up from a bazaar or flea market. You will have to order a specially made, balanced dancing sword. Make sure you buy it from a reputable vendor or dealer and that the quality is of a high standard.
There are many shapes and sizes when it comes to properly balanced dance swords, so do your homework well before deciding on what is right for you. They vary in weight, metal, handles, looks etc.
Taking care of your sword
Remember, like all other props and outfits there too need care. Some good advice is to keep them clean. Do not leave them in the sun or a heated car as it might warp or damage the metal.
Be careful with you scimitar – do not drop it or bump it as it may warp of bend.
If you are lucky enough to buy it with a sheath, then use it, as it will protect your sword. You can also make a sheath for your sword with some fabric. Use something pretty and durable like thick velvet and sew a pocket out of it to house your sword.
You can also polish your sword with e.g. Olive oil.
Remember to clean the metal with the appropriate metal cleaner (Braso, silvo etc.) to keep it from going dull.
What next
When you have your sword, you will have to determine where its centre is. This can be done by placing the sword on your index finger and moving it until it is perfectly balanced on your finger.
How to get it to stick
Generally I consider using a head dress as a huge cheat, so how do you get it to stay?
Over time I have seen and heard of a couple of interesting ways, and will share these with you.
- You can use hairspray on your hair to help create friction between your head and the sword so that it grips better.
- Using nail polish on your sword where it is balanced
- Attaching a thin strip of sand paper to your sword – it does unfortunately break your hair.
- Any other friction causing method – please share if you find something interesting…
Balancing your sword on your head
So, you know where it is balanced, now for the balancing.
Firstly place your sword on your head (from ear to ear). I prefer to have my handle on the right, as I am right handed and like to grab it by the handle when I am removing it from my head.
Start slowly by moving around and trying to keep the sword balanced. After a time try different isolated movements e.g. snake arms, hip circles etc.
As you get the hang of it you can try and do more complicated movements with your sword still balanced on your head.
It is important to keep your head and neck as still as possible for you to be able to maintain the balanced sword on your head.
Now try balancing the sword on other parts of your body.
- Your wrist
- Your stomach
- Your hip – keep the tip of the sword pointing in and the handle out to the side/back, this is so you can keep an eye on the sharp tip and ensure no one gets hurt if you turn or spin.
- Your chest.
- On your shoulder – the tip pointing forward so you can keep an eye on it
- On the top of your thigh – tip facing in
- On your knee if you are doing floor work
Floor work with sword
Floor work with a scimitar is widely used over the world and can be beautiful and effective if done correctly.
Remember when doing floor work to ensure you are covered in all the right places with harem pants or skirts – you don’t want people sneaking a peak at your undies.
Some ideas:
- Going down and coming up from the floor with your sword balanced on your head
- Lying down and doing stomach flutters with the sword balanced on your stomach
- Undulations lying down with your sword balanced on your chest or stomach.
For more information on Sword/ Scimitars and belly dancing please contact me on:
073 088 7888
We also offer workshops on dancing with Swords/Scimitars
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