Thread: Crammin' for Zeffa

We had a couple of shamadan threads on Old Bhuz, but I can't find them now.

I'd like to give myself an intensive Shamadan/Zeffa traditions course over the summer. I've been reading reviews (thanks, Shira & Zorba!) but it doesn't sound like any of the major videos on the subject give much cultural info. I'd love to hear about an instructional that does, though!

Here's what I *think* I know:

- The dancer would typically wear the shamadan while leading the bridal party & guests into the reception hall (or even down the street from wedding to reception, right?)

- One assumes the zeffa rhythm is used for the procession, and the dancer plays finger cymbals. Oh, and I understand she would normally be wearing a dress.

- Once the bride & groom are seated, I assume the dancer performs, and this is where she would include floorwork. Are we still using a zeffa rhythm? Or another specific kind of music? Finger cymbals still going?

- After this, does the dancer remove the shamadan and dance with the groom/bride? Or does she come back later to do that, after a costume change?

What else should I know? More traditional aspects to a zeffa/shamadan performance? Movement vocabulary? Music choices?

Oh, and I understand this tradition only dates back to the early 20th century, is that right? So 'tradition' might be a strong word, huh?

You can get a LITTLE historical information about shamadan from going to Aunt Rocky's web site at www.casbahdance.org and reading the article about Nadia Hamdi. In her day, Nadia was considered THE leading shamadan dancer in Egypt.

You're right, the tradition of having a dancer with a shamadan lead a zeffa dates back to about the 1920's. It comes from the Mohammed Ali Street fork of origins of our dance (as opposed to the nightclub fork).

A shamadan video I want to watch (but haven't yet) is the one by Faten Salama, herself an Egyptian.

There are some CD's out there with tracks called "Shamadan". One such is one of the Oriental Fantasy ones by Beata and Horacio. Such a track would be appropriate.

You're right about wearing a dress rather than bedleh. Think in terms of an evening gown style of dress (as opposed to baladi dress) - think glitzy and elegant. (Wouldn't it be fun to see Zorba doing shamadan in a dress?)

I don't know if there is a rule set in stone about what happens after the zeffa procession. Is there a dance circle with the dancer and the bride and groom? Just the bride and groom? When do they sit the hell down?

When you have live music, it's easier to go with the flow and whatever existing formula there might be. It is hard to work on those transitions between the procession, the dance circle and your sham3adan work with CD's. The timing doesn't seem to be an exact science, but we want it to be because we're working with finite tracks. (Looping a track does wonders, btw.)

If you look at the zeffa track on Jalilah 3, Doku al Manaher, you have that hard- to-miss procession rhythm which then goes into a basic dancing rhythm. That is perfect for transitioning into a dance circle with you, the bride and the groom in the middle (or whoever else wants to join).

From there, you can probably do all the cool sham3adaness (floor work, etc.) Bamba Kashar was Nadia's song, and is now THE quintessential sham3adan song. I've never seen it used AS a zeffa, but after the zeffa would be great for sham3adaness. It's usually the song on any CD that calls it by another name like "sham3adan" or "raqs nadia".

It would be preferable if everybody sits down during your show-off segment, but I've seen people do it with everyone standing around (provided they give you some friggin' space).

If you are going to do this for a wedding, just ask the wedding planner what he/she wants you to do. The last time I got a zeffa, I got very specific instructions of how long the march should be, when everybody dances in a circle, when I could actually show off...If they don't give you a plan, just ask what they want (provided that it's feasible).

Sagat are required, yes, that is set in stone :) but why??

As for the dress, I always thought that you HAD to wear one. But the last time I did, everyone was asking me , "WHY??" Everyone was telling me that it wasn't a conservative wedding, so I didn't have to wear it. I know this is one instance, but maybe we think we have to wear one because the only zeffas researched are at more conservative weddings. Or maybe it was Nadia's own style? Just a thought.

It is nice to wear something different like a dress, though, if you will be doing a regular set later. I guess it can vary according to the situation.

Thank you both, really helpful


I'm thinking of presenting it onstage at my student recital in August, with appropriate program notes & 'actors' playing the bride & groom.

I was definitely thinking of wearing a dress, inspired by a Dandash performance on the 2002 AWS video where she wears an assuit underbust dress. Hers looks like the Pharonics one that came out around that time, but I it's so similar to my Eman one -- I'd probably wear a slip, but here's mine:


Is it too baladi? Should I be wearing more of a gown?

Is this for a wedding? I would hesitate to wear black to any wedding...so I'm thinking that a gown would be more appropriate.
Bedleh isn't traditional, but I've seen zeffas done in bedleh with the dancer wearing a belly cover or draped in veils...
I am doing an Egyptian wedding in a few weeks...the Zeffa is actually going to start with a VERY fast type processional that doesn't have the zeffa beat at all...this was the bride's request...as the whole procession is due to take about 15 minutes, we're going to throw in the more traditional zeffa music as we progress & probably "Mabruk Wa Arisna" (congrats to the groom) song to finish. If we're done with the processional 'early', I'll finish the set in the middle of the dance floor with floor work or something equally as splashy!!!
Gia

Oh, good point. It'll be a fake, onstage recreation of a wedding (see above) but D'OH the assuit dress is black!

I have a gown, it needs major work to fit me, but I guess it has a deadline now.

I have a question that's related, so forgive me for butting in...

Is the Hagallah a part of the Zeffa as it's done in Egypt today? Or is it something done in the country, rather than in Cairo. If so, at what point is it done?

I've learned about the Hagallah, but only been told that it's done at weddings and it's not clear to me whether it's part of the Zeffa.

Hagallah is specific to the city of Mersa Matrouh, which is on the Mediterranean coast way off to the west, near the Libyan border, and its origins are believed to be Libyan. When Mahmoud Reda observed it in his research, there was no procession. First the dancer did something (he didn't know what because he wasn't allowed to watch) indoors with the women. Then she came outdoors where the men were and danced for them.

The zeffa is more associated with the cities clustered on the Nile, and shamadan with Cairo in particular.

Originally Posted by rachelw

I have a question that's related, so forgive me for butting in...

Is the Hagallah a part of the Zeffa as it's done in Egypt today? Or is it something done in the country, rather than in Cairo. If so, at what point is it done?

I've learned about the Hagallah, but only been told that it's done at weddings and it's not clear to me whether it's part of the Zeffa.