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The  wonderful art of veil dancing
Veils bring images of silken princesses, of harems and oases, of
Angels and birds and all that the imagination can further conjure. It invokes in one, an almost lightness of being - the promise of flight.
There is no 'set in stone' philosophy surrounding the history of veils,
Particularly in North Africa, simply no information or documentation regarding this has come to light. The closest one can 'claim' as historic are dances with scarves and shawls dating back to no more than 150 years. The closest one can come to anything vaguely authentic lies more within a cultural domain.
Certain types of Khaleegy dance depicts women dancing draped in shawls, but this does not resemble anything even remotely close to what we imagine veil dance to be. In more recent adaptations of
Oriental dance, double scarves are wrapped around the hips and tucked into each side. A more cabaret-type scenario would be the depiction of Persian dancers complete with scarves and flowing headgear. In fact, I have seen dance media representing Arabic Folkloric dance, where the Fellahin dancer (of the Fellahin region of Upper Egypt) wears flowing headgear.
Moving further within a cultural framework, one is bound to discover the chador, usually navy blue or black headgear which falls over the face, bearing small similarities to a bridal veil and worn mostly for cultural modesty. Only the eyes show through and more often than not, netting covers the eyes. Below is an excerpt taken from The Illusive Veil.
There were dances performed that used sheer diaphanous veils or handkerchiefs in other parts of the Middle Eastern world. In Azerbaijan, the people are a Turkic-speaking group from the Caucasus area. In the women's dances they use handkerchiefs, scarves, and veils to accentuate their feminine beauty. During the dances, they delicately reveal the eyes, the nose, the face and the richly costumed breasts. This is different from the veil as it is manipulated in Oriental dance because; in the Azeri women's dances, the veil is attached to a hat or a headdress. The freedom of movement is limited because of this, but the variety of gestures is still rich and varied. (Mourat).
As little as is suggested by history and culture, we are mostly aware of the allure of veil dance. This is partly due to its original form - the dance of a bride for her 'overlord' or husband.
Note: Before dancing with veils, one must become comfortable wearing a veil.
Single veils
How comfortable are you holding a veil? Be aware of your
Posture while you do this. Remember, veil ends are to be held delicately between the pointer and third fingers, unless of course, you have discovered an elegant comfortable manner in which to hold your veil that differs from the one mentioned here. Now, close your eyes and see an image in your mind's eye of how you would frame yourself using the veil. "Strike a pose"
This one I can vouch for first-hand. When I was in Australia, dancing at the Belyssa Academy Oscars - a black tie affair held in the Governor's Ballroom, a procession was first on the agenda. As I solemnly and regally stepped into an almost sacred rhythm and in the presence of none other than Egypt's prized percussionist Hossam Ramzy, the dancer behind me trampled my veil, which had been attached to my headgear. Needless to say, all dignity was lost as I was pulled back red-faced and helpless by a misplaced foot! Be careful where you step and adjust the length of your veil accordingly.
Jewelry
We love our jewellery don't we? However, I would strongly caution you on the use of elaborate jewellery, especially neck pieces and earrings when dancing with a veil. Veils are flimsy and easily attach and entangle themselves in your jewellery and unless you want to dance with tilted head all night, reconsider what you wear when veil work is on the agenda.
With Props
Make sure there is nothing your veils can catch onto.
Remember, your veils can be both wide and long, starting at, at least 2.5 m and at about 115cm wide. Try to steer clear of 'clingy' fabric. Veils should be light enough to float over props if need be. NEVER use veils near fire
Draping
Drape the veil over one arm and enter with regally as in procession.
Tuck both long ends into the back of each hip, lift up the opposite end and 'fly'.
Drape the veil over your neck and manipulate both ends into wings or a facial veil.
Diagonal draping
Tuck the veil into your belt to give the appearance of a more complete outfit.
Ancient Egyptian wrap - to make things easier; simply create a removable 'cloak'.
Double veils
Bearing in mind we have only two hands, it would not be prudent to attempt dancing with multiple veils unless you are particularly skilled at veil work.
Dance of the seven veils
The dance of the seven veils has been documented in many forms and I attribute this to creative minds such as those of Oscar Wilde and Hollywood. The apparent biblical tale of Herodias’s daughter dancing in return for the head of John the Baptist has nothing to do with oriental dance, in fact, it does not make any mention of the type of dance involved; neither does it mention seven veils. Given, the veil is a covering in Middle Eastern tradition; it should not be used as a type of strip-tease. It may however, be used to enhance the dancer’s performance. If you must do this dance, please do so elegantly, bearing cultural values and modesty in mind.
Photo’s on Veil Dancing
Copyright.CathrineMa.2006.No duplication allowed in any form, without prior consent.
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