Thread: tabl baladi and dance

I am stumped to find an answer to this question I have.

In Egpyt, how does the tabl baladi drum fit into the dance scene, if at all?

I always thought it was someone associated with Saidi because I saw an old Cairo Festival concert tape once that had it.

But I am struggling to now find any youtube clip that shows this connect to dance. The closest I have come is this clip of the drum and zamr

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm3nUxYjufk]YouTube - Tabl baladi (Egyptian drum) in Sharqia, Egypt[/ame]

I know there is a connection between dance and drum in Lebanon and perhaps even Turkey. But Egypt is coming up a big blank.

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I'm sure I have vids of Egyptian dancers who have a drummer on tabl beledi on stage with them during their folkloric set. I will try to look through them.

Oh, what a GREAT question!

First, help us understand what a Tabl Beledi is exactly.

Is the large drum in this scene the same thing? Or is this just another kind of def?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoC8t4ciGEE]YouTube - Khariyya Maazin 2[/ame]

There's footage of the Maazin sisters on Aisha Ali's Dances of Egypt where they're dancing with a drummer who has a larger drum than this on a strap, he walks with it and plays it with a stick. Could that be a Tabl Beledi?

A tabl baladi is a two-headed drum, similar to the davul. Not sure what the subtle differences between the different two-headed drums are, though. I believe I have seen footage of the Maazin sisters dancing accomonpanied by a tabl baladi - including the lean-backwards-over-the-drum trick.

I'd guess that the use is similar to the davul: in a more folkloric setting, together with other "outdoors" instruments, like mizmar. I can't imagine a tabl baladi and a ney played together, for instance.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Oh, what a GREAT question!

First, help us understand what a Tabl Beledi is exactly.

Is the large drum in this scene the same thing? Or is this just another kind of def?

YouTube - Khariyya Maazin 2

There's footage of the Maazin sisters on Aisha Ali's Dances of Egypt where they're dancing with a drummer who has a larger drum than this on a strap, he walks with it and plays it with a stick. Could that be a Tabl Beledi?

Yes, that's the Tabl Beledi. In Lebanon, the drummer follows the dancer around and plays, usually while she's doing cane, and it's almost always to a debke rhythm.

I haven't seen much footage of Egyptian dancers doing anything similar, I'd love to see it.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FsVLrRYdXY]YouTube - Leila Haddad Oriental Dance[/ame]

Leila Haddad clip - at the end about 4:14

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Yes, that's the Tabl Beledi. In Lebanon, the drummer follows the dancer around and plays, usually while she's doing cane, and it's almost always to a debke rhythm.

You see it with Lebanese singers also. There must be a thousand clips of Assi el Hellani concerts on YouTube where the drummer is on stage right next to him as he's singing. The drummer's usually doing a little debke while he's playing, too.

It's very common to play along with the dancer doing Saidi or cane. It's also very popular at weddings during debke. I would have used a cane if I had one with me in this clip. As it was I had to fake it.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntndYqeiXqQ]YouTube - Norma, Detroit Belly Dancer, Tabla Beledi[/ame]

Originally Posted by norma

It's very common to play along with the dancer doing Saidi or cane. It's also very popular at weddings during debke. I would have used a cane if I had one with me in this clip. As it was I had to fake it.
YouTube - Norma, Detroit Belly Dancer, Tabla Beledi

mmm...that's the stuff! And is that a lighted dancefloor?!?

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

mmm...that's the stuff! And is that a lighted dancefloor?!?

I think part of the raised stage was lighted but mostly I think it's just a reflection of the lights flashing about.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Yes, that's the Tabl Beledi. In Lebanon, the drummer follows the dancer around and plays, usually while she's doing cane, and it's almost always to a debke rhythm.

I haven't seen much footage of Egyptian dancers doing anything similar, I'd love to see it.

The DVD Nadia Gamal: The Legend has footage of this, in a kind of hybrid Lebanese/Egyptian way (from what I understand, while Nadia Gamal is Lebanese the band is Egyptian).

I'm pretty sure the Soiree DVD that has Dina in the silver minidress also has a dancer doing folkloric stuff accompanied by these drums...

I've always associated tabl beledi with Saiidi music - there's usually one in a big full-on Saiidi band segment.

I love the sound of tabl beledi - it just has such a huge sound a vibrates the very air in your lungs! ..g.: I so wish it was used more in music for dancing, but perhaps it's too big a sound to record well.

Typically, the tabla beledi was used live, for processions, gatherings, etc. It does have a big sound. It always kind of reminded me of the Scottish bagpipes, a call to arms or in this case, a call to dance!

Originally Posted by CFerhat

YouTube - Leila Haddad Oriental Dance

Leila Haddad clip - at the end about 4:14

Hmm is that Tunisian?


