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Hi all!

This is an odd one for me, but I'm planning a dancing hanky routine(!)

I suspect that I'll need to employ two or more methods - with identical hankies on each - so I figure what I need are published methods that I can use to make up the props myself, rather than buying off-she-shelf solutions.

Does anyone out there have experience with Dancing Hankies? If so, some suggestions as to the most appropriate methods for a one-man performer and pointers to the appropriate books etc would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Pete

Pete, if you are going down teh clasic route, you will find all you need to know in Rice encyclopedia volume 2, "reel less magic" professor Hoffamans Dancing hank Nick Kanteks Dancing hank, which includes the Bottled hank, and a number of other simple routines for an animated hank.
you can get several versions that are self contained. Don Waynes dancing hank springs to mind, the best performance of this was done bt Duncan Trillo.
You can also get stage systems with remote pulls, and lord kbows what else. Forr me , the best versions are the old, simple, basic ones, that rely on at least one other pair of hands.

look up John Calverts clasic version, Blackstones ghost with muscles, Copperfields dancing hank, and tie routines, and Hennings dancing silks.. one version of which is included in minature, with the muppets.

remember though that the hank should be thought of more a puppet act, than a mystery, because its always only as good as the character that you put into the hank.

Thanks as always, Dale!

I'll have a dig and see what fits.

I'm with you on the puppet approach - I'll tell you the context in a PM.

Specifically, I'm looking for something that I can work solo, and that rigs quickly. I tend to work without stage hands or assistants, and I'm often given as little as 15 minutes to get set up for performance.

I looked at some of the footage for expensive electronic ones, and they just don't seem particularly 'spritely'. That and the fact that I'd feel a bit hemmed-in (pun intended) by anything that worked to a programmed routine.

So it'll be low-tech all the way for me, I think.

Thanks again,

Pete

rice 2 does have some one man bits and pieces, add these to the wayne hank,( which is a kind of Zombie effect ) and you could have a workable solo act.

this is the improved Wayne hank,

http://www.mjmmagic.com/store/new-impro ... p-214.html

daleshrimpton wrote:this is the improved Wayne hank,

http://www.mjmmagic.com/store/new-impro ... p-214.html

I've had a lot of fun with this and can seriously recommend it.

Just seen Sean Bogunia's newest version, 'Ultra Hank' (or a clever version of that spelling) advertised in US-based magic shops.

No sign of it being stocked anywhere here in the UK.

It seems to be pretty much exactly what I'm looking for though...

Pete

Have you tried contacting Magicbox ? They have gotten a few items from the States for me in the past.

jim

I thought this was Talk Magic not Talk Morris Dancing