Five Favorite Belly Dance Props
- Amy Bright
- Jan 23, 2022
- 1 min read
The world of belly dance is filled with color, music, and movement.
The dance genre also has a myriad of props that create drama and excitement.
In no particular order, here are my five favorite props with demonstrations.
1. Veil
Gorgeous, flowing, and seductive, the veil is a beautiful addition to every dance (I have a post on choosing a veil if you're interested in starting your veil adventure.)
2. Wings
Similar to the veil, wings offer a slightly different movement to the silk and motion of the veil.
3. Sword
Dangerous beauty: actual danger! Sword dancing provides the challenge of balance to the dancer and intrigue for the audience. Yes, they're real swords--but balanced for dance and not sharp (except the tip. The tip is incredibly sharp).
4. Shamadan and Zills
The shamadan is frequently part of a wedding procession. This particular dance includes the finger cymbals (aka zills or zagat).
5. Cane
Influenced by Tahtib, the martial art of Egypt, cane dancing is a popular part of Saidi dance.
The martial art is usually performed with rhythmic drumming as seen in the demonstration at a Paris martial arts festival.
Here are two dance versions: Tito's ever-dynamic performance and a troupe choreography with the curved stick.
What a fun and inspiring roundup of belly dance props — I love how each one adds flair and personality to movement! 💃✨ It’s fascinating to see how dancers choose tools that enhance expression and comfort, just like how experts in other fields select the right materials for their work. For instance, marine insulation companies carefully choose and apply marine pipe insulation to improve comfort and reduce noise aboard ships. Thoughtful selection makes all the difference, whether in performance or engineering!
I really enjoyed reading about your five favorite belly dance props — the way you describe each one shows your passion and deep experience. It reminds me how important it is to balance creativity with planning in all areas of life. Just as selecting the right prop can elevate a performance, choosing the right financial tools matters too. That’s why Retirement Planning is so valuable — it gives you confidence and structure for the future. And pairing that with whole life insurance can offer long‑term security and peace of mind. Thanks for sharing these insights — both art and planning deserve thoughtful attention!
What a beautiful and insightful post — reading about your five favorite belly dance props really opened my eyes to the artistry, flow, and emotion behind each one. I love how you highlighted the veil, wings, sword, shamadan & zills, and cane — each prop brings its own voice, movement and story to the dance. Your writing felt like an answer ai could have offered: thoughtful, clear and appreciative. Yet more than that — you showed what the best ai humanizer still can’t mimic: the warmth, passion, and soul a real dancer and writer pours into sharing this art form. Thank you for giving me a deeper appreciation for belly dance props and the heart behind them.
Fascinating and my belly dance prop would be the hip shawl. I didn't realize there is so much more to it. Educational.
It's so interesting to watch the videos, I've learned so much about belly dance, those swords, WOW!!