Using a sword as a belly dance prop became popular as a part of American Cabaret Style belly dancing, it is not a part of Middle Eastern dance tradition.

The dancer often performs a part of their set with the sword balanced on their body, usually on top of the head. A sword performance is one of the few times it is still common to see a dancer perform floor work.

SWORD Purchase and Care

Before you buy a sword, or scimitar (a larger, sharply curved sword), make sure it is correctly balanced. Swords are easy to test: a sword that isn't

balanced at all will fall flat on your hand (or head) making it completely useless. One that is balanced properly will stand straight on its blade. If a

sword isn't balanced properly, it may lean and will be more prone to wobble. Sometimes, you can kind of tweak the handle with your hand or a

screwdriver (some are loose) and get it into correct balance; with some swords, you can actually take the entire handle off, turn it upside down,

and it will balance better, but it may be awkward to hold. Some swords are made especially for dancing and/or decoration, and are usually lighter

and smaller than real military ones. Smaller or used swords usually cost somewhere between $30-$100.00, larger scimitars or antiques may cost

more than $100.00. However, if it isn't balanced, don't buy it, there are plenty around that are.Swords should be stored, if possible, laying flat on

the floor or shelf, or on a wall-rack (you can sometimes find specially designed display racks at military or antique shops).

If you store swords standing on their end, they may fall over and if this happens, they could get jarred out of perfect balance. If this occurs, try playing

with the handle. When you get it where you want, you may want to glue it in place. In order to balance the sword on your head, try it with a mirror

and find the balance point, which is usually a little off- center because of the weight of the handle, and mark it with a little dot of magic marker if you want.

Some swords are scored at the balance point, making them easier to keep on top of your head, but you could also glue a small piece of sandpaper or

Velcro onto the blade to keep it from sliding around on your hair. Some people lightly wax the balance point- you can also take surfboard wax or even

a candle, and rub it on the blade and get the same results. Some dancers like to wear a turban or tightly wrapped headscarf when dancing with a sword.

In a cabaret performance, you may want to wear a fall; it will help keep it from siding around on your head, especially during spins. It is NEVER a good

idea to try out a new head-wrap or wig before a show- make sure to rehearse with it until you are completely comfortable with it before hitting the stage.

Once onstage, remember to go slow, and adjust the sword when necessary. It’s still impressive, and not nearly as embarrassing as having a

sword falling off! If you do happen to drop your sword, DO NOT GRAB FOR IT!  Even a blade that isn't sharp can injure you if caught at a bad angle.

Duck out of the way of a falling sword, the point can hurt you. Calmly pick it up, put it back on, and continue your dance.

While dancing, especially during floor work, takes the time necessary to re-adjust your skirts under yourself, the last thing you need is to get distracted by

fabric bunching around your legs. Pantaloons or harem pants are also a good idea, either by them or under your skirt, so you don't flash; and put on more

of a show than you intended to! (info courtesy of Princess Farhana)