|
I often receive e-mails from dancers
asking for tips and tricks useful in learning tray balancing.
Here a slightly expanded version of what I usually offer advice-wise.
TRAYS
The best sources of trays are eBay or flea markets
- especially for trays like mine: silverplated round
ornate replicas of baroque trays. This type is quite
heavy which is great for balancing. Another option
is Moroccan-style or an Indian brass tray.
My trays are round, 17+ inches (about 43 centimeters
across). The only drawback is that they make you look
shorter, so, if height is an issue, a smaller tray
or 2.5"-heel shoes are the way to go. I wear 3"-heel
shoes as well.
My favorite tray has a couple of off-center dents
on the bottom. If your tray has any irregularities
that may affect its weight distribution, find the
position in which it is most steady. Put the tray
on your head and tilt your head lightly right-left,
then front-back, then turn the tray 90 degrees, and
repeat the head tilting test. You will notice that
the tray wobbles less in particular orientation. When
you have found this position, mark the "Front" with
a marker or a sticker and from now on put the tray
on your head "Front forward" every time.
I dance with tall candles on my tray, or with a cake
for birthday parties (don't forget to pull the doily
from under the cake so that it doesn't move on the
tray), or with an arrangment made from five dozen
roses. I usually play zils while dancing with a tray
at parties, and often combine tray and veil.
I arrange the candles on the tray differently depending
on the type of the tray and its peculiarities in its
natural weight distribution. My usual arrangement
consists of 18 candles. The candles on my tray vary
in height - the tallest ones in the middle are about
10". My safety check is to make sure that I can't
touch the ceiling of my dance space when I hold my
arm straight up (I have long arms!) In many Oriental-theme
clubs tent-like ceilings or tassels hanging from the
ceiling demand a much shorter candle height.
I attach the candles to the tray with a candle adhesive
(such as "Stick-Um" -brand candle adhesive) sold in
candle and interior decoration shops. Balancing objects
not attached to the tray (such as a tea service) is
a wonderful skill to possess, but this type of act
does not excite jaded New Yorkers. The things we balance
here must be in-your-face: Blazing fire or a deadly
weapon (a sword!), or both. When I do shows on the
dance floor of "mega clubs," with the crowd pressing
on, I keep the candle tray on my head for the full
20 minutes of my show - it's the only way to guarantee
that the crowd doesn't invade my dance space. Note
that your candles must be dripless, smokeless, and,
if you dance in a small space, flavor-less.
TRUE BALANCING
Perform only true balancing, no tricks, no adhesives,
no velcro attached to the bottom of the tray. Audience
members often ask to hold the tray, try balancing
it and they are not shy about inspecting it. If they
discover a trick, your number will be ruined.
BALANCING EXERCISES
Learning to perform smooth and well-articulated hipwork
won't be too hard. The most difficult part in my experience
is to isolate the movement of your chest and upper
body from your head and neck. The exercises that will
help you achieve this are chest circles and infinity
loops. Balance an object on your head and try a horizontal
chest circle and infinity loop of the chest; then
proceed to vertical chest circles and the resulting
full-body regular and reversed undulations.
I have a method to check if you have indeed achieved
the required degree of isolation: With an object on
your head - kneel, lie down and roll on the floor.
If you can do this without losing the tray, you are
there.
VEIL
If you combine veil and tray (and if you add zils
to veil and tray!) I urge you to consider using lipstick
sealer on top of your lipstick, so that it doesn't
come off on the veil, and so that if your hair falls
on your face when you dance, it doesn't stick to your
lips. If you need more shine to sculpt your lips,
take shimmer powder, or glitter and dab it on top
of the lipstick sealer.
CANDLE TRAY ANECDOTES
#1 Birthday Cake
A lavish private birthday event on Atlantic Beach.
Upon arrival on the scene I realized that I would
dance on a vast deck overlooking the ocean in windy
conditions. It was clear that the candle tray act
was out of the question. The hostess was disappointed
that there would be no balancing act. I said, "Bring
me the Cake." The Cake was a large, heavy ornate thing
blooming with expansive gardens of chocolate and cream
roses. It sat on a perfect round steel tray. I took
the tray from her hands, threw it on my head casually
and did the show.
#2 Disaster Management
At a restaurant private party - about 5 min. into
my show - the music suddenly stopped. I took the tray
off my head and offered it to the enthusiastic audience
to satisfy their curiosity and prove there was no
"glue" or velcro used to "attach" the tray to my head.
The party guests were thrilled, they tried balancing
the tray one by one totally unaware that the music
was gone. 15 min. into the show, no music. The restaurant
staff was struggling with the stereo system. When
the tray-balancing zeal started to wear out, I summoned
girls from the audience and taught them dance moves
to the loud cheering of the crowd -- I counted and
clapped, and, to my amazement, the audience was still
unaware of the music disaster. When the music came
back on, I invited the birthday boy to dance. He wanted
to learn hip shimmy. I showed him what to do, he did
it with such vigour and abandon, that the buckle of
his belt went undone and his pants fell to the floor
-- all the way, to the uncontrollable screaming of
the entire restaurant. I fled.
Comments
bellydancerinfo
Neon, I am so thrilled you have written this article!
It was just what I was looking for! I have done the
candleabrum- but it is just not practical in NYC.
The next thing is to purchase a tray and your video!
I am so excited! Thank you so much for these tips!
Sarah
IsisAmar
I perform to candle tray but your article gave me
new ideas and tips. Thanks for the article Neon, Isis
Amar www.IsisAmar.com
Aasal
Hi Neon, I thought I share some of the points that
I go through when teaching a candle tray workshop
Candle tray workshop by Aasal El Helwa * Remember
that balancing a tray on your head, is a great prop
but also an act of responsibility, therefore, always
be the one to place your candles on your tray and
the one to place other things like finger cymbals,
etc. *Practice makes Masters, make sure you practice
a lot, in front and away from a mirror, you can never
practice enough! *Before attempting to include a tray
with candles in your performance, make sure you are
very comfortable with it. *Like I mentioned before
it is also about responsibility, make sure that you
know if your performing venues have any fire regulations,
if so take the required actions like getting fire
proof fabric for your costume, tie your hair, maintain
your distance from flammable objects, and if unable
to perform with fire... Tea jars and fancy looking
cups are always a great replacement, but don't forget
to practice! * If in need of a new or want variety
of trays, my first choice is always Flea Markets and
Antique Shops. * I recommend the use of a product
called Stick'um to fix the candles on the tray, other
people have report that play dough also works very
well, whatever you choice is always make sure that
you can flip over your tray and nothing will fall.
* Sadly there is little or almost no room for mistakes
when balancing a tray with lit candles on your head...
if for some reason you are unable to continue your
show with a tray on your head and have a couple of
minutes left with music, you are totally allowed to
remove your tray put away in a professional way and
"SAVE YOUR SHOW" I have seen tons of great
dancers drop a sword and still the audience forgives
them. Lots of love and I love the idea of the roses.
Aasal El Helwa.
|
