Buying a cane for belly dance is fairly easy and more affordable than buying something like a scimitar. There arehowever some things to consider when purchasing a cane. One of the main considerations for buying a cane should bewhat type of performance you are planning to use it in. If you are going to be doing it as a specialty part of yourNightclub style performance and will be mainly using the standard beaded bra and belt set you probably will want touse the foil wrapped canes or canes that have been covered in sequins or sparkles as these match that type of performance better. If you will be using it with more folkloric costuming and styles and will be wearing more traditional beladi/sa'idi clothing styles then you may want to opt for a metal or wood cane. If you perform both you may want to go with a metal cane or a plain silver or gold foil wrapped one. Canes can vary widely in price but most are made of bamboo and cost between $10-$20. Other decorative wooden canes (especially if they have a lot of details carved) and decorative metal canes can cost up to $100 but most end up being around $50. The bamboo canes can sometimes be found as decoratively carved but are generally wrapped in foil or covered in fabrics with sequins or beads and occasionally a little fringe. Their low cost (often around $12) and their availability in multiple colors makes it easy to buy one that matches any costume. If however you don't want a cane in ever color available you might consider getting just two foil wrapped canes, one in gold and one in silver. These two colors will allow you to match with every costume including coin belts and won't break the bank. To get the most out of your props and costumes you need to take care of them. This ensures that they have a long lifeand better quality. Taking care of your cane will depend on the type of cane you have. Metal canes should be stored wrapped in a dry cloth to help prevent oxidation and protect it from dust, liquid, scratches and other things that can lead to damage. It may come with instructions for cleaning which you should follow. If it is an Indian (or similar) made metal cane which has a dark coloring in the crevices of detail work you cannot easily wash this as the black coloring will come off. Your best bet in those cases is to rub the exposed metal areas with a soft dry cloth to polish them. If it is particularly dirty you can use stainless steel wipes (the sell them at many stores like Target or K-mart and even many grocery stores since the wipes are commonly use to clean stainless steel kitchen appliances). The wipes have oil which cleans, protects, and helps to slow oxidation. Alternatively you could also buy oil meant for metals (try looking at shops that specialize in display weaponry (they often have booths at Renaissance fairs but a quick Google search should help) or you can use mineral oil. Avoid getting the oil in the dark parts as it will clean the finish off. For wood and carved bamboo canes you can clean them like you would wood furniture using things like pledge. Wrapped foil canes can be wiped clean with a dry cloth (damp can be used if it's really dirty or has something sticky on it but it can loosen the glue holding the foil in place). Check the foil especially around the edges where it gets the most ware. If it is peeling away, cracking or loose you can use a little glue to hold it in place and prolong it's life. If the foil is too far shot you can re-wrap it using new foil but considering the cost it's more cost efficient and time efficient to simply buy a new one. You can unwrap the old one and simply use it for practice. This way you say your good canes for costumed rehearsals and performances and practice with one that doesn't need to look good for an audience. You may want to make a special sleeve to cover you cane since foil canes get nicked, scratched and scuffed fairly easily, the foil is not highly resilient. A cover can help protect it from non-dance related wear. Canes that have beads and sequins should also be wiped with a soft dry cloth.
