Thread: Shamadan

I've got my own totally fabulous mentors whose brains I will pick, but I want other opinions as well.

I have a shamadan that I received as a gift, and it is time to market it more aggresively. Since I'm going to be an exhibitor at a bridal show, having the shamadan on the table (with LED candles) will be a really good eye-catcher. People will ask me about it, and I can talk from here to eternity about the cultural significance of shamadans and zeffas. But the actual logistics of how the show will work? I'm a little uncertain. On the off-chance someone wants to book a shamadan show, I have to know what options I can reasonably offer.

My question is this: what show formats do you use at weddings and similar events when you include shamadan?

My market is not the super-traditional ME community, it is more the regular American audience. It is important that I keep the show fast-paced and crowd-pleasing for non-BD-familiar types, so I feel that I need (and have) a little more leeway with my music and show-format choices while still respecting the culture.

How would all of you incorporate shamadan into your shows at non-ME weddings? Is it always (and only) used for a procession? Do you ever do a shamadan/zeffa-style entrance into the reception and then a regular show later?

What music choices (in addition to the traditional ones) might you use?

Thanks!

At non-ME weddings I do my first song to Shamadan. It is very impactful to come out with the candles glowing at the end of dinner. gets everyone's attention even though the dance itself is not fast paced. When I am done, I set the candleabra down on the dancefloor and either leave it "on" for battery operated LEDs or I blow out/ have a kid blow out the real candles.

The "shamadan" song Dokku el Manaher on Jalilah's Journey of a Gypsy Dacer is too draggy for American audiences and they don't understand the lyrics anyway. I use a drum-only zeffa that speeds up at the end. I can't remember what it is called. I've had it forever. I'll try to dig up the name and where I got it out of my computer files.

Thanks for your input!

Originally Posted by crystalllized

I use a drum-only zeffa that speeds up at the end. I can't remember what it is called. I've had it forever. I'll try to dig up the name and where I got it out of my computer files.

oh yes PLEASE do!!!

Hey! I don't dance with a shamadan myself but I do imagine that it would make a great entrance. You can ask the gig organiser to dim the lights before you enter and that would already create an atmosphere of anticipation and guarantee you the attention.

my old teacher used to use shamadan as her entrance - I can't remember what songs she used but it was not a traditional zeffa. Something more upbeat and probably not culturally appropriate. But she hardly ever did anything culturally appropriate :-)

Originally Posted by crystalllized

At non-ME weddings I do my first song to Shamadan. It is very impactful to come out with the candles glowing at the end of dinner. gets everyone's attention even though the dance itself is not fast paced.

Entering with a shamadan sounds like a great idea.

For the record traditional shamadan is not slow and draggy - the new age thing has been imposed on top. (The zeffa is a different story - that is slowish) Dancing with the shamadan is a chance for the dancers to wow the audience - one of the few Egyptian style dances that has that show off aspect. Fast turns, shimmy and level changes are all part of it.

Yeah, I wish I could find more songs that are faster. Even the pop zeffa songs I've found are kind of slow.

For non-wedding parties, I have never had a shamadan request. They usually opt for the sword instead (which is definitely easier to travel with!)