| Dancing with a sword can convey a feeling of power, | | | | enabling you to balance that sword, and they don't |
| of being in control. A dancer with a sword has a | | | | appreciate the skill it truly takes to do it. |
| weapon, and demonstrates that she is at ease with | | | | Headdress. If you're dancing outdoors, consider |
| handling it! Audiences are fascinated by swords--when | | | | wearing a headdress. The slightest breeze can blow |
| the dancer first produces one, people wonder what | | | | your sword off balance! For best results, choose a |
| she is going to do with it. When she balances it, they | | | | headdress that is made of cloth rather than chains or |
| are very impressed by the skill required. | | | | coins, and the thicker, the better. Possibilities include the |
| Audience members rarely heckle a dancer with a | | | | crocheted-cap headdresses with chin-length cords |
| sword. | | | | hanging down that have beads strung on them (like the |
| Here are some tips for dancers who are just beginning | | | | silver one in the photo above), turbans, or scarves. (If |
| to learn how to work with swords. | | | | you wear a scarf, consider putting something under it |
| Choosing A Sword And Preparing It For Use Buying A | | | | that will add some thickness for the sword to nest |
| Sword. Not sure which type of sword to buy? Some | | | | down into.) Headdress. Beware of headbands that |
| swords balance well, others don't. Heavier swords will | | | | pass over the top of the head like the one shown in |
| stay in place more easily than lighter-weight ones. | | | | this photo to the left. |
| Balance the sword on your hand before you buy it. If it | | | | Depending on the position of the headband, it can |
| won't balance on your hand in the store, it probably | | | | interfere with placing the sword into optimal position for |
| won't balance properly on your head, stomach, chin, hip, | | | | balancing. Even if it doesn't get in your way, it may lead |
| or shoulder while you're dancing. | | | | the audience to believe it is a "trick" to help you |
| Buying A Sword. Beware of chromed swords--they | | | | balance the sword, and they will be less impressed |
| look beautiful, but the chrome is very slippery and will | | | | with the skill you are truly using. |
| make the sword more likely to fall off your head. | | | | Headdress. If you wear a headdress, make sure it is |
| They are not recommended for newcomers to | | | | firmly anchored in place--if your headdress slips while |
| balancing! Buying a Sword. Swords with slightly thicker | | | | balancing your sword, your sword will, of course, slip |
| blades that have not been sharpened are more | | | | with it! Practice With Your Costume & Headdress! |
| comfortable to balance than those with thin blades that | | | | Before balancing your sword in public, practice with it in |
| have been sharpened. | | | | private using the exact same costume and headdress |
| Securing The Knob. Some swords have a handle with | | | | you plan to use in public. Some headdresses make it |
| a knob on the end that can be twisted to adjust the | | | | easier to balance the sword, while others make it |
| balance. For this kind of sword, you can use rubber O | | | | harder. That's the kind of thing you want to learn about |
| rings (purchased in the plumbing supply section of the | | | | practicing in private, not while in front of an audience! |
| hardware store) as a washer to ensure a secure fit | | | | Pantaloons With Floor Work. If planning to incorporate |
| on the threads. | | | | any kind of floor work into your sword act, be sure to |
| Don't Slip! Keep an inexpensive votive candle in your | | | | wear pantaloons under your skirt. This picture shows a |
| dance supplies. Before going on stage with your | | | | costume with a pair of red pantaloons slitted in the |
| sword, rub the candle back and forth across the part | | | | center front worn under the red skirt. The skirt fell |
| of the sword's edge that will rest on your head. This | | | | away when the right leg was raised, but the |
| will make the sword stay in place while you're dancing. | | | | pantaloons stayed in place to ensure that the audience |
| Don't Slip! Balancing a sword on your hip looks great, | | | | didn't get a view of more than they wanted to see. |
| but be sure to practice in the costume before trying it | | | | More modest dancers can omit the slit from the |
| in public. Swords usually behave well when resting | | | | pantaloons entirely Build Suspense. When you initially |
| against bare skin, but the fabric used for some body | | | | pick up your sword, don't start balancing it right away. |
| stockings and midriff-covering dresses can cause the | | | | Play with it a little first, to build suspense. Give the |
| sword to slip. I never balance a sword on my hip when | | | | audience time to get used to the idea that you are |
| wearing a mesh body stocking. | | | | holding a sword, and make them wonder what you |
| Don't Slip! Spritz a little hair spray onto the top of your | | | | are going to do with it. |
