Thread: Getting a debke started??

I'm dancing at a Syrian wedding next month - my first official Middle Eastern wedding (yayy!!)

I wanted to maybe end my second set with a debke, after the audience participation part. Assuming I find some suitable music, which I'm not too worried about, how would I do about doing this? Do I just start doing the steps and expect people to fall into line? Do I grab people by the hand and start forming them into a line? Is this a bad idea for a surprise?

Yasmina Ramzy once said in a workshop I was at that every bellydancer should be able to lead a debke...so here goes.

pick up a napkin, does not need to be white, the head of the line waves the cloth over their head, the dancer at the end of the line keeps their free arm behind their back.this is how one knows where the line starts etc.chant of dhloona always gets them going, especially "dj #3" (can get at peko)
z

at an egyptian /mexican wedding,after the zeffa, i started the debka line with a napkin, then with big flare, handed to cloth to the father of the egyptian groon.it went over very well.

PS ..i can send you the music file off the board, if you like.contact me through my web site.glad to help.

Here's a caveat to leading the debke line - unless you are the most skilled debke dancer in the room, you should not lead the line - start it, maybe, but then defer to the more experienced dancers once it gets going.

From what I've seen, the better debke dancers will cut to the front of the line anyway - that's where they get to show off!

BTW, it's bad form to cut to the front of any debke line if you don't know what you're doing. If you ain't THE expert at the party, get your remedial @$$ to the back of the debke line!

BTW, it's bad form to cut to the front of any debke line if you don't know what you're doing. If you ain't THE expert at the party, get your remedial @$$ to the back of the debke line!
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ha ha ha ! so right, and the party dick will do it too!

yep, the most expierenced debke dancer always leads the line. So, you start it and than the most expierenced person will take your place. I just hope they can take your hint and get up and dance. Maybe go around and shake the napkin as if you are inviting them out to the debke line with you.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

BTW, it's bad form to cut to the front of any debke line if you don't know what you're doing. If you ain't THE expert at the party, get your remedial @$$ to the back of the debke line!

LOL So true.

OMG!! Thanks for this, guys!

I have this awful mental image of me doing my remedial debke all around the place, waving a napkin, and everyone just sitting there, staring at me! Horrible!! I'm sure that won't happen, though - and I'm more than happy to hand off the napkin to someone who knows what they're doing.

Zamora, I'm going to send you an email about that music, thanks!!

Geez, I wish I could find a class in remedial debke... the last time I tried to learn it I was so outclassed I had to leave to escape injury. ..l;,

Originally Posted by tigerb

Geez, I wish I could find a class in remedial debke... the last time I tried to learn it I was so outclassed I had to leave to escape injury. ..l;,

..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

Zamora, I just sent you an email through your website.

and try to learn some Syrian debke steps. Don't forget that every country has their own variation of the debke. I'm sure they will be TOTALLY forgiving anyway but still it's nice to try. Great luck vibes are being sent your way!!!!

Thanks for the tip!! I was planning to study some Syrian debke vids on youtube to get some steps - there are so many debke videos on youtube!

Oooh--please let us know if you find any videos that *teach* debke, too!

Maybe plan it with the person who hired you for the wedding. They might know which guest will be keen to start it off. The steps are pretty easy to pick up,perhaps before your gig you could get them to show you??

I thought the debke start automatically somehow. Once the music starts people automatically get up to do it.

When I went to Syria I noticed that they often do the same one as the lebanese do. Left foot step 1, 2, kick it in front then slightly back then start again and keep going. That probably doesnt make sense here on the post :S

I did learn another simple one with a stamp but Ive forgotten already.....

There is footage of Virginia Tech Uni practicing their Debke on youtube.

Reema, the dancer who died in the VT shooting, is in the footage. Such a gorgeous girl.

The footage is clear too.

Samiya

What I'd like to do is surprise the partygoers by starting the debke and then gracefully pass the lead on to someone more qualified once it gets going. I think they'd get a kick out of that.

Thanks for the steps and the video tip, I'll check that out. It;s good to know the Syrians do the same steps as the Lebanese, because I actually know a debke but I'm pretty sure it's Lebanese.

Anyway, I'll check out the VT footage.

Yallah Dabke!

Heh... my favorite way to start a Debke line is to make sure Karim Nagi is at the party!!

I was just going to mention Karim Nagi's workshops as a great way to learn debke!

I love debke and teach a basic step or three to all my students - it's fun to do at the end of class. I think this year I'm going to have them doing debke at the student recital.

um..in a syrian wedding, the debkeh starts itself!! haha

Originally Posted by aasiyah

um..in a syrian wedding, the debkeh starts itself!! haha

I hope you're right!!