Out of curiosity

[shanmonster]

Are you aware of any dancers who perform sword dance without actually balancing the sword in question? The primary focus I keep seeing in here is of the balancing of the sword, but there's so much else that can be done. Does anyone focus on the other stuff?

Comments

[purrthecat.livejournal.com]

My teacher does a sword dance. No floorwork involved, and most of it is balancing but she does a FANTASTIC speeded up spin that is breathtaking - all whilst the sword is balanced. She does jaunt around the dance area posing and waving it about as well first. She balances it on her thumb and walks on stage.

It's not what you asked for, but I just thought I'd contribute the sword work I have seen. :)

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

The spin sounds very dramatic! I'd like to see that.

Well

[jagnightwalker.livejournal.com]

Our troupe does a sword dance where the focus is NOT in the balancing. But as an audience member watching others, I *wait* for that moment when the balancing starts. I think it's something that is anticipated and I would be very bummed if I didn't get to see it.

But anyway, our dance does balance on various body parts, and we also spin during the head balance. But most of the moves use the sword to frame the movement in some way.

Re: Well

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Is the sword used primarily as a frame, then? Do you use any martial movements?

Re: Well

[jagnightwalker.livejournal.com]

No, we don't use the swords in that way at all. In the end, our pose is us in a circle, swords straight up, and we bring them in to meet in the center, but that's about it.


Most of the movements are ones that mirror the movement our body is doing, or swords brought down in a bend over, using it to flip back our hair as we come back up, etc.