Thread: Drum solo standing on tabla/darbouka

Hi everyone!

I would llike to have your opinion please! Recently for the MBC I decided to perform a drum solo piece while standing ON the drum. It's the similar way that Tito is known for performing. There is also another male dance who performs on the tabla now too.

Now I have to tell you, learning how to balance, shimmy, ascend/descend, stand & shift weights on the feet, & stepping off gracefully were all challenging, but I thought it was a lot of fun! ..l;, I only performed it for 2 minutes, but I felt I could do a lot more.

I can't wait to see the DVD to evaluate myself, but for those who saw the performance & those who would like to give an opinion of a female dancer on a drum, I would really appreciate feedback.

Thanks!


*Just got the DVD! Here is my spiel:

[ame="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DouAU3-He7Y"]YouTube - Midwest Bellydance Challenge part2: Dance on tabla[/ame]



For those of you who haven't seen Tito:
[ame="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UhN3bWlhQKc"]YouTube - Tito and little Mimo drum solo[/ame]

I've heard it being done in Lebanon but waaay before Tito started doing it. I think Meissoun has an article on her site talking about a dancer who did long shimmies on a derbekki. Hmmmmm...

I was working on a stand-on-the-drum drum solo a couple of years ago, but then the BDSS came to town and Jillina did it in the show. I didn't want to look like an imitator, so I didn't perform it. Hmmmm, I should resurrect that, you're right, I'd put a lot of work into it.

I'm afraid of heights, and I was surprised to discover how unsafe I felt on the drum!

I saw Tito's on-the-drum solo long after Jillina's, but his was more dramatic. I'd never seen anyone make the drum walk like that!!

Do it lauren - you worked for it!!

Originally Posted by bonnywhiteford

Do it lauren - you worked for it!!

+1 ..g.:

I have been thinking about doing that as well, but balancing on a tabla is a bit difficult. I tried it on a darbuka, but descending was not easy, I need lot's of practice, I guess. I'd say... do it!

Tipsuda, your drum solo was amazing! I've seen a small handful of dancers do their drum solo on the drum, and it's always impressive. My students who have never seen it before were just floored.

Hi everyone! Thanks for the input! I did it to actually connect with my percussionist husband, since I can't play the darbouka well, I figured I can dance on it!

I would say for those who have tried/done it! Go for it! I guess it's my newest fascination... I'm glad to see that other dancers have done it before!

I actually would like to see more dancers do it & find more creative ways to use various props. I would love to see a duet/ troupe of dancers on a drum. In Morroco, they have a man dance on a metal rounded drum (like the bottom end of a metal barrel) & they perform flamenco like footwork on it at weddings.

Btw, I used an aluminum drum (Alexandria brand) with a synthetic head; a little on the heavier side, but not too heavy. There are lightweight drums out there, but it may not be as controllable. You should have seen me trying out all my husband's drums. He was going to have a heart attack if I broke any of them. I guess I need to invest in my own if I were to do this more often...

One of my dancers has been doing this for about a year now -- she was looking for something "different" and I'd seen Tito's videos and a couple of others and suggested she try it. It's been well received every time she's done it. The photo from our spring show is in my gallery:

http://www.bhuz.com/index.php?cmd=/p...e_kat/id_8165/


And Lauren-- Just because Jillina does it doesn't make it undoable (or commonplace) for the rest of us plain folk ..l;,..c:: If your audiences are like mine -- mostly GP -- they've never heard of Jillina let alone seen her dance.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I was working on a stand-on-the-drum drum solo a couple of years ago, but then the BDSS came to town and Jillina did it in the show. I didn't want to look like an imitator, so I didn't perform it. Hmmmm, I should resurrect that, you're right, I'd put a lot of work into it.

I'm afraid of heights, and I was surprised to discover how unsafe I felt on the drum!

I saw Tito's on-the-drum solo long after Jillina's, but his was more dramatic. I'd never seen anyone make the drum walk like that!!

You should still do it! Eventually people will be seen doing a choreography that someone else has done. Just change it a bit. Thats how I have been slowly learning to do my own choreographies. Nothing wrong with doing it if Jillina did it-and she is fab at it too ;) And Im sure yours will be too :)

Originally Posted by kat

One of my dancers has been doing this for about a year now -- she was looking for something "different" and I'd seen Tito's videos and a couple of others and suggested she try it. It's been well received every time she's done it. The photo from our spring show is in my gallery:

http://www.bhuz.com/index.php?cmd=/p...e_kat/id_8165/


And Lauren-- Just because Jillina does it doesn't make it undoable (or commonplace) for the rest of us plain folk ..l;,..c:: If your audiences are like mine -- mostly GP -- they've never heard of Jillina let alone seen her dance.

Very nice photo!!! I like!!! ..g.: See, I think it's shows the dancer's agility, playfulness, abilty to perform the drum solo technique while trying to balance oneself, connection with the musicians next to her, & it's something different.

