Quick tips to take your fan dancing to the next level!
Anyone that knows me, knows that I deeply love a feather fan dance. It was the first solo I performed and still the most used act in my wheelhouse today.
Most showgirls will have one of some description in their back pocket.
I’ve done some form of fan dance for the past 10 years and here are some of the most valuable tips I’ve picked up - from practicing to travelling to storing your fans. All stuff that might help you up your game and make your life a bit easier!
Moving comfortably with your fans
If you are new to fan dancing, I always think it’s best to walk before you can run. If you don’t have some kind of dance training or a really strong performance background, don't kill your body (or your wallet!) with a massive pair of waterfall feather fans. I know many of my students are often surprised in their first fan workshop how much pressure they can initially put on wrists and forearms. Not to mention how the larger fans challenge core strength and weight distribution.
I’m here to tell you that your act can still pack a punch if you start with a smaller, more manageable pair of feather fans. It’s much better for you and the audience if you get on stage with something that you can comfortably hold and move with. And if it’s your first act with feather fans it’s not a bad idea to play with a smaller size until you are not only confident with moving them, but also confident that it’s an act you want to perform more frequently and that you feel is worth investing some more money into.
Building strength and resistance
I was kind of fortunate when I started out, that I didn’t have much trouble initially gripping and moving with my fans. But obviously as I moved up in size and scale, it’s something I have definitely put effort into.
It’s often really hard - especially if you live in a small apartment and/or don’t have regular studio access - to practice with fans and practice building up your grip and strength.
If I’m just marking out choreography I’ll often have some small, paper or hand held feather fans just to help me work out my footing and how I intend to travel throughout the routine. I’ve even been known to practice with paper plates!
But when I built up to big fans, the thing that made a big difference to me was practicing with small hand weights. Note that I say SMALL. Not a kettle bell. Head over to Kmart or Big W and you can grab some really small wrist weights or 500g weights. Even some filled water bottles or tinned tomatoes are great if you are on a super budget! Practicing with a small weight will let you get used to having some pressure on your wrists and getting used to discomfort- without knocking into walls, ceilings and lighting.
Remember before and after practice, and before and after shows, to a gentle wrist warm up - trust me, you’ll thank me in years to come.
I have also always noticed how much my body shifts in its weight distribution and how much I need a strong core to avoid over bending in my back and to feel strong and stable on stage. Moving and bending or any floor work really amplifies this. I really recommend just some gentle core strength building exercises a couple of times a week if you get serious about using large fans. I chop and change my workouts quite a bit - but I like these ones from HASFit on Youtube for both standing and sitting workouts. 10 or 15 minutes will make a big difference.
Hobart peeps - the biggest game changer for me was doing the Wicked Core Challenge with Helen Page Hypnotics. I started off being able to do a 3 minute plank and doubled that in 6 weeks! It was a game changer in both building my resistance and strength - but also in understanding my body better and mentally building my resolve (#notsponsored !) Definitely recommend.
Storing and caring for your fans
Finally, if you have forked out money for some fans look after the damn things! I mean I’ll own up and say I’m not 100% on top of this all the time. I am a bit fast and loose sometimes with unpacking my costumes after show. But I have picked up some good hacks for keeping them in good nick over the years:
Store them in cool and dark places preferable in acid free cardboard box or similar. Moth balls are also useful to add in to keep them safe.
Try not to do long term storing in plastic
Invest in a travel bag for carting to and from shows
You can bring slightly limp and lacklustre fans back to life with steaming if you do it gently:
Rub feathers gently
Use a dry setting on a steamer to open the feathers (be super gentle and go bit by bit!) . Or try putting the feathers in the bathroom when you are showering if you don’t have a fabric steamer.
Any other top tips that you have come across? Pop them in the comments below! I love hearing everyone’s tips and tricks.