Thread: Dancers should learn to play zills because...

...once you've learned it, it's fun!
...the audience loves zills and will be impressed (dancers as well as the general public)
...it's a traditional part of Middle Eastern dance - so instead of looking out for new, exotic, fantasy accessories, why not do something traditional and exciting?
...if the sound system fails you still have your own instruments to dance to

Now it's your turn: Why should dancers learn to play zills?

MEISSOUN

Because it makes you smarter! Learning to play and dance at the same time (and varying the timing of your movements and the zills), stimulates your brain!

And try learning to move, play, and talk at the same time! I KNOW I've forged new neural pathways trying to talk to my students while playing a rhythm and moving. When I first started teaching zills, I COULD NOT speak and play and move at the same time (seriously, I could feel the synapses misfiring, lol). Now I can!

Because its a complicated skill and one that is so often overlooked.

It helps you learn the ME rhythms

It commands attention in a crowded restaurant or dance hall

Because there are dancers out there who will not consider you a pro until you learn zills

(In my area) Musicians tend to respect dancers who play zills

Because once you learn zills you can learn the riq and sit in with the band if you want.

- You can play for other dancers as well, in a pinch
- you can demonstrate the beat you want clapped instead of whatever the GP claps
- you can keep the skeevy "hey lookit me i'm dancin witha bellydancer lol" people at arm's length
- you can demonstrate multitasking by dancing and playing at the same time
- your hands may now have a pretty default position even without zills, instead of splayed jazz fingers!

:-)

I dont really use zills in my shows but I did learn them and I think its important for every dancer to do so.

If you learn properly it helps you understand and get more in tune with the music and beats in belly dance.

Its such a huge part of American belly dance and its history, not to mention belly dance in general.

Good zill players are hard to come by, we should change that!

Audiences always ask for them by name!

In other words, "castanets," "maracas," "bells," "little dingy-ding ding" things on the fingers (usually accompanied by a lobster-like pincher motion)

Wow, more good reasons, keep them coming!

I am on a mission to spread zilling in Switzerland! And I am writing an article for my website right now to motivate people learning to play finger cymbals.

Another one:
...because zilling adds a new dimension to your dance. You're not only following the music, you also create music

MEISSOUN

I agree with everything so far, but don't forget- they're shiny.... and come in so many different sizes & tones...and if you buy a new set every year, you have a set that goes with every song & every costume...& um, they're shiny....

(confessions of an instrument collector- can I show off my mizmar/drum/flute collection now?)

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Audiences always ask for them by name!

In other words, "castanets," "maracas," "bells," "little dingy-ding ding" things on the fingers (usually accompanied by a lobster-like pincher motion)

My family members call them "jing-tinglers" which is a term blatantly stolen from Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas. ..g.:

oh, yeah- & when you get a show off drummer, you have a means to 'help' them back on track... all of our local drummers are lovely, of course who work *with* the dancers and would never *dream* of trying to show up a dancer...
you can play around with a cooperative drummer too, which is a lot of fun.

...babies love them!
...you get big tips from parents when you let their little girl bang two together like a "circus monkey"
...you can teach a young audience members the "doppler effect"
....they build great mystery when you start playing in the back room before entering the restaurant (people look all around to figure out where the "noise" is coming from)
...work great as a "horn" when you are trying to get through a crowded area

I have heard, surprisingly, that ultra rich ME events do not care for zills! They think of it as rather common and more for the middle class. In fact, they don't care much for props at all! I was pretty surprised to learn this because I always thought zills were a big part of the dance culture.

I personally think they look great and are fun to do.

Because Shahla says so! ..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,

Originally Posted by Fotia

I have heard, surprisingly, that ultra rich ME events do not care for zills! They think of it as rather common and more for the middle class. In fact, they don't care much for props at all! I was pretty surprised to learn this because I always thought zills were a big part of the dance culture.

I personally think they look great and are fun to do.

I always thought zill playing/props was more American

Originally Posted by ShahlaRaks

Because Shahla says so! ..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,

That's good enough for me!!!!!