Just read in another thread about gimmicks & how some dancers are tired of seeing it & we should just rely on more technique & dance interpretation. Yes, I think standing on a drum is a gimmick, BUT veil & canes (esp double veil, double canes, etc) are gimmicks too. Hey! whatever makes a dancer stand out from the rest (even a specific technique) is a "gimmick" I guess.

Tito's drum was a little bigger in diameter than your average drum, I believe. He said it was made specially for standing on. The bottom of it wasn't exactly 'square'. either, but was kind of rounded off a little in a couple of places. I don't know if it was deliberately done, or if it was wear from 'walking'.

I've heard that the BDSS sometimes dance on the floor as well, darn it- is nothing sacred?

Luv it

I actually started doing one 3 years ago. I was dancing at a ren faire (one of my guilty dance pleasures) for a stage show that we had on contract. The audience loved the drum solo with the drum so every year we made it more intense. I love it. I actually feel quite natural on the drum :o) and people in the phoenix area have come to recognize me for my "signiture" drum solo

I didn't get to see yours tipsuda but i'm sure it was more than wonderful, you totally rock! :be:

If you don't know me, that was just me having fun with the icons ..g.:

I'm going to perform this for a show next weekend with lots of GP in the audience. I'm going to have the drummer come out and give me a hand up onto the drum. Getting down isn't as scarey as getting up, for me. Being up there is fine, easier than the goblet dancing I used to do. I think it will be fun.

I attempted to stand on the doumbek at the studio the other day. It's so much smaller than I remember and I'm scared I'll pop the skin. Couldn't do it. I will one day!

Lauren, I'm scared of heights too and sometimes it's not how high, it's how precarious.

the gp loves the dancing-on-drum act. and we're there to give them a good show, so why not?
and so what if most of us have seen it? if its well done, it will be well received.

when tito was here, he said the turning started as an accident and then he worked it in to the show.

Yeah. I mean, nobody says "oh shimmies are so lame, and besides the BDSS do them, I need to come up with something more impressive and original."

I've seen this before too-I forgot who the dancer was.

I've been wanting to do this, and even got a hold of a non-functioning-but-perfect-for-a-prop aluminum doumbek for it. my issue: I plan to do the little twist scoot thing to make the drum pivot in a circle - I'm worried about doing this on a non-carpeted surface, because I imagine the drum will scratch a lovely groove in the floor. but if I put, say, adhesive felt strips on the bottom of the drum, then it won't scoot on a rug. what to do...

When I was in Egypt this summer, we watched Dina of Alexandria do a 5 minute drum solo on a dahoula. That's the larger, lower pitched drum that looks like a tabla but is slightly bigger. It was great fun. One of these days I was going to post the footage on YouTube.

...and now that I've watched the video, I can't wait for my son to get a couple years older. we are SO going to do this!! lol!

Originally Posted by Serpentine

When I was in Egypt this summer, we watched Dina of Alexandria do a 5 minute drum solo on a dahoula. That's the larger, lower pitched drum that looks like a tabla but is slightly bigger. It was great fun. One of these days I was going to post the footage on YouTube.

Yup, a dahoula is what I am using for this on Sat. Wish me luck!

There is a concurrent related thread:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...top-tabla.html

:)

I have a show on September 27th and I recently purchase an Alexandrai brand, alumminum one. I have been practicing on top of it and I can make it walk, It's pretty cool. I'll post a video on here after the show.

Okay, I have to ask the obvious dumb question: What's the weight limit for a drum like that? I'm 145 on a thin day -- is that going to cause that puppy to fold up like an accordion?

Originally Posted by aziyade

Okay, I have to ask the obvious dumb question: What's the weight limit for a drum like that? I'm 145 on a thin day -- is that going to cause that puppy to fold up like an accordion?

Well Dina certainly had meat on her bones. I would guess she was way more than 145. Those metal drums are meant to withstand punishment ..g.: She kept her feet out of the center and placed her weight evenly on either side of the rim. And think about Tito. Men naturally weigh far more than women, given the same height and body type. Their muscle mass is denser? I dunno. My 14 year old son is the same height I am and he weighs 15 - 20 pounds more than me. I think those drums can handle a lot.

But think of the comedy act you could do if it did fold!

I did a performance ontop of a tabla at a show this past weekend. It went really well. I will post the video as soon as I get it online!

Originally Posted by Serpentine

When I was in Egypt this summer, we watched Dina of Alexandria do a 5 minute drum solo on a dahoula. That's the larger, lower pitched drum that looks like a tabla but is slightly bigger. It was great fun. One of these days I was going to post the footage on YouTube.

Hi Ladies!

If you are interested. You can now get an aluminum dahoula (large & taller dombek) at Mid-East manufacterer's (mid-east.com).

:)