Thread: What to wear for a shamadam

I've performed with my shamadam many times for zeffas, celebrations and on stage over the yeasr.. I've done my research through articles, Morocco's videos and others, as well as seeing my teachers perform over the years.

I will be dusting off my newly repaired Shamadam and preparing for a stage show in May. I'm looking for ideas for costuming. I know I could wear everything from a baladi dress, to a fringey alba-style outfit, to a modern, sleeker number.

Bhuzzers, please show me photos of what you think would look good , like show-stopping good while still respecting tradition. Cheers!

This:

Attachment 46524

It is a Bob Mackie design for Mitzi Gaynor. But still speaks to that Abla fringey look.
:-)

Cool!!!!! Where do I get one?

Originally Posted by shems

This:

Attachment 46524

It is a Bob Mackie design for Mitzi Gaynor. But still speaks to that Abla fringey look.
:-)

Holy wow. That Bob Mackie is amazing!!!!

I had once toyed with the idea of something from here: 1920s Beaded Gowns : Beaded 1920's Style Gowns, Art Deco Gowns, 20's Flapper Fringe Dresses, Vintage Daywear, Hollywood Reproductions..... from LeLuxe Clothing

Originally Posted by shems

This:

Attachment 46524

It is a Bob Mackie design for Mitzi Gaynor. But still speaks to that Abla fringey look.
:-)

Originally Posted by Hala Jamal

Cool!!!!! Where do I get one?

Maybe you could get someone to make one of the Magic Stretch Dresses out of nude lycra, it would have a similar effect.

Originally Posted by Hala Jamal

Cool!!!!! Where do I get one?

Well, you can always contact the Bob Mackie Design Group: Bob Mackie Design Group, Ltd. | Official Website of Bob Mackie, Fashion Art and Fashion Illustration

But I imagine that trying to find somebody to make a good knockoff would be relatively less expensive.

I don't know. It's certainly an impressive piece of wearable art but...

That's the kind of costume that makes such an impact, would you ever be able to get your money's worth out of it by wearing it? Or would it be like an Academy Awards dress, where once everybody's seen you in it, you can't keep trotting it out? Does it set the bar so high that everything else in your closet looks like rags next to it?

I can't shake the idea of some Arab coming up after the show and ranting, "Why didn't you just glue the beads to your naked body?!!"

It's not the sort of costume you'd want to chance dripping wax on.

Ohhh I love the way that moves!!!!

As far as it getting 'tired' -- usually the only audiences who ever see me more than once are other dancers, at haflas & workshop shows!

The customers who pay me -- and therefore buy my costumes -- only see me once... maybe twice if it's a referral from the same crowd.

As far as Arab audiences... it's no more 'naked' than the fishnet balady dresses Dina and Mona have worn for shows in Egypt and Lebanon. And a lot LESS naked than the costumes that have recently been popular in the Cairo nightclubs.

I would totally wear it, if it flattered me...


(and I long ago started using cottonballs soaked in paraffin instead of candles, so I don't drip wax anymore. YAY!)

Definitely a dress.

Let's not forget there are budget restrictions! ;-)

Yes, wax drips must be considered (I could try the cotton-ball idea - I always used 1/2 burnt down tealights).

I agree that it must be a dress (that's the traditional part of me speaking). But cut-outs are fine.

I am always sensitive about my Arab audiences but Dina and others have paved an interesting trail.

For some reason I think lots of fringe is a must.

Thank you for all the photos - keep them coming!

I've seen dancers wear two pieces as well as dresses both in live performance and on film both older and modern. I m not sure the former is "wrong" in any way.
Personally I prefer a dress as this style has a "traditional" origin but then I have a liking for folkloric influenced clothing and dresses and I can't see how it might be incorrect for a dancer to wear a two-piece in the atest fashion.

Originally Posted by Hala Jamal

I know I could wear everything from a baladi dress, to a fringey alba-style outfit, to a modern, sleeker number.

Actually, I wouldn't recommend a baladi dress because shamadan's origins are NOT folkloric. Traditional, but not folkloric.

Shafiqa el-Koptiyya, the dancer who is reputedly the "inventor" of it came from a well-to-do family and danced for the Khedive/Viceroy (ie, the equivalent of the king, except under Ottoman overlords). It is said she gilded the heels of her shoes with gold. This was NOT a "baladi" dancer.