Originally Posted by toria_dances

I always thought zill playing/props was more American

Don't tell that to the Ghawazee ..g.:

Another reason--when the sound system unexpectedly conks out, you can keep playing for yourself and entertain the audience while somebody fixes the system.

Because they work as excellent weapons when flung at out of control audience members!

Zills are a big part of Middle Eastern music - the difference is that the zill player is a member of the band or orchestra. So, it's not the dancer playing zills, but a band member who is sitting and playing them.

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

Because they work as excellent weapons when flung at out of control audience members!

Zills are a big part of Middle Eastern music - the difference is that the zill player is a member of the band or orchestra. So, it's not the dancer playing zills, but a band member who is sitting and playing them.

I've seen this too - and even among the audience. That is a really cool ME jamming session!

Originally Posted by Fotia

I have heard, surprisingly, that ultra rich ME events do not care for zills! They think of it as rather common and more for the middle class. In fact, they don't care much for props at all! I was pretty surprised to learn this because I always thought zills were a big part of the dance culture.

I personally think they look great and are fun to do.

I guess it depends from area to area. Yes where I work zills tend to go over better with Americans, but Turks and Armenians love them too. The clientel at Arabic places that I have worked does tend to like/request wings and cane.

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

I guess it depends from area to area. Yes where I work zills tend to go over better with Americans, but Turks and Armenians love them too. The clientel at Arabic places that I have worked does tend to like/request wings and cane.

I think you are exactly right. I've even heard that the ultra crowd doesn't care for wings either! So I guess it's best to always find out first.

- because if an obnoxious client becomes overly obnoxious, it's fun to sassily snap a zill in their face.

- they grab the attention of audience members who are more interested in their dinner than in the entertainment.

- you can show off your skills as not only a dancer but as a musician as well.

- cause a good zill player is hard to find and it's becoming a dying art.

Because it's fun.

Playing zills for a bellydancer is like making a bechamel sauce for a French cook.

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

Musicians tend to respect dancers who play zills
Because once you learn zills you can learn the riq and sit in with the band if you want.

I do respect a dancer who can play zils, I grew up with them and coin costumes. You could hear a dancer from miles away. Now it seems ya'll are mimes in shiny costumes.

S

Because making music and dancing at the same time can be so incredibly fun!!

I am now off the computer to go do some zill drilling in anticipation of my Friday night performance in front of Aida Nour and Lubna . . . I hope I don't "drop a zill" :-( . . . ;)

All of the above reasons :)
I just started playing them in December, before I just couldn't do it, then gave up completely. After the firt time using them couldn't dance without them!
I noticed a big difference in the both the general and ME audience's reaction (positive).
Just this past weekend I had to take them off because I had a huge cut on my thumb and it was killing me (I tried, but after the frist song, had to take them off). Some took a bunch of pictures of me, and it was so interesting to see that although I had quite a few crazy looking pictures (posture, facial expression, etc) my hands never looked weird or crazy! So, yes, the zills will give you nice hands with or without them on!

Golden retrievers love 'em, too!

I was greeted with a chorus of "AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!" when I kneeled down to play a little masmoudi for an inquisitive pup at my last party gig.

Too many opportunities for crowd-pleasing cute-overload stuff with babies and pets when you're zilling!

[QUOTE=badriya_al_ahmar;468960]

Another reason--when the sound system unexpectedly conks out, you can keep playing for yourself and entertain the audience while somebody fixes the system. [/QUOTE


Zills have saved my sparkly butt on more than one occasion!

Truly the best, (and most horrifying ), thing my teacher ever did for me was to make me wear zills from the first day......and every day thereafter.

Playing zills just makes you dance better - at least in my case. It gives my dance that extra energy, and gives my hands and arms something to do besides flailing wildly about! Although I'm not an old skool dancer who never takes hir zills off, I *do* feel naked without something in my hands - and if I don't have a veil or a cane, I really want my zills!

Because THIS is cool...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_SscQURoUk]YouTube - Tulay Karaca on Turkish Televison part 2(TURKISH BELLY DANCE)[/ame]