Thread: I have a shamadan gig - and questions!

I have an upcoming gig with my shamadan and have a couple questions I need the all knowing bhuzzers to answer.
This gig is performing in front of people who have probably never seen or heard of this before.
I will probably have a live drummer along with me.
So my question is can anyone suggest an awesome song?
Do I absolutely have to dance with zills?
And can I take it off (the shamadan) halfway through the performance and do beledi?

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

I have an upcoming gig with my shamadan and have a couple questions I need the all knowing bhuzzers to answer.
This gig is performing in front of people who have probably never seen or heard of this before.
I will probably have a live drummer along with me.
So my question is can anyone suggest an awesome song?
Do I absolutely have to dance with zills?
And can I take it off (the shamadan) halfway through the performance and do beledi?

Hi Estha, I can't unswer all your questions but I've seen dancers who take off the candelabra about half way. I wanted to ask you, Ive been searching for good candelabras where did you get yours? Good luck!

Yes you can take it off, no you don't have to use zills and no suggestion for a song!

Have fun!

{{{HUGS}}}

Dokku el Mazaher (Strike The Tambourines) is a traditional song used for the bridal procession. You can find it on Jalilah's Raks Sharki 3. It is song #10. Our dance company uses this song for our shamadan.

I have that cd thanks! I got my shamadan here on bhuz. I am fixing it up and adding some crystals and swags.

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

Do I absolutely have to dance with zills?
And can I take it off (the shamadan) halfway through the performance and do beledi?

Zills are optional - only use them if you can really dance with the shamadan and them (ie if you are reduced to just balancing then drop the zills)

Dance beledi with the shamadan! The dance should not be slow and new agey - although if you have your own shamadan you probably already know that.

Dokku el Mazaher is traditional for the zeffa procession.

After that there's another song that's traditional for dancing (including floor work) with the Shamadan -- I love love love it! It has a 'real' name, which I can't remember.. It's billed as Raks el Shamadan on Nesma's CD (Del Nilo Al Guadalquivir - Oriental Dance Vol.2) I found it on youtube.

I wound up cutting together *some* of Dokku with *some* of Raks El Shamadan with *some* of a pop song for my full shamadan routine.

And yes, you can take it off. Have someone on standby to take it from you, ready to put out your flames or candles offstage (they should have an appropriate tested snuffing tool).

Also make sure you have someone nearby with a fire extinguisher, just in case. Either up front in the audience or walking in the procession with you.

A Zeffa is for a procession only (zeffa means procession)and at a wedding(in this case) not to dance to. Most Egyptians use the music that you hear Aida and Camellia use and play finger cymbals. Depends on how "Egyptian" you want to be.
Aida Nour
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98wAe4zUmg0]YouTube - Aida Nour 1[/ame]

Camellia
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25VTwuPsCp8]YouTube - Camelia shamadan Nilegroup 2009[/ame]

And Nadia Hamdi who learned the dance from one of the acknowledged inventors of the dance. In her nightclub act when she was still dancing she used a version of the same music as Aida and Camellia. I've got a lovely version of her dancing it but nobodies uploaded it to youtube yet
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5ZRxcb9uuI]YouTube - Nadia Hamdi performs with shamadan 1995, Aswan Dancers, Gilded Serpent[/ame]

Originally Posted by minap55555

Dokku el Mazaher (Strike The Tambourines) is a traditional song used for the bridal procession. You can find it on Jalilah's Raks Sharki 3. It is song #10. Our dance company uses this song for our shamadan.

I third this song. I've used it for some Egyptian weddings and everyone loved it and sang along with the song.

A couple of times I've had drummers and some other times they just had me come in with a zeffa rhythm on loop with me playing finger cymbals.

I don't start Dokku ek Mazaher until I am fully on the "stage" with the bride and groom seated.