I'd go with a fustan raqs (evening gown) style of dress for a nod to the origins.

As for specific dress style, a lot depends on whether you're planning to do the floor work that is traditionally part of the style. If you intend to do the splits and all that, you'll need a style of costume that doesn't have a narrow-fitting skirt.

I did say TRADITIONAL but often these dresses are influenced by "folkloric" styling. That was the connection I was making to folkloric.
I love to see this but then I admit to obsession to this era LOL

But then if it's good enough for Camelia...

My own favourite..sorry folks you got me going on a subject dear to my heart...

Recently posted

I don't have a clip, but I remember Dandash wearing a lovely assuit dress at the AWS show (had to be 2000 or 2002 cuz those are the only ones I've seen LOL). I loved the look!

And of course Aida Nour wears a men's galabeya these days.


so it definitely seems like 'anything goes' for shamadan.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

I don't know. It's certainly an impressive piece of wearable art but...

That's the kind of costume that makes such an impact, would you ever be able to get your money's worth out of it by wearing it? Or would it be like an Academy Awards dress, where once everybody's seen you in it, you can't keep trotting it out? Does it set the bar so high that everything else in your closet looks like rags next to it?

I can't shake the idea of some Arab coming up after the show and ranting, "Why didn't you just glue the beads to your naked body?!!"

It's not the sort of costume you'd want to chance dripping wax on.

You are way too practical Tourbeau, all this has done is convince me that she also needs a gang of handsome men singing her entrance and giving her high fives during her performance.

She did say showstopping. :-)

Here is the Dandash clip:

Originally Posted by shems

Here is the Dandash clip:

Ohhhh thank you! So happy to see it again, it's been ages.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Actually, I wouldn't recommend a baladi dress because shamadan's origins are NOT folkloric. Traditional, but not folkloric. [...] As for specific dress style, a lot depends on whether you're planning to do the floor work that is traditionally part of the style. If you intend to do the splits and all that, you'll need a style of costume that doesn't have a narrow-fitting skirt.

I was originally taught that the "proper" shamadan dress was along the lines of this http://scheherezadeimports.com/image...aididress1.jpg or the dress PF is wearing in this thread What is this, and where can I get it? On the other hand, I'm not sure how we are 20+ posts into this thread without someone mentioning Nadia Hamdi's disco jumpsuit. If you want a costume that's going to leave everybody's mouth hanging open, you could whip up your own pair of intergalactic Liberace lounging pajamas for a fraction of the time and effort of the Mackie dress.





On a more practical note, I don't think I would personally choose one of those streamlined, modern Lycra galabeyas for shamadan, but I'm not sure I could construct an argument for why it shouldn't be done that accommodates why these other dancers wore what they did. Shamadan calls for traditional costuming except when it doesn't.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

I was originally taught that the "proper" shamadan dress was along the lines of this http://scheherezadeimports.com/image...aididress1.jpg or the dress PF is wearing in this thread What is this, and where can I get it? On the other hand, I'm not sure how we are 20+ posts into this thread without someone mentioning Nadia Hamdi's disco jumpsuit. If you want a costume that's going to leave everybody's mouth hanging open, you could whip up your own pair of intergalactic Liberace lounging pajamas for a fraction of the time and effort of the Mackie dress.

Oh, Nadia's shamadan, how I love it! Also, Nadia Hamdi learned Shamadan direct from the source, Zouba El Klobatiyya. I would imagine that Nadia fashioned this costume because she wanted to appear modestly (she had already given up teaching and performing in Egypt) and because she needed the coverage to do floorwork, but still wanted to look flashy.

Also, I always considered shamadan to be pretty baladi - it was such a Mohammed Ali street thing, and they were definitely baladi. And Nadia Hamdi and her family were baladi. (In that, they were not rich or fancy.) I'm surprised shamadan would be considered so fancy, now I want to know more about Shafiqa el-Koptiyya.

I think what you wear for Shamadan is pretty open to personal choice. For a Zeffa, I like either a dress - which can go anywhere from evening gown to baladi - or a paillette tunic or dress and harems. This gives a nod to the more earthy elements of shamadan and makes floor work easier. But, once again, I would make my decision based on the event and the requirements of that event.

