One SOUND, one VOICE

La Bruja

Can anyone tell me if there is a trick to keeping the candle balanced on the head? My dancers are not Spring chickens and balance is a problem.

I would appreciate any and all help.

Permalink Reply by Sara S RN on February 22, 2010 at 6:57pm: Wet the top of your hair with water where you will put the candle. Or try a glob of hair gel on the bottom of the candle glass. Use a short , squat candle or glass (less tippy). There are cute flashlights that light up and look like candles at Oriental Trading Company (look under battery operated tea lights).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise De Mercy on February 22, 2010 at 8:24pm: Thanks, I never thought of hair gel! I do have a squat glass and use the battery candle.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sara S RN on February 24, 2010 at 10:16am: For my Yucatan tray, I cut a piece out of a mousepad and put that on the bottom of the tray for a non-skid surface. We also wrapped the glass bottles we use on the tray in clear plastic packing tape, in case they fall, they won't shatter and get small pieces of glass on the floor. Also, if you have your hair bun positioned higher up so that you can lean the glass back up against it, you may get more stability. The other thing is when you dance, keep you knees bent. That way you can do the steps but your movements are smoother (less likely to have the glass move).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise De Mercy on February 24, 2010 at 3:08pm: Thank you again! This is why I love this site. Everyone is very helpful and gives ideas. I was thinking of putting black velcro under the hair and a piece of white velcro under the glass. I'll let you know if this works!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Raymond Trujillo on March 23, 2010 at 1:53pm: practice,practice,practice.
practice first with a book, good luck.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gabriela M. Garcia on March 25, 2010 at 8:43am: HI, one trick is to fold masking tape and stick it underneath the bottom of the candle and then put it on your head. It does pull some hairs when you take it off but it increases your self confidence.
Gaby; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise De Mercy on March 25, 2010 at 9:08am: Thanks for the tip! I was thinking of using velcro, but the tape might work better.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarita's Dance Studio on March 25, 2010 at 10:05am: We use bar glasses that have a wide base. For practice we start our dancers with bean bags and practice with exercises accross the floor practicing holding their heads up with chins paralel to the floor. Once they can do that we use plastic glasses with water in the glass, after you can balance that we use the real thing. Our dancers have to audition for the dance and we have never had a dancer drop the glass because we practice until we are blue in the face :).

We never use battery operated lights unless we dance indoors. We buy regular candles and insert a birthday candle that doesn't blow out and insert it in the middle of the wide candle so that when we dance outdoors the candle doesn't blow out. In addition, we hairspray the top of the head and glass and put buns up high to help balance. Most of our dancers take ballet which helps with posture and proper alignment.

Good luck!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise De Mercy on March 25, 2010 at 11:47am: Thank you for all the details. We will be practicing very hard. I like the idea of the candles that don't blow out. Practicing with the plastic and water sounds very practical. I will give it a try!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by D. Hernandez on April 30, 2010 at 10:04am: Im late on this one I know but we use double sided tape and bar glasses as well. Some of my dancers have heads that just cant keep a candle on it so we have to tape it sometimes!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise De Mercy on April 30, 2010 at 12:51pm: You are not late! Thank you for your input. I happen to be one whose head can't keep the candle on. I'm open to all suggestions. One of them will work!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Raymond Trujillo on May 2, 2010 at 8:07pm: we practices walking with a book 1st, until they get the balance and plastic cups with water and then glases with water and then the candle let up.....; ▶ Reply to This