We dance with various props including: ISIS WINGS , ZILLS, VEILS, CANES, STICKS, CANDLES, SWORDS AND ZOMBIES
Isis
is one of the most famous Goddesses of ancient Egypt, sister to Nephthys,
Osiris and Set and the mother of Horus.
Isis became one of the most powerful magicians in Egypt when she tricked
Ra
into revealing his secret name.
Her heavenly symbol was the star Sirius and Isis was a winged goddess
who
represented birth, growth, development and vigour.
Having wings, she was a wind goddess. She brought a heavenly scent with her through the land, leaving the perfume
of spices and flowers in her path.
She represented the morning winds that
greeted the arrival of the sun each day and the life-giving spring winds
of Egypt.
ZILLS
Zills or finger cymbals are small metal disks which are worn on your hands,
Most belly dancers wear four of them - one on each thumb, and one on the
middle finger of each hand. The use of finger cymbals affixed to the thumbs and middle fingers of
male and female dancers' hands was recorded as early as 500 A.D.
The word "zill" is the Turkish word for bell and cymbals are
known by several names including Zills and Sagats.
All
zills vary in size ,shape, colors and sounds. The size and shape affect
the tone of the ring.
If you have a small set of zills they will probably
be high pitched and the sound will travel only short distances.
Medium
sized zills will have a lower pitch and the sound travels further.
CANE OR STICK DANCING
Cane
dancing is commonly known as Raks al Assaya. Raks meaning dance, assaya
- cane. It is a feminine variation of the stick dance that men in Egypt
perform. The large sticks for the men represent weapons, so their dance
is strong and forceful.
The
women dance with delicate canes in a lighthearted manner. We dance with
both light delicate canes and also perform a fighting dance with larger sticks.
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In
Egypt, you have the custom of the dancer performing Raks al *Shamadan
with a candelabra.
The procession has dancers and musicians leading the way for the bride
and groom and the bridal party after the wedding ceremony to the reception.
The Zeffa procession is an Egyptian wedding ritual and traditionally occurs
at night. It winds its way through the streets from the bride's parents
house to her new home at the groom's house.
We perform our candle dance with tea-lights contained securely in brandy
and wine glasses. If the regulations do not allow the use of lit candles,
then we can perform the dance with battery flicker lights although they
do not give the same romantic atmosphere as real candles.
For
more information on *Shamadan see Candi Colgrave- Bell
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