| head where the sword will rest before you begin your | | | | What To Do Before Balancing. Grasp the sword in |
| performance. This will make your hair a little sticky and | | | | one hand and flourish it in a martial pose. Hold it in both |
| help the sword stay in place while you're dancing. | | | | hands and trace a large circle with it from your hips, to |
| Don't Slip! Place a thin layer of rubber cement on the | | | | one side, to overhead, etc. Pose with it proudly |
| sword, where the balancing point is. Let the cement | | | | overhead, as shown in this picture of Shira to the left. |
| dry before you actually put the sword on your head. It | | | | Walk up to audience members and show it to them, |
| holds the sword very well in place, even outdoors with | | | | like a magician showing he has nothing up his sleeve. |
| moderate wind. When you are finished with your | | | | Don't Make It Look Too Easy. When actually placing |
| dance, the cement rubs right off! (Contributed by | | | | the sword on the head, take your time. It may be |
| Grace Ann in Anchorage, Alaska.) Don't Slip! Put clear | | | | tempting to balance it quickly to show off, but the |
| nail polish along the balancing edge of the sword and | | | | audience will be more impressed if you act like you're |
| rubbing sand on it before the polish dries. This will | | | | not entirely certain it will stay. Don't be afraid to take |
| eventually wear off, but can be repeated as needed. | | | | extra time to fine-tune the balance, and use your eyes |
| This gives the sword a rougher edge and helps it to | | | | to cast apprehensive upward glances toward the |
| grip better to the hair or other head piece. (Contributed | | | | sword and you adjust it. Your accomplishment will |
| by Iesha in Ft. | | | | seem more exciting if it looks like it wasn't easy for |
| Myers, Florida.) Learning to Balance Breaking Hair. You | | | | you! Bask In Your Glory. Once you have removed |
| might notice that the weight of the sword on your | | | | your hands from the sword, don't start dancing right |
| head might cause some hair to break close to the | | | | away. Take a moment to stand perfectly still and act |
| scalp. Don't worry, it'll grow back, and I promise you | | | | pleased with what you have done, as shown in the |
| won't develop a bald spot from it! I've been doing | | | | photo to the right. |
| sword balancing for over 20 years on my bare head, | | | | Doing Backbends. The key to a successful backbend |
| and I haven't developed a bald spot yet! Prevent Pain. | | | | is strong and flexible thigh muscles. Abdominal muscles |
| When you're new to sword balancing, you'll notice that | | | | are valuable for getting back up from a backbend. I've |
| it hurts to have a heavy object on its edge resting on | | | | written an entire article on how to do backbends like |
| your head. For that reason, don't do more than 15 | | | | this one for the Dear Shira section of this web site. |
| continuous minutes at a time of balancing practice. Or, | | | | Exercise To Build Strength. There are several |
| alternate 5 minutes with the sword followed by 5 | | | | thigh-building exercises you can do at home to develop |
| minutes without. | | | | the thigh strength needed to do backbends. |
| Prevent Pain. If you must practice balancing itself for | | | | Avoid Injury. Don't do backbends like this one if you |
| more than 15 minutes, put on a Cleopatra-style | | | | have any history of knee trouble! Getting Back To |
| headdress such as the one in the photo to the right | | | | Your Feet. First, return to an upright position with |
| after 10 minutes of practicing to cushion your head. | | | | weight equally distributed on both knees. Then raise |
| You do need some time practicing bareheaded so you | | | | one knee to the position shown on the right. Hold |
| can master the skill, but there is no need to endure | | | | yourself in this pose for a moment, doing something |
| unnecessary pain. | | | | interesting with your arms, before standing up |
| Dealing With Pain. When you're new to balancing a | | | | completely to make sure your balance is steady. Now: |
| sword on your head, you probably will get a headache | | | | Adjust the back foot so that its ball is touching the |
| after a very short time of balancing. Don't push | | | | floor. Make sure it has a steady grip on the floor. If |
| yourself too hard at first. Start with no more than 5-10 | | | | necessary, adjust the position of the knee so that the |
| minutes at once of balancing. Once you're used to that, | | | | foot will have strong leverage for pushing off. |
| you can gradually extend to longer. | | | | Use the back foot to push off, pressing forward so |
| Costuming Issues When Using Swords Headdress. If | | | | that the weight transfers to the front foot. |
| you're dancing indoors, and if you're confident in your | | | | Use an upward sweeping motion of the hands to |
| skill at balancing a sword, then don't wear a headdress | | | | reinforce the momentum of moving forward and |
| at all! Sometimes when audiences see a headdress, | | | | upward. |
| they assume that the headdress is some kind of "trick" | | | | |