Sword Tips and Tricks from KittieSparkle

Sword dancing: dangerous, empowering, proof of true isolation, technique and balance. Crowds fall for even the sight of a sword, and can be easily impressed, but it’s up to dedicated dancers to deliver a quality performance. As Ansuya says “Don’t let the hard stuff die!”

Most of what I know about sword comes from Ansuya, Suzanna DelVeccio, Princess Farhana and Jo Lynch of Tulsa. I wish to acknowledge them and thank them here.

Sword Do’s:

* Do treat your sword as if it’s sharp - even if it’s not. * Do build suspense in the dance by starting with seemingly easy balances and working your way to the head balance. * Do take your sword off your head on occasion, so people don’t think it’s stuck there by artificial means. * Do practice in the hair and costume you plan to wear for the show, including your jewelry. * Do dance while you balance – fill in the dead air by doing a nice fall back move.

Your Cheatin’ Heart - Popular Sword Cheats Discussed

Double Sided Tape – Pros: cheap and quick/Cons: sticks to your hair or headpiece. Dirty Hair/Hair Spray – Pros: supposedly helps a sword stay put/Cons: Hard to make dirty hair look nice. Sand Paper – Pros: great gripping power/Cons: hard to make it stay on your sword Sand and Clear Nail Polish – Pros: Stays on well, inexpensive/Cons: not as much traction as sand paper Notches – Pros: no muss or fuss/Cons: noticeable to the audience The Head Wrap – a cushioned head wrap helps with purchase The Hair Do Helper – a high pony tail can curtail spinage

Balance it Where? wrist/back of hand finger - index shoulder hip or waist elbow crook/hand knee stomach head

Questionable Balances – Chin and Chest –. I personally choose to avoid these as the chest is problematic for me (I don’t have enough to hold it up), and it’s considered tacky by some. The chin balance looks really masculine to me, even though I respect that it takes a lot of skill. I don’t mind seeing it, but I don’t do it.

Spin Cycle – if you decide to flourish (spinning figure 8 turns) your sword, be sure your sword is stout enough not to fall apart while you are spinning it. Dodging a broken flying sword; that’s a little too much excitement for the crowd!

Hot Tip #1: If you want to turn with your sword, always turn your head slightly in the direction you are about to turn, this will keep you from having to put your arm up to stop the sword from spinning on top of your head as you turn. Start slowly and build speed. When it’s time to stop, raise your arm to stop the spin of the sword, or lift the sword up and overhead in a dramatic fashion.

Hot Tip #2: This is actually a RULE, when you handle the sword blade, act as if the sword is sharp, even if it isn’t. Anything else (gripping the sword blade like a steering wheel) takes on the look of a baton twirler and destroys all the wonderful elements of sword in one fell swoop. So it’s not an option, just don’t do it - ever! Hold the sword by the handle; or if you’re holding in the blade section, in web of your thumb and forefinger, with your other fingers gracefully positioned for a glamorous effect.

Hot Tip #3: When you are performing, with the sword on your head, and you feel it slipping, do not look up at your sword. You won’t be able to see it anyway and a photographer will most certainly take your photo in this ‘not so glam’ eyes rolled up pose. Instead, stop, smile and fix your balance. Letting your sword wobble and hoping it stays on is usually a disaster. The audience is distracted, you are distracted, just stop and fix the dang thing with some easy stationary fall back moves like figure eights or undulations. If you are part of a group choreography, continue the dance as you rebalance in a professional manner.

Hot Tip #4: If you are doing a wrist balance, remove your bracelets, sleeves, etc. if they’ll hinder you; or at least be prepared to move them back. Of course you should always practice at least once in full costume, but in case you forgot to do that, just thinking ahead will help.

Hot Tip #5: If your sword slips off catch it as gracefully as possible and give the smile/“oops” look, or you may wag your finger at it “naughty sword” and then continue calmly. Having a contingency plan will help you feel more confident, rather it slips or not. I am not a fan of letting it fall since it makes a horrible clang, and can damage you or the sword. Which brings us to Tip #6

Hot Tip #6: Bleeding on stage is not part of the colorful drama of Belly Dance. If you cut yourself on stage and blood is flowing, you’ll have to excuse yourself. It’s just too distracting for the audience. I know it’s cool and dangerous to work with a sharp sword like the CAS Iberia battle ready Hawksbill, but really, it’s best to have it dulled for our purposes.

The Godsend Moves, and the Hellish ones too:

First the ‘easy’ stuff that looks impressive:

1. The Dip – with the sword on your head, walk forward and then do a quick level change (if your knees can take it) and come back up quickly. Sword stays on surprisingly well, as long as you keep your torso straight vertically.

2. Ansuya Style Knee Turns – if you know how to do these, it’s surprising how easy it is to do it with a sword on your head. Use the same advice for beginning your turn as you would for a regular turn, turn your head slightly in the direction you are turning to start.

3. Sitting Princess Turns – You sit with your feet curled under, your bottom to one side, then make your bottom hop over your feet to the other side, raise your knees gracefully and reposition to the side again, bottom jumps over your feet – you travel in a little circle. Combine this with a pretty hand movement, and a sword on your head, and people really seem to like it.

4. The ‘Reverse Table Pose’ Flutter – If you can flutter, this always gets a laugh…with sword on head during your floor work, go into the reverse table pose (like a table pose from yoga, but with the stomach facing up, arms extended behind you, legs straight, making a triangle between you and the floor) and undulate, and then flutter.

5. Lock crossed hands with a dance mate (swords on head) and slowly start to turn, build speed, then when ready break away and catch up the sword for a nice finish.

6. While sword is balanced on the shoulder, do three point turns across the stage arms out.

The Hard Stuff:

1. Sword Toss: In the reverse table pose, with sword on head, drop the sword to your stomach. What helps: A nice soft landing spot. If you find a good landing hard to accomplish, you can dip your stomach down a bit as you catch the sword. Try not to worry about your nose, and remove your belly button rings for this one. Remove eyewear as well. Practice a lot.

2. Lying Down: I always find it hard to get into position (on the tummy or side) without wobbling the sword (on the head again). Best advice? Go slowly, move with grace and pointed toes.

For the side lay down, go to the Sitting Princess position first (legs bent under you, feet to the side of your bottom), slide your legs out to the side while supporting your self with a hand on the floor arm locked out. Gracefully position your other hand with some florets if possible. Remember, the knee closest to the ground is bent under you, supporting most of the weight; the top leg is straight, ready for figure 8s or relaxed for undulations.

For the lay down on the tummy, it’s not so bad getting down as it is getting up with out looking like you’re rolling out of bed. Here’s my take on it. Put the hand nearest the audience on the floor and slide towards your chest, place hand that was under chin (Farhana style) flat on the floor and perpendicular to your body, push up with both hands while gracefully positioning the legs and pointing the toes.

3. Getting up from a layback with your sword – So you’ve done a layback, balanced the sword on your tummy and done some hand work and some twisting shimmies, now how in the heck do you get up? Assuming you don’t have super human strength and can come up out of a full layback using your lifted chest and thighs, you may want to try rolling up on an elbow (sword in hands) and continuing the circle forward with some dramatic hair whipping. Practice a lot.

4. Twirling and handing off - Twirling the sword in a figure 8, balanced in your palm or on your fingers with a large hip circle movement is nice and passing the sword between hands is even nicer. Just be sure and exchange the hands at the balance point and keep it moving!

5. Fish Pose – Youngsters and yoginis, this one’s for you! Sword is balanced on your shoulder and toe, hands do something pretty to distract you from your aching bottom and cramping thigh.