Thread: Shamadan - how crazy can I get?

Woo hoo! I traded for a shamadan and am very excited to get to use it. But would like to get some info from the wise bhuzzers!
How crazy can I get with decorating it? I have some hanging pink swarovski and vintage chandelier pieces and stones. Can I add those?
Also can someone point me to a good song with a definite zeffa rhythm?
Does one have to do floorwork? And should you always play zills during the zeffa?

Also - fake flame vs. real flame? Do they make fake tapers can you switch them out with real ones? How often do you use real flame?
I actually lost a gig once cause I didn't have a shamadan with real flame. I could have borrowed a friend's but it was rigged with fake votives..

Hi Eshta!

Congrats on your shamadan!

I get to see a lot of shamadan performances, and some of them are decorated with rhinestones and other danglies. I think it would be fine to use a few, but don't overpower the shamadan, you know what I mean? There's one performance I saw where it the shamadan looked like a chandalier on top of the dancer's head with a danglies and rhinestone chains everywhere, and it was really distracting. For me, I'd keep it simple with just a touch of bling.


As for real vs fake flame, that would depend upon your venue. Some places strictly forbid real flame bc of the fire hazard. And yes, there are fake tapers that you can switch out for the real ones.

When hubby gets back from Switzerland later this week, I'll see if he has time to make suggestions for music.

Have fun with your new shamadan!

For music, I love Dokku al Mazaher on Jalila's Journey of the Gypsy Dancer. Cymbals are nice with shamadan, and no, you don't have to do floorwork.

Personally I think when wearing a flaming candelabra on your head, you can get as crazy with the decorating as you want. The only concern I would have is balance and weight. Keep everything symmetrical and even and you should be fine.

I would always play cymbals, but not always do floorwork (most weddings don't really call for it in my experience, but for a staged show it might be a very nice touch). Jalila's Volume 3 CD has a great zeffa, and I also like the one on "Essential Belly Dance with Neena and Veena". I actually made my own ten minute mix from a few songs (including the ones above) for doing zeffas to recorded music.

For flame, I use real when allowed. I found that menorah candles (which are sold year round in my local supermarket for some reason) are the perfect length. For fake, you can get votives or tapers at craft stores. Now (post-Halloween) is a good time to find them on sale, they can be a tad pricey.

Have fun, and share pictures when you are done decorating!

You can get some really nice battery operated "candles". The cups you put the candles in can be oddly shaped, depending on the quality of your shamadan and it can be hard to get them in so they stay.

Unfortunately for me, my sweet, sweet husband thought he was helping me out and he glued my fake candles in my shamadan. If I were to take them out, it would make the bottoms of the candles look really bad. They were about $60 for all of them, so I am not really interested in doing that. If I were to ever have an opportunity to dance at a location that let me have real flame, I would try to buy a new shamadan instead.

Also, you can get really snazzy candles around Christmas time- fancy gold or sparkly ones!

I have thin glass candle cups (purchased in a box of a dozen at Joanne's, cheap) stuck on with florist's clay. I can put flickering led tea lights in the cups (as in this photo), or put real candles in them.
Rosette

Argggghhh! I can't get Bhuz to pull the photo from my gallery. I've tried 2 different ways. I think it's something about my browser.
But anyway, if you'd like to see my shamadan, you can go into my profile and look in my gallery.
R

RakscandiI decorate my shamadan to go with my costume.If you've never seen my webpage you might be interested in it. I love shamadan and use real candles when I can. I do have some fab battery candles though-link from my website also music ideas. enjoy your shamadan

Have to chime in here and say to be careful when hanging crystals on Shamadans.

You have to think of your safety, and since others have mentioned balance and symmetry already, I will only mention that having a piece of crystal chip off and embed itself in your foot is no picnic...especially when you're only half way through your performance!

Crystal swags are beautiful, but they do make the shamadan more difficult to balance because of the way they sway. You can add them, and they'll look great. However, be sure to add all your decorations long before you intend to dance with it, allowing plenty of time to rehearse with the fully-decorated shamadan. You'll need lots of rehearsal time to become comfortable with how the swaying swags feel.

This website sells nice acrylic plastic crystals and beaded chains:

Chandelier crystals, chandelier crystal prisms, chandelier prism, sun catcher crystal prisms, crystal wedding tree

They are significantly less heavy than the real thing, and look about the same.

My only advice with decoration on a shamadan is watch for weight and balance

Zeffah Music:

Et Makhtari Ya Aroussa ant the 2 folowing from Cairo orchestra's CD Belly Dance Classics

Zeffah on Isis presents Wings of Isis CD

Arous Wa Arees [Zeffa Wedding Song] from Gibaly, Ahmad And Orchestra's CD The Soul of Cairo

No zeffa beat, but I love Shamadan on Ashraf Zakaria' s CD Music for Egyptian Dance
or
any version of Zeina...

What Shira said.

I have a fair amount of crystals and bead swags on mine - but I also found out that its possible to make it *too* topheavy. I had some heavy cut crystal bobesches (wax cups) on mine at one point, I had to take them back off because I couldn't control the thing!

Originally Posted by Candi

RakscandiI decorate my shamadan to go with my costume.If you've never seen my webpage you might be interested in it. I love shamadan and use real candles when I can. I do have some fab battery candles though-link from my website also music ideas. enjoy your shamadan

Candi-- wanted to say thanks for the information on your website. It's been a super resource for-- especially the battery operated candles!

Originally Posted by zorba

What Shira said.

I have a fair amount of crystals and bead swags on mine - but I also found out that its possible to make it *too* topheavy. I had some heavy cut crystal bobesches (wax cups) on mine at one point, I had to take them back off because I couldn't control the thing!

I love this one! Nice, elegant lines that enhance the Shamadan instead of overpowering it.

Originally Posted by zorba

What Shira said.

I have a fair amount of crystals and bead swags on mine - but I also found out that its possible to make it *too* topheavy. I had some heavy cut crystal bobesches (wax cups) on mine at one point, I had to take them back off because I couldn't control the thing!

Skips off to Zorba's house to steal his Shamadan

Originally Posted by Veil_Dancer

Skips off to Zorba's house to steal his Shamadan

Oh, you didn't see the guard dog either? Oh you poor thing, so sorry about your arm - I'm sure it'll heal nicely! ..l;,