I better explain why I'm asking. I was at a hafla and the dance teacher, highly experienced and respected, had asked me to play the tabl for an Egyptian Saidi cane peice for a dance student. So I tell the lead drummer, my doumbek teacher and highly experienced Lebanese professional, what I would do beforehand.

When the time came I play the Saidi rhythm and for some reason my drum teacher was just frozen and not holding a Saidi rhythm for me. Afterwards he tells me off saying I should of been playing Nawari for Dabke.

I didn't know what he was on about ( his English isn't the best ) then a week later the nasty thought had occurred to me that maybe only in Lebanese cabaret environment do you play tabl for a dancer and if you are doing Egyptian Saidi you don't use it.

I'm still trying to find an example of an Egpytian Dancer with an Egpytian band, either folkloric or cabaret, who dances with a tabl. There is plenty of Lebanese clips.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Oh, what a GREAT question!

First, help us understand what a Tabl Beledi is exactly.

Is the large drum in this scene the same thing? Or is this just another kind of def?

YouTube - Khariyya Maazin 2

There's footage of the Maazin sisters on Aisha Ali's Dances of Egypt where they're dancing with a drummer who has a larger drum than this on a strap, he walks with it and plays it with a stick. Could that be a Tabl Beledi?

The tabl baladi is a drum you play with sticks and it has a strap on the drum.

Uncle Mafufo's Tabls, Frame Drums, Defs, Tabl video Instruction Davul, Tabl Beledi video, Tupan

Originally Posted by CFerhat

YouTube - Leila Haddad Oriental Dance

Leila Haddad clip - at the end about 4:14

Ahh ok, just read the clip text description. It's Ghawazee style. Well that is at least one step closer.

Originally Posted by HubicRuzz

Ahh ok, just read the clip text description. It's Ghawazee style. Well that is at least one step closer.

Is that a tabla beledi? He's playing with one stick and his fingers, not 2 sticks.

Originally Posted by HubicRuzz

When the time came I play the Saidi rhythm and for some reason my drum teacher was just frozen and not holding a Saidi rhythm for me. Afterwards he tells me off saying I should of been playing Nawari for Dabke.

I didn't know what he was on about ( his English isn't the best ) then a week later the nasty thought had occurred to me that maybe only in Lebanese cabaret environment do you play tabl for a dancer and if you are doing Egyptian Saidi you don't use it.

This sounds like two separate issues to me: whether you were playing the rhythm you thought he expected you to play (or whether he changed his mind about what he wanted and didn't convey that information to you) in that particular instance, and whether tabl baladi can be used in performance for Egyptian Saidi as a general rule.

Well I got word back from Morocco. She said yes, the famous dancers of the 70s and 80s did do Raks Assaya with Tabal Baladi. Also suggested I look up Tahitib.

I hit gold with this video

YouTube - Tahtib

Originally Posted by norma

Is that a tabla beledi? He's playing with one stick and his fingers, not 2 sticks.

If you look careful towards the end 4:38 you can see the drum also use drum sticks.

Originally Posted by HubicRuzz

If you look careful towards the end 4:38 you can see the drum also use drum sticks.

I still don't see 2 sticks. I see him hitting one side with a stick and playing the other with his hand.

Originally Posted by norma

I still don't see 2 sticks. I see him hitting one side with a stick and playing the other with his hand.

Yes for the majority he is doing that but he does also play with 2 sticks as well towards the end. Blink and you will miss it.

Still can't see the second stick! Time to get the old eyes checked I guess!

Lauren_ posted this in a costuming thread today. (Obviously not a nightclub orientale setting, but getting closer with Dina. The band comes in about halfway through.)[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpmU7lOiCag]YouTube - Dina in film دينا[/ame]

Originally Posted by norma

Still can't see the second stick! Time to get the old eyes checked I guess!

Ok 4:35 you can see his right hand has a big stick. In the previous shot he is using his right hand directly and the left hand has the thin reed going.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

Lauren_ posted this in a costuming thread today. (Obviously not a nightclub orientale setting, but getting closer with Dina. The band comes in about halfway through.)YouTube - Dina in film دينا

That's a fun clip in general. Thanks for that.

I got a message back from Hossam Ramzy and had confirmed what Morocco had said. Yes it is appropriate to have a tabl baladi in a Saidi band and in an Egyptian context you play the Saidi rhythm and not Nawari.

Tragically, that drum just makes me think of a lambeg, which fills me with misplaced nationalism on behalf of my ancestors. I'd love to hear one IRL!

Found out this clip today of Lelia of Cairo.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBEB3aceORk]YouTube - Leila of Cairo @ Nile Group 08 april (saiidi)[/ame]