Belly Dance: A Few Quick Tips for Double Veil

Quick Tips for Belly Dancing with Two Veils

The best double veils are the closest matched in size, shape and weight. Half-circle veils tend to hold their shape better on turns when working one handed on each veil, but there is no reason to avoid rectangle veils. I've actually competed with polyester rectangle veils with no problems. The best fabrics tend to be slightly heavier silks and soft polyesters. This makes it a bit of a workout because you have to move faster with heavier fabrics. If you use a zigzag stitch on the hand edge of a light silk half-circle veil, you can create an edge that is easier to grip. PHOTO CREDIT: Both photos on this page were taken by Michael Baxter, Santa Clara, California.

You want to use a grip that has more hand contact along the edge of the veil to get better control. Using a pinch-grip tends to make the veil collapse more often. When the veils get tangled or collapse into themselves, make a large infinity loop (figure 8) gesture with the hands kept at the same elevation parallel to the floor. If you need to look at what your hands are doing, turn your face ahead of where your hands are and look back at your hands with your eyes and not your head. Crystallized ginger is useful for avoiding nausea. Your mileage may vary.

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