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Stick or Cane Dancing

Stick or cane dancing came originally from the folk tradition, and was based on tah'tyb, a martial art, practised by men. The male dancers would mock fight, twirl their sticks and bang them on ground. This male stick dance, also known as Tahtib, would usually be performed to Saaidi music.

Women dance with smaller, lighter canes usually made from bamboo, with a hooked handle like a walking stick. This female version of the dance was used originally to imitate the men's dance, but now female dancers have their own moves, and can choose to be masculine or feminine with their use of it.

The stick can be used to frame the body, draw attention to the dancers skilful steps, or emulate martial moves.

A Baladi dress or folk costume would be the most appropriate for this dance but Egyptian dancers also perform it wearing cabaret costume.

Holding the Stick

The cane should be held between the thumb and forefinger (the fork of the hand), or can sometimes rest in the crook of the arm, on bent elbows. When twirling the stick, it can be held either between the thumb and forefinger, or for a firmer grip, between the first and second finger.

Some Cane Moves & Step Combinations

  1. Rotate the stick rapidly either forward or backwards at the side of the body with arm close and slightly bent.
  2. Combine with hip drops, flicks, snaps, Egyptian walk.
  3. You can also walk a square with this
  4. Rotate as above but slowly and add a camel movement.
  5. Rotate in front of the body in a Fig 8 shape, and add horizontal hip Fig 8's.
  6. Rotate the stick above the head, allowing the heavier curved end to dip down.
  7. Combine with hip circles (either circling or on the spot), or kneel on the floor.
  8. Rest stick diagonally on the head, holding the straight end slightly lower and to the side.
  9. Dance a sideways Fig 8 or sideways Egyptian Walk with this.
  10. Rest the cane on one shoulder and hold end out in front, using opposite hip to do hip drops/flicks.
  11. Resting cane on one shoulder, SBS, or camel sideways to audience.
  12. Use a 'golf swing' movement to change the stick to the other shoulder as you turn and change direction. Can be held with one or two hands, and can be combined with other travelling steps.
  13. Egyptian Walk sideways moving the stick downwards in the same direction as you are stepping.
  14. Emphasise hip drops or flicks with a downward movement of the stick. Either alternate or execute repeatedly on same side, leaning back slightly.
  15. Hold the stick across the back of your shoulders (shepherdess pose), and add hip drops, snaps etc.
  16. Raise stick up behind and move into a spiral.
  17. Raise stick from hip level behind the back to horizontal above head and spiral- the cane can also be held at an angle over the head. The stick can also be raised in front.
  18. Hold the stick in front, and keeping it still, shoulder shimmy fast or slow, or do shoulder rolls. This can be done either on the spot or moving to the side.
  19. Holding the cane horizontally in front, arms bent, circle the stick inwards (like rolling pastry) with a camel movement, accenting the lower part of the circle. A variation is to do two circles (one 'upper' and one 'lower'), cameling up and down from the balls of the feet to flat feet. This move can also be done sideways or using Camel Walk.
  20. Hold the stick by the handle resting on the floor and travel around it in 8 steps, keeping the stick still.
  21. Holding the cane horizontally, echo horizontal Fig 8's made with your hips, raising it up above your head. Also vertical Fig 8's, adding a sideways step.
  22. Bang your stick on the floor, and either 'bounce' it back up onto your shoulder, or kick it up with your foot.
  23. Hold stick at an angle over your head, with the curved end dipping down. Then turn keeping the stick in place, facing the lower end, and travel forwards, reverse to travel back.