Using a veil as a belly dance prop - part 2. Tips and advice

Tips on buying a bellydance veil

The length of a veil can vary, but you should make sure that it is at least two feet or 60cm longer than your arm span. Try holding its hem behind you with your arms stretched to the sides and the two sides should not touch the floor. In order to test how it catches the air, try and hold one edge and lift the veil in the air, letting it come down on its own while holding one edge.

Tips on dancing with a veil

The veil is usually held between the thumb and the other fingers (usually middle or index), although there are several ways of holding it and every belly dancers has a favourite way. The arms should be outstretched but slightly rounded and soft and the overall body posture should be good (head lifted, shoulders relaxed, chest open). The veil is very good to frame your body, in order to enhance certain movements (framing the hips, for example, while performing a figure of eight) or certain poses and lines.

Think of the veil as an extension of your own arms while dancing, to make it flow nicely and gracefully. The movements of your body should be flowing and never be sharp or jagged as veils are about grace and elegance. Vary the speed of your dance, alternate between faster and slow movements and pause at times. Last but not least, allow your arms to make bigger movements then usual and do not keep them too close to your body, in order to give the veil more room for movement and for catching air.