Thread: Help! Wedding wants a "Syrian Dancer"

Hi all, hoping someone can help me out with this one! I got a request from a wedding planner who is wanting a "Syrian Dancer" or "somewhat Syrian dancer" for a wedding. Any clues as to what would make such a thing? Other than a debke, I couldn't seem to find any information about Syrian dancing specifically, as different than general "middle eastern dancing" even here on Bhuz. Am I missing something, searching the wrong way, or just totally oblivious?

Unfortunately the planner left me a message, which I did not get until this morning, and her office is closed on Sundays. I don't know if the couple getting married is Syrian, and just has a preference for seeing a bellydancer with Syrian knowledge, or if they need a hardcore traditionalist!

I would like to call tomorrow and at least not sound like a total airhead! I am picturing myself saying, "Well, I am an American Cabaret style bellydancer, but I could lead a debke" which might be the equivalent of a hip hop dancer saying "well, I could do some hip hop dance for you and then start the audience waltzing"!

Thanks for any hints and blasting away my ignorance!
Nikki

OMG! I understand your concerns... You can check some Dabke videos on Youtube. Some of them were even recorded in weddings, so you can have a better idea...

Check this out, I have this CD and it is very beautiful music:

Traditional Songs from Syria - ZEIN AL JUNDI & HOSSAM RAMZY*::*CDs Produced by Hossam*::*Ramzy Music International

also here: [ame=http://www.amazon.ca/Hossam-Ramzy-Presents-Traditional-Songs/dp/B0006G8GIG]Hossam Ramzy Presents Traditional Songs from Syria: Zein Al-Jundi: Amazon.ca: Music[/ame]

Also saw it on Barnes & Noble site.

I danced at a hookah lounge this past summer where most of the patrons and the owners were Syrian. All I can say is, they liked FAST music. You could be shimmying your ass off at a breakneck speed to crazy pop and techno music, and it still wasn't fast and furious enough for them

Of course, this is just one experience. I haven't danced for enough Syrian crowds to comment on whether or not this is a widespread phenomenon. But I did find it interesting, nonetheless.

I believe Rheem of the silver KISS boots and floor humping is Syrian, but I doubt they want that sort of thing at their wedding!

WHY did you have to bring that up, Laura? ..cr.:

There are also a number of singers you could use, including Asala and Nour Mhanna. If you want to bend the rules a bit, George Wassouf and Farid al Atrache were both born in Syria, although they tend to be associated with other areas (Lebanon and Egypt, respectively).

Thanks for the music suggestions and experiences!
So it seems like there isn't really a difference dance style wise, other of course than the typical regional variations you would expect to see between one country and another? The planner mentioned in the message that she didn't know much about this style of dancing, I think meaning Syrian. So I will see how it turns out when I talk to her, but at least I feel now like I have a little knowledge behind me. =)

I have danced for a "Syrian" audience a couple of times and just did an Egyptian type of set. Wasn't asked to use any particular music.

Now, if this wedding client and family specifically ask for Syrian music, I'd have them suggest a song or two and figure out how to incorporate it, even if you edit it for time.

It's possible that a nod to the debke is all they want. Of course, they might also want you to lead a debke! (Personally, if that was the case, I'd get it started and let the crowd take it from there!)

Deborah

I danced for a Syrian wedding using regular Egyptian music with very good response. They loved Alf Leyla Wa Leyla! I broke out a cane piece in my second set which might have been a mistake, they didn't seem to get it (not surprising in hindsight).

If they want you to start a debke just be aware that the steps they use might be very different. I spent weeks practising a debke step so I would look like I knew what I was doing - only to find myself trying to follow a completely different set of steps on the fly!

They were a lively group, clapped to the music and needed no encouragement to crowd the dance floor. Have fun!

hehehe my only brush with a Syrian dancer was Rheem as well, my mind went there right away.

I'd frame it all in a positive way, from a marketing standpoint: Yes, I do bellydance as it is performed at weddings all over the Middle East. Most of my music is Egyptian and Lebanese and I find that to be acceptable among all the groups I've worked with, but I'd be happy to include any specifically Syrian pieces the client wants as long as they put in their request a minimum of 2 weeks before the performance so I can acquire the music and rehearse.

I suspect the audience will be happy with a respectful and lovely performance in a wedding-appropriate costume to any romantic pop music you are accustomed to using.

You should be fine with a traditional Egyptian set but it's a wedding so keep it lively! Rememberr at a wedding your job is to entertain and get the party going and people in the mood to dance.

My teacher was Syrian and while she loved the Egyptian classics she was a big fan of Lebanese style dancers and Setrak. Think energy!

Thanks everyone! Talked to the wedding planner today, turns out the family is hoping to find someone who knows some traditional Syrian dancing, but understands that will be hard to find here in Colorado. So hopefully they will either find the dancer of their dreams or settle for me, who can learn to love Syrian music before September!
Nikki

Micamica, good for you for doing your homework on this!

Originally Posted by micamica

Thanks everyone! Talked to the wedding planner today, turns out the family is hoping to find someone who knows some traditional Syrian dancing, but understands that will be hard to find here in Colorado. So hopefully they will either find the dancer of their dreams or settle for me, who can learn to love Syrian music before September!
Nikki

Ah. Yes, traditional dances are another whole kettle of fish.

