Thread: restaurant sets

Generally, I make an entire Egyptian set, or Turkish, or whatever. It depends on the restaurant what it is.

At an Afghani place, I was asked to use Turkish and Persian music. Not that I would do Persian style dancing, but I can fuse it ok. My question is about using both Turkish and Persian music in the same set. Would you do it? Is it weird, or just weird that I'm asking this question?

I can't believe I've never noticed what other dancers do.

Thanks!

imo its fine to do both in the same set. it will give variety for the customers and show the restaurant you are tailoring your show to their needs. and it might feel weird to have a whole set of persian fusion dance, for you as an artist

i use a couple of persian songs for veil
but mostly, persian is at persian weddings...the rythem is a bit diff for arabs

Many of us automatically think Persian = 6/8 meter. Although alot of Persian music is 6/8, not all of it is, of course. You should be able to find plenty of 4/4 meter, which is the meter found most often in BD music.

Actually, it's quite common in Vintage American Orientale/American Classic BD/that-stuff-we-started-doing-in-the-1950s/1960s-in-the-US, to have Turkish, Armenia, Persian, Egyptian/Lebanese music all in one set; sometimes it's even referred to as Pan-Arabic music because it takes in so much of the Near and Middle East.

I'd look for some lively Turkish piece for an opener, maybe a lovely mid-tempo Persian 6/8 for veil, another either 4/4 Turkish or Persian upbeat song, a favorite drum solo and a bring-the-house-down finale.

Good luck!

Deborah