Zills, Veils and Swords: Props Used in Belly Dance

Many styles of belly dance incorporate the use of props, whether to emphasize a dancer’s grace, to act as musical accompaniment, to add an exotic element, or lend authenticity to a dance. While props are more often used in solo dances, they can also be incorporated into troupe performances to great effect. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used props in belly dance, and what they can do for your performance!

Zills: These vibrant little finger-cymbals are often not considered props, but musical instruments. They can be played in a number of different rhythms to emphasize the beat of the music, and essentially allow the dancer to accompany herself musically as she dances. The bright ringing tone of zills adds energy to the dance, and showcases the dancer’s ability to focus on multiple levels of complexity at once.

Veils: A primarily American dance prop, the veil is a length of usually-sheer fabric that is used to add mystery by alternately concealing and revealing the dancer’s form, and to emphasize arm movements during a dance. While some Egyptian dancers will use a “length of fabric” (not called a veil so as to avoid confusion with the Muslim hijjab worn by women for modesty) as part of their entrance and then discard it, American dancers will tend to use the veil for the full length of a song. The use of the veil is not traditional in the dance, but a modern addition by Western dancers.