Thread: Shamadan - style choices

I need to make a new shamadan choreography for stage and I need some advice as to the style.

Looking through all my music and videos online etc, I kind of see two styles emerging: something more classical, songs with lyrics and more melody (there are several good choices), and a more folky version done a more percussion based music, not zeffah, really folky feel.

I'm kind of seeing it like a choice between awalem and ghawazee in terms of style, I don't know which direction to go.

Any advice from shamadan experts? Both are valid I get it but I just cant decide!

Here are examples of the two styles both very egyptian in style, done by egyptians. I defintiely dont want any other style than egyptian.





Thanks!!!

keep it classic Egyptian, slow-to-medium tempo..... and check your local fire laws! : )

Originally Posted by princessfarhana

keep it classic Egyptian, slow-to-medium tempo..... and check your local fire laws! : )

And my advice is confusingly the opposite-Keep it beledi and true to its Mohammed Ali street roots-like Nadia Hamdi who actually learned from her grandmother who learned it from the orginator of the dance.
Here's currant shamadan queen of Cairo Camelia
Camelia shamadan - Nilegroupe june 2010 - YouTube
and here is a montage of me (including a zeffa which is a different use of the shamadan)
ShamadanMontage2.flv - YouTube

Which ever way you do it, and I would suggest the way you do choose should be the way that fits your dance personality, its a great crowd pleaser.
Have fun

Thanks for your answers, freat to have advice from two people who really know their shamdan stuff!

I have decided to keep itfolky for this particular show, it fits better in the set, and to create another more classical piece for different occasions.

On a side note, I will say that from the research I had been doing and the videos on youtube, it seems to me that there is a real inconsistency in how people are using the prop. There is everything from mystical to oriental, but not many of them seem very rooted in egyptian tradition.

It's my understanding that the Shamadan is traditionally used (of course) to lead the zeffa, using music in the traditional zeffa rhythm (notably Dokku Al Mazaher, which seems to be the Eyptian equivalent of 'here comes the bride') and then, after the wedding party and guests are seated, the dancer, still wearing the shamadan, entertains them with the shamadan dance, including floorwork. The traditional music for this, as I understood it, is the piece Nesma calls Raks Al Shamadan on her CD (there is another name for this song, but I can't remember it!)

When I dance shamadan I usually use that music because I LOOOVE it. I'm sure it's not the *only* piece ever used for Shamadan in Egypt... but my understanding is it's the traditional one, at least for weddings. Nesma's version is on e-music.

ETA: Candi (who is much more of an expert on shamadan than I am!) has a discussion of appropriate music with lots of good suggestions about halfway down her shamadan page. http://www.rakscandi.co.uk/17422.html

Originally Posted by Lauren_

The traditional music for this, as I understood it, is the piece Nesma calls Raks Al Shamadan on her CD (there is another name for this song, but I can't remember it!)

Are you thinking of El Hawanem?

Sorry to hijack....Candi, I have looked at your site before for your awesome Shamadan information, but I failed to remember all of the other great stuff on there!
Thanks for a wonderful site! I sent a link to my students.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

It's my understanding that the Shamadan is traditionally used (of course) to lead the zeffa, using music in the traditional zeffa rhythm (notably Dokku Al Mazaher, which seems to be the Eyptian equivalent of 'here comes the bride') and then, after the wedding party and guests are seated, the dancer, still wearing the shamadan, entertains them with the shamadan dance, including floorwork. The traditional music for this, as I understood it, is the piece Nesma calls Raks Al Shamadan on her CD (there is another name for this song, but I can't remember it!)

When I dance shamadan I usually use that music because I LOOOVE it. I'm sure it's not the *only* piece ever used for Shamadan in Egypt... but my understanding is it's the traditional one, at least for weddings. Nesma's version is on e-music.

ETA: Candi (who is much more of an expert on shamadan than I am!) has a discussion of appropriate music with lots of good suggestions about halfway down her shamadan page. Rakscandi

I am moving my site at the moment and I have just revised my shamadan stuff first so there is now 4 pages of links and stuff it is at
rakscandi2 - Home
Eventually all my site is going there.

There are two definate different uses of shamadan one is in the zeffa al arousa-wedding procession for want of a better word and the other is a dance with it. The dance is what is done in the shows in Egypt by such as Camelia now and in the past, the queen of shamadan Nadia Hamdi.