Tossing

Toss Forward

To toss the veil start with the veil in the basic veil position

(behind you with arms overhead in a relaxed "v").  Now  holding

the veil quickly bring you arms forward stopping abruptly when

your arms are out in front of you.  It helps to step back as you

toss the veil forward, this helps to get enough air under the veil

to keep it from falling on your head.

Toss Forward and Pull Back

This starts out with the toss forward in which you start with the

veil in the basic veil position (behind you with arms overhead in

a relaxed "v").  Now  holding the veil quickly bring you arms

forward stopping abruptly when your arms are out in front of

you.  Then you quickly throw your arms back up into the

relaxed "v", quickly snapping the wrists back to give the veil

enough momentum to go back behind you instead of landing on

your head.  It also helps to step back when tossing the veil

forward and step forward when tossing the veil back.  This helps

more air get under the veil to help keep it from falling on your

head.

Toss Forward and Catch

This is very similar to the toss forward and pull back move listed

above except that in this move you only pull back half way.  The

goal is to "catch" the veil on you shoulders with your arms still

extended forward.  To do this toss the veil forward just as it

mentions in the previous moves listed above.  Now this is the

tricky part immediately after tossing the veil forward you quickly

bend just slightly at the elbow and flick the wrists very sharply

to pull the veil back onto your shoulders.  This is very difficult for

most people to get at first but it becomes much easier with

practice.  I find using a weighted rectangular veil easiest with

learning this move but others do not.  Also, be aware that when

you are learning this move the veil will most likely not go far

enough up your shoulders and will land only on your arms or it

will go to far and smack you in the face.  Even the the most

seasoned dancer will still get smacked in the face and

occasionally miss the mark and have the veil fall to low. 

Another trick to help get it in the right place step back when

tossing forward and step forward when pulling it back onto your

shoulders.  This is great when followed by snake arms since

the veil is laying over your arms and shoulders, it's very fluid and

sensual looking.

Toss Up

This toss is usually done when the veil is in front of you.  You

toss your arms up in the air.  Usually you will run or quickly

walk forward immediately after having tossed the veil up.

Throwing Away

Throwing the veil away is very simple and can be done in

numerous ways.  It is not usually done after tossing forward as

it seems like your throwing the veil at the audience.  However,

after pulling it back tossing it up walking forward turning

whatever, just let go and you've thrown it away.  However you

choose to do it just make sure that you throw it far enough

away or that you walk far enough away from it otherwise it gets

under foot and can cause difficulties and sometimes

embarrassing slip up's.