Silk Scarves and Dance

The appeal of silk scarves, one of the favorite accessories for women around the world, does not just lie in their ability to brighten up regular attire and lend a sense of elegance and sophistication to an outfit. In the world of dance they also play another couple of vital roles, firstly as part of the costumes which are worn by dancers, and secondly as ‘props in a range of traditional dances and other activities.

When we think in terms of the occasions when silk scarves are used in dance, probably the first thing to come to mind is the traditional middle Eastern belly dancing, which is believed to have originated centuries ago as a dance to the goddess of fertility but became more popular during the 1700s and 1800s. The dance, which involves the movement of isolated parts of the body such as the stomach, chest, hips and shoulders, in some cases not only sees the dancer wearing a hip scarf which is often decorated with coins, but also using a silk scarf or veil as a prop which the dancer uses throughout her routine.

Filipino dancing is another type of dance which uses scarves, but this time the role that they play is in expressing emotion. Self-sufficiency, control of emotion, disgust and anger are all expressed by particular movements of two scarves which are held in each of the dancer’s hands.

As anyone will know who has watched a gymnastics display, gymnasts typically use a whole range of props such as balls, hoops, ribbons and wands, and women’s scarves are another essential item which many incorporate into their routines to add extra interest and better display their skills. School children are often provided with them too, in dance and movement classes to encourage them to use their imagination and express emotions. Even cheerleaders have been known to incorporate them into their displays.

Of course, for some of the more energetic activities, a plainer and more functional type of scarf is probably more appropriate, but for certain types of dancing, and particularly dances which are used for the purposes of expression and which show off the beauty and skill of the dancer, a hand painted silk scarf can add wonderfully to the display. The light, soft 100% pure silk fabric is perfect for producing the desired movements and the stunning unique hand painted designs can increase the overall effect immensely. With such a wide range of themes to the designs, dancers can even choose a theme which correlates in some way with the dance itself.

The strong colors which are used in the creation of flowing handmade silk scarves makes them perfect for all kinds of dancing displays, whether they are being worn or used as a prop. Scarves which use either gentle pastels or strong, bold hues can be chosen according to what the dancer is trying to express, but whichever is the case, a beautiful silk scarf can add color and interest to any dancing display.

Julie-Ann.

August 12, 2010

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