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How to Dance With a Veil

Use a flowing, silk veil or wide scarf in your Middle Eastern-inspired dance routine to add more color and movement. A scarf is often introduced at the very beginning of a belly dance show or near the end to add more excitement to the finale. The scarf should be a little wider than half your height and a little longer than your arm span. Choose music that has a medium tempo and flowing music, since a dance with a veil needs to be fluid.

Things You'll Need

Silk veil

Instructions

- 1
  Hold the ends of the veil between your thumbs and forefingers with the palms of your hands facing down. Let the middle of the veil drape in front of you or behind you to start out with, slightly off to the side so the audience can get a glimpse of you behind the veil.
- 2
  Dance in slow, sweeping movements while still holding onto the veil in both hands with your palms facing the floor. Lower one hand while bringing the other hand higher to prevent the veil from sweeping the ground as you dance. Twirl and sway along with the music, and use the veil as an extension of your body by having it follow your movements.
- 3
  Twirl your arms around your head while still holding onto the upper corners of the veil. Move at a medium speed so the veil catches enough air that it billows around you, but not so fast that it is just a blur of fabric.
- 4
  Spin your whole body around two, four or eight times with your arms and the veil out in front of you. Give the veil a twist each time you turn, without letting go of the ends, then twist it straight with the end of each turn.
- 5
  Bring one foot out to the side and bring the veil down and up in one curved, sweeping movement, so that the veil comes close to the ground without touching it. Bring the other foot out and repeat this movement on the other side. Repeat this process in the same order or mix it up to extend the length of the dance.

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