In the Middle East the veil is piece of the woman’s wardrobe. It is used to cover her hair and sometimes her face and to protect her modesty.

In Oriental dance the veil is used to frame the dancer’s movement or it can be worn as a part of her costume. Capes and large wings, sometimes with small sticks used to extend their reach are also used in the role of a veil in performance.

In Egypt, the famous dancer Samia Gamal was instructed by her Russian ballet teacher to carry a veil to improve her carriage and posture.

Egyptian dancers usually carry a veil or wear a veil for the entrance and then fairly quickly discard it. Turkish and American Oriental dancers will use a veil for an entire song, manipulating it and dancing with it.often creating complex patterns in the air, sophisticated wraps and fun tricks. Some of the most creative use I’ve seen with the veil has been performed by Americans following the Vintage Oriental dance tradition.

In a great veil performance, the veil becomes an extension of the dancer’s body. Brilliant, elegant movement fills the space around her in color and shape, as the fabric of the veil adds dimension to the performance.

There are different materials used for dance veils that effect the movement and look of the piece. Lurex, rayon, lame, chiffon, sequined and silk are popular materials and they most commonly come in rectangular and 1/2 circle shapes that measure approximately 3 to 4 yards in length. Different materials, fabric weights and lengths can be matched to a particular performers style and mood.

The music for a veil performance can be slow and romantic, Rumba or Chiftitelli are popular underlying rhythms for a slower piece, or it can be a fast song with dramatic sweeping melodic lines.

There are many tricks, spins, wraps and more that can be done with a veil, but they should be kept in balance with more pure dancing and quiet moments. It is important to always be connected to the feeling of the music so that the dance doesn’t just become a laundry list of veil tricks. One, two or even more veils can be utilized if the dancer is skilled. Being able to recover gracefully from veil mishaps is another skill that is important to develop if you want to incorporate extended veil work into your routine.

The veil dance usually goes somewhere in the middle of an Oriental dance routine. It tends to be more popular with American or Turkish audiences than with Arabic ones. In Vintage Oriental routines and some Turkish routines the performer may come out wrapped in her veil, to unwrap later in her set to reveal her costume and perform a veil focused number.

There are many romantic myths surrounding dancing with veils. Salome’s dance of the seven veils is probably the most famous. Although some believe this story is recorded in the Bible, there is no actual detailed account given of Salome’s performance. The fantasy of Salome’s seven veil dance actually came much later, credit usually given to Oscal Wilde. I recommend reading up on the Dance of the Seven Veils on Wikipedia to learn more about the origins of this popular mythic tale.

Other likely influences on American and western interpretations of veil dances include Loie Fuller, Mata Hari,Ruth St. Denis and Isadora Duncan. Each of whom are creative and fascinating individuals worth learning more about.

Shems’s Veil Dance YouTube Playlist

Non-Middle Eastern Veil Inspirations