Thread: Anatomy of an AmCab show

That's the subject of my "summer intensive" this year (an invite only 6-week course for my advance and strong intermediate students, to push them to the next level).

This year, the session will culminate with a "graduation" hafla, where the students will put on mini-cab shows in a restaurant style setting.

I know I want to break each week down into a different element of a show: the entrance, the prop work, the drum solo, the zill work, etc.

Is there anything you would want incorporated into this class if you were a student?

If you were teaching it, anything you would include?

And finally, can you point me in the direction of any article or other resource which talks about the typical AmCab show and it's elements? Or the history of how it came to be?

Thanks!

bloopers how to react to costuming issues, music mistakes, audience interaction, how to bow and accept applause...

Stage presence, working with an audience, spatial awareness, what not to do

Is this strictly dance technique related or are you literally looking at all aspects? I would probably find business skills helpful

Originally Posted by indigostars

Stage presence, working with an audience, spatial awareness, what not to do

Is this strictly dance technique related or are you literally looking at all aspects? I would probably find business skills helpful

We are looking at all aspects as far as stage presense vs. actual technique, but I don't think we'll be covering business stuff. I don't think these students are *quite* ready to be out on their own booking gigs. Not yet, anyway.

Originally Posted by kina

bloopers how to react to costuming issues, music mistakes, audience interaction, how to bow and accept applause...

I like this idea

Examples of AmCab songs for each part of a routine that a band is likely to know.

How to request music of a band.

And don't forget the veil section! :)

Definitely a veil section, I just forgt to list that!

Thank you for all the suggestions, please keep them coming!

Depending on age and flexibilty of your dancers - floorwork.

How to move about the floor in patterns (not always in a clockwise circle), how to pause, how to pose, stage presence from before entering to after leaving, facial expressions, how to recover from a mistake (choreography or audience interaction at the wrong time, or a trip, etc). Floor work?

This sounds like a good way to progress through a series of classes. At the end of each class, put on a short routine so they can practice the parts they have gone through.

Your workshop sounds wonderful. I would be interested in learning more on this topic. Good luck!

Thanks again, everyone! Elianae, it's too bad you live so far away or you could join us!

dodging broken dishes and waiters...

also tipping body or not, and gracefully avoiding the annoying touchy feely customers

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

That's the subject of my "summer intensive" this year (an invite only 6-week course for my advance and strong intermediate students, to push them to the next level).

This year, the session will culminate with a "graduation" hafla, where the students will put on mini-cab shows in a restaurant style setting.

I know I want to break each week down into a different element of a show: the entrance, the prop work, the drum solo, the zill work, etc.

Is there anything you would want incorporated into this class if you were a student?

If you were teaching it, anything you would include?

And finally, can you point me in the direction of any article or other resource which talks about the typical AmCab show and it's elements? Or the history of how it came to be?

Thanks!

It sounds wonderful, but are you calling it AmCab? If I were teaching it I would never use that term, that's basically just an internet abbreviation that doesn't even stand for the right terminology, imho. American Oriental Dance or Vintage American Belly Dance, or ??? something besides AmCab?

Are you including veils and zills as "prop work"? (Or are those included in the Entrance?) They are important but I don't consider them "props," they are an integral part of the dance. Floor and/or standing taxim are also important. Structured improv vs. choreographed routine is another hallmark.

Dancing with a veil while wearing zills, playing the zills to accompany the dance, these are very challenging aspects of the style. Prop balancing is another - sword, goblets, tray come to mind.

Showmanship is definitely an important part of the style, too. I mean things like keeping your stage presence at all times, making the balancing of props look difficult and mysterious to the GP, etc.

Taking tips in the costume is another area of showmanship. How the dancer handles it makes all the difference in how it is perceived by the audience.

Cory Zamora's videos on YouTube are good examples of the style.

Do you have music like George Abdo, etc.?

I'm not sure if you are objecting to my use of the abbreviation "AmCab" or my use of the term "American Cabaret"? Either way, I am not calling it AmCab, I only used that abbreviation for ease of posting on bhuz. I am, however calling the class "The Anatomy of an American Cabaret Bellydance show". My students know that this means vintage Oriental, or "the way they did it in America in the 60's and 70's" or whatever you want to call it, but I've always been taught to refer to what I do as American Cabaret, so that's what I'm calling it!

I plan on making my students wear their zills at all times. It's second nature for me to have them on while I use my veil, but I'm anticipating annoyed students when I spring that one on them!

Sounds like a wonderful class. Your students will benefit greatly from it. Wearing zills and using the veil are a challenge that they will love once they master it.

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

I'm not sure if you are objecting to my use of the abbreviation "AmCab" or my use of the term "American Cabaret"? Either way, I am not calling it AmCab, I only used that abbreviation for ease of posting on bhuz. I am, however calling the class "The Anatomy of an American Cabaret Bellydance show". My students know that this means vintage Oriental, or "the way they did it in America in the 60's and 70's" or whatever you want to call it, but I've always been taught to refer to what I do as American Cabaret, so that's what I'm calling it!

I plan on making my students wear their zills at all times. It's second nature for me to have them on while I use my veil, but I'm anticipating annoyed students when I spring that one on them!

I don't object to the term American Cabaret as much as some folks do, but i dislike AmCab, glad you are not calling it that! ,r:; This style is still going strong here in the Northwest of the US, it's for the present as well as the past. It hasn't died out, but some people who call themselves Egyptian style are really doing American Oriental (my opinion).

Originally Posted by dunyah

I don't object to the term American Cabaret as much as some folks do, but i dislike AmCab, glad you are not calling it that! ,r:; This style is still going strong here in the Northwest of the US, it's for the present as well as the past. It hasn't died out, but some people who call themselves Egyptian style are really doing American Oriental (my opinion).

I agree completely! I think a lot of people are unclear as to what makes something Egyptian vs. American Oriental.