Many years ago (before I knew half of what I do today) I went to an intimate concert of Syrian music (Abdullah Chaddeh - Quanoun player extraordinaire).

Dancing was encouraged and we all got going Egyptian style. The band and Abdullah seemed thrilled and to 'get' what we were at.

Sent you a PM.

You should be fine with just doing egyptian style stuff; of course adding some levantine stuff for them would be a plus...

Thanks ladies, if there is one thing I hate it is my own lack of knowledge! Sometimes I swear the world wide web was invented just so I could finally get answers to all my questions =)

Sharifeh-what is Levantine dancing? While the Google is a powerful tool, it hasn't really been able to explain that term to me yet. Something that happens traditionally, maybe at weddings? A style performed by groups who could be considered to be Levantine, depending on who you ask?

The only video I could find on YouTube was from a movie, and I couldn't really tell who was actually dancing-the guy was reluctant and the girl was encouraging him, but either she wasn't a great dancer or this is a dance with a distinct male/female part. No clue!
Nikki

Originally Posted by micamica

Sharifeh-what is Levantine dancing? While the Google is a powerful tool, it hasn't really been able to explain that term to me yet. Something that happens traditionally, maybe at weddings? A style performed by groups who could be considered to be Levantine, depending on who you ask?

I would have assumed the term referred to the indigenous social dances common to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean--in other words, mostly debke with the occasional folk dance like the Levantine Bedouin dance that Bobby Farrah used to teach. The only hitch on the debke is that the particular variation that this Syrian family does may not be a version you've seen before. It's not like there is one official Syrian version of the dance that everybody uses.

The only video I could find on YouTube was from a movie, and I couldn't really tell who was actually dancing-the guy was reluctant and the girl was encouraging him, but either she wasn't a great dancer or this is a dance with a distinct male/female part. No clue!

Did you try searching for "Syrian dabke"? I'm seeing lots of clips of New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day parties. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqN_PHCMfxc]YouTube - Syrian Dance - New Year's Eve Syria (folk music): Part 1[/ame]

Tourbeau-oops, I meant I couldn't find anything under "Levantine dancing" except the one movie clip =)

I tried a couple of different ways of expressing "Levantine," but couldn't find anything specifically Syrian. I found an odd assortment of belly dancing, teenage girls dancing at parties, a whole slew of clips of that Lebanese TV show with the black-and-white checkerboard floor, and an adorable video of an amateur dance troupe of teenage boys dancing at a wedding in Israel, though. Did you try searching on the Arabic string رقص سورية ? dabkat2008's channel (YouTube - dabkat2008's Channel) has a whole bunch of Syrian party videos, including some with what appear to be budget-priced dancers.

One suggestion for music is "Ya Mal el Sham", a song from/about Syria. The Arab band used to play that for my many times when I was house dancer at a restaurant where some of the patrons were Syrians.

I'm in the same boat for April! (Although the bride said it'll be a mix of Lebanese & Syrian folks, so there's less pressure.)

There are a couple of Syrian songs on "Beledi" by House of Tarab. I LOVE this CD (as well as their self-titled album).

House Of Tarab


My best suggestion would be to talk to the family about what they had in mind.

I've hardly ever met Syrians in Europe, neither in France nor Austria. One of my best friends is half Syrian, half Saudi and she used to say dancing and music was quite comparable to Lebanon, up beat and more energetic than the Egyptian style. So having yourself inspired by Lebanon rather than Egypt should be fine.
I'd definitely check out some pop songs they like and suggest to you for the Syrian "flavour" in your performance.

a propos Syrian songs: I listened to a "baklava" album on the Hollywood Music page. If I remember correctly they had some upbeat Lebanese and Syrian songs on it. You may want to check out that compilation.

Originally Posted by micamica

Thanks ladies, if there is one thing I hate it is my own lack of knowledge! Sometimes I swear the world wide web was invented just so I could finally get answers to all my questions =)

Sharifeh-what is Levantine dancing? While the Google is a powerful tool, it hasn't really been able to explain that term to me yet. Something that happens traditionally, maybe at weddings? A style performed by groups who could be considered to be Levantine, depending on who you ask?

The only video I could find on YouTube was from a movie, and I couldn't really tell who was actually dancing-the guy was reluctant and the girl was encouraging him, but either she wasn't a great dancer or this is a dance with a distinct male/female part. No clue!
Nikki

So sorry, I just saw this!
By levantine I mean anything from the area, like palestine, lebanon etc..
Why don't you PM me your email?
I'm much better with email...

I danced in Syria and kind of have to giggle at the notion of a "Syrian" solo dancer being different from a Lebanese dancer (people with the least knowledge always come up with the funniest notions and requests). In my opinion and from what I've seen there the styles are the same, even folk dance wise they're very similar. (Eastern
Syrian might be more similar to Iraqi and have more Chobi rhythm)

I would recommend what many have already mentioned to aspire to a faster style cabaret. The only unique thing I would suggest that I know is the norm for dancers there, is to do cane (fast) to a debke (perhaps by Fares Karam or Melhem Zein) incorporating debke steps.
Watch out for some of the youtube videos of debke though, because the editing is not always done to the music (as was the case in the above video). The most basic step would be L,R,L, R, pause lifting the left foot up, step L corresponding to cts 1,2, 3, 4, 5 (here's the pause), step 6. Hope that makes sense!