Following on from last week’s Saidi Basics, I’m sharing some tips on how to swing and not least control your cane. You don’t need a stick or cane when dancing a Saidi, but when you do, it’s also called Raqs Assaya, meaning cane dance, and there are many different styles of cane dancing.
In case you missed my post on how to master the basic Saidi steps, you can revisit it here.
There’s lots of fun to be had swinging your cane whilst dancing, but if you’re new to it you will need to practise a lot to get the confidence to do so. However, knowing exactly how to hold and control your cane will also make a big difference, so check out my video on how to Swing you Saidi stick here.
There are many types of canes, and when purchasing your own do make sure you twirl it first to ensure you like the feel and weight. Some a covered in sequins, which looks great but can feel very uncomfortable to handle, others light up! The more traditional ones (tahktib) are more basic and look like a broomstick, but the thickness and weight can vary.
Saidi is a folkloric style of Egyptian Belly Dance from Upper Egypt. It originated as a male martial arts dance, which is why it often contains lots of jumps and drama. Some female dancers perform with the traditional cane, emulating the male fighting dance, which gives a very strong and powerful performance. Others dance with a lighter cane and use more elegant steps.
The cane can be used to frame, twirl, and balance, and no one does Saidi canes like the Egyptian dancer Tito (also known as ‘Four stick Tito’). Check out his balancing dance act in this YouTube video, but please don’t try this at home!
My video will teach you how to get started, and you can see it here.
I hope it will help you, either in your own dancing or your teaching. Please feel free to leave me a comment below, so I know how you’re getting on, or if you’d like to share your own experiences of learning or teaching Saidi stick at a basic level.
Let’s keep the knowledge sharing going, and encourage beautiful and safe dancing!
Happy dancing, always 🙂
Dorte
Did you miss my last post? Read it here: Saidi basics
Very interesting, enjoyable read.
Thanks Sharina, glad you found it useful. Some more videos on how to take this further will follow soon, so stay tuned 🙂 Best wishes, Dorte