As Printed in the Quarter 4/2005 Issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine
Bellydance & Balance The Art of Sword & Shamadan
Instructional Bellydance Series
Featuring Princess Farhana www.princessfarhana.com
Running time: 45 minutes
Produced by Hollywood Music 2005
Mher Panossian - production coordinator
www.hollywoodmusic.com
Filmed on location at Moun of Tunis Restaurant/ Studio - Hollywood, CA
After I had studied belly dance for several years, I decided to create a sword dance. Inspired by several prints and photos of dancers with swords that I had, I began to research the subject. To my dismay, at that time, there was nothing in print written about "How to Learn a Sword Dance". I questioned many dancers and teachers and no one had a clue about how I might accomplish my project. Quite frustrated, I basically taught myself and by trial & error learned many of the things that are now readily available in this DVD. Oh, how this would have helped me at that time!
Once I was able to overcome the "Princess" thing, I was able to watch this DVD objectively. Princess Farhana, as the back cover explains is "known for her grace, fluidity and precision dancing while balancing swords and the traditional Egyptian Shamadan or Candelabrum." She is a wonderful dancer; smooth, graceful, relaxed. Go to her website to see the almost unending list of celebrities she has danced for. She is a working, working, working dancer who has appeared on television and in movies. She studied in Los Angeles with Zahra Zuhair & Raqia Hassan in Egypt. She "draws inspiration from the classical but is also well known as an adventurous, high-concept fusion performer." She performs many different styles of Bellydance and can be seen at the Moun of Tunis Restaurant in Hollywood as a regular performer.
Before you decide to purchase this DVD, understand that you must already BE a belly dancer. No explanation of steps and/or moves are given. I also think you should have quite a bit of performing experience in various situations in order to get the most from it. It is an excellent preparatory place to begin a quest to enhance and expand the horizons of your dance performances.
The DVD is arranged into 14 sections and begins with a Sword Dance Performance. The dance includes all of the elements that are taught a little later in the DVD. This section is followed by the Introduction, a video collage of Farahana dancing in different places in different costumes. You will be able to see a bit of her style.
The History Section is next and is, I believe, one of the most informative sections. I never wanted to run out and buy a Shamadan simply because I had no idea of the origins and/or intent of this dance. Except for dining rooms and Liberace's piano, it did not make sense to me to wear what appeared to be a large candelabra or chandelier on my head and dance! Its origins, however, were (and still are) to illuminate a bride & groom during a wedding procession in the street, before electricity was available. What a concept!
Selecting & Maintaining Props is more of a lecture demonstration. It contains many helpful hints, especially if you do not have a teacher nearby to assist with these numerous details. Depending on whether you choose a sword or a shamadan, there are a wide range of things to know, consider and remember.
A bit more time could have been given to safety issues and to situations in which you may choose to forego the sword or shamadan.
Warmups, Balancing tips, Posture & Placement, Positioning the Arms, Travelling & Sationary Steps, Floorwork and Other Balance Points are the sections that are offered before the Balance Routine is presented.
The audio in these sections is a bit choppy and levels seem to change every time there is an edit. Try to ignore the squeak in the middle of the floor, the occasional traffic swoosh from behind the blue curtain, and sporadic inaudible vocals, because there are many useful, constructive and significant tools and ideas to help you prepare to learn balancing techniques and eventually perform them with confidence & originality.
Farhana dances the Routine by counting it out as she moves along. This will make a good practice section for you until your balancing skills are built to a higher level.
The Let's Review section has the choreography in titles at the bottom and is will assist you in remembering the sequences.
The DVD concludes with a Shamadan Performance that is fascinating as well as dazzling and inspiring.
If you have ever toyed with the idea of balancing a sword or shamadan in order to spice up your dance, then this DVD should inspire, motivate and educate you. Although there is a choreography presented, you should view it as a starting place. Use it for skill building; expand and develop it until you make it your own distinctive accomplishment.
Being that this DVD is produced by Hollywood Music, I was more than a little disappointed to find that there are no music credits whatsoever. It would be especially helpful to dancers to have some specific suggestions as to what type of music to use for either or any of these dances. There is one reference by Farhana in the Routine section that says that "you can use a taxsim, taxsim beledi, or any slow piece..". Indeed, there are many songs that you can use and of course, just as many that would be really bad choices. Some examples of what is traditional, what is not and perhaps a general guide to what style(s) of music to select that would be acceptable or inappropriate would be beneficial.
If, as dancers, we strive to be more educated about the music we are using, than it is imperative to learn the song titles, understand what the lyrics translate to and to know as much as possible about the music. In addition to promoting musicians and of course selling CDs, it can only increase your credibility as a dancer.
Denise Mannion is a dancer, sword & tray balancer as well as a musician with the group "Pangia".