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

Oh, Nadia's shamadan, how I love it! Also, Nadia Hamdi learned Shamadan direct from the source, Zouba El Klobatiyya.

Hmmm, are you sure? Zouba el-Klobatiyya was a 19th-century dancer. Some believe that her use of the lantern is what inspired Shafiqa el-Koptiyya (who died in 1926) to one-up her by using the shamadan. There are photos from the 1900 exposition in France showing dancers with shamadans, so shamadan would have been "invented" before 1900.

There's an article about Nadia Hamdi on Morocco's web site which says that Nadia's grandmother was trained by Shafiqa el-Koptiyya. So I do feel that Nadia's "shamadan lineage" is stellar, but so far as I know Zouba would have died before Nadia was born. Though, if you have a source linking them, I'd love to read it because I'm fascinated by the dancers of Zouba's era.

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

I'm surprised shamadan would be considered so fancy, now I want to know more about Shafiqa el-Koptiyya.

I hope to post an article about her on Shira.net soon. Keep an eye on my facebook "fan page" or twitter feed - I'll announce it once I have it posted.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Hmmm, are you sure? Zouba el-Klobatiyya was a 19th-century dancer.

Nadia told me that Zouba was still alive when she was a little girl and she studied with Zouba along with her great aunt and grandmother as well as watching Zouba perform.

Morocco's article on Nadia also mentions how Nadia saw Zouba perform -

Speaking of those times, Nadia says: "It was wonderful to have had the opportunity to watch all those dancers, to observe their different styles, to learn something different from each one, every time, no matter how often I saw the same dancer. My favorite was Zouba el Klobatiyya, one of the most famous candelabrum dancers of all times. She wore a klop that, to my child's eyes, was as tall as the sky. Oh, how it dazzled my eyes - and her costume! I still remember her charm and originality of style. In the last thirty years, different and new fads and styles have come and gone, but I still think that for the most part, the traditional dances were the most difficult, the most beautiful, the best -- the 'Golden Age' of Raks Sharki."

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Originally Posted by phillyraqs

Nadia told me that Zouba was still alive when she was a little girl and she studied with Zouba along with her great aunt and grandmother as well as watching Zouba perform.

Ah, thanks for clarifying! I don't know as much about Zouba as I do about some of the other early dancers. She must have lived to a ripe old age.

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

Morocco's article on Nadia also mentions how Nadia saw Zouba perform -

Speaking of those times, Nadia says: "It was wonderful to have had the opportunity to watch all those dancers, to observe their different styles, to learn something different from each one, every time, no matter how often I saw the same dancer. My favorite was Zouba el Klobatiyya, one of the most famous candelabrum dancers of all times. She wore a klop that, to my child's eyes, was as tall as the sky. Oh, how it dazzled my eyes - and her costume! I still remember her charm and originality of style. In the last thirty years, different and new fads and styles have come and gone, but I still think that for the most part, the traditional dances were the most difficult, the most beautiful, the best -- the 'Golden Age' of Raks Sharki."

Welcome to Morocco's Meanderings

Ah, ok. It's been a long time since I read the entire article. Guess I'll have to do that again sometime soon!

Have you seen this one at Dahlal? https://www.dahlal.com/default.aspx?...1&s1=1153&s2=0 It's somewhat like the Mitzi Gaynor dress, although without the ethereal illusion of nudity.

Sorry. The link won't go straight to the dress. It's the Magic Stretch Dress on Page 4.

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Love the Bob Mackie! And have to agree with Lauren re: those who would see the costume twice. Even so it's so beautiful and moves so fabulous, that it would be amazing to see again!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Ohhh I love the way that moves!!!!

As far as it getting 'tired' -- usually the only audiences who ever see me more than once are other dancers, at haflas & workshop shows!

The customers who pay me -- and therefore buy my costumes -- only see me once... maybe twice if it's a referral from the same crowd.

As far as Arab audiences... it's no more 'naked' than the fishnet balady dresses Dina and Mona have worn for shows in Egypt and Lebanon. And a lot LESS naked than the costumes that have recently been popular in the Cairo nightclubs.

I would totally wear it, if it flattered me...


(and I long ago started using cottonballs soaked in paraffin instead of candles, so I don't drip wax anymore. YAY!)

Not quite the same as the Bob Mackie dress, but still pretty cool if you're not doing floor work, and it's a good price:

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