Thread: Christmas-inspired music at an Egyptian restuarant--okay or not?

So I have the Brothers of the Beledy music...thought I might use a few of the numbers on Sat. night at the restaurant. I have successfully used one song before, but you can barely tell it's a Christmas song. This time I want to do a candelabra dance to the "little drummer boy"...that could be a no-no in more than one way--a cultural dance taken out of context (shamadan), and a Christmas song in a crowd of folks who may be Christian or may be Muslim.

So is it okay or not?? The manager is a coptic Egyptian, so I know he'd probably be okay with it, if he likes the song, but who knows about everyone else.

Anyone else used Christmas music at their restaurant gig? Just wondering if I'd be pushing it too far. ,f::

Originally Posted by Sonja2

So is it okay or not?? The manager is a coptic Egyptian, so I know he'd probably be okay with it, if he likes the song, but who knows about everyone else.

I would suggest discussing it with the manager. I'm sure he knows his clientele well enough to know whether it would pose a problem.

One key question - does he play Christian Christmas music as background in his restaurant? If so, it's probably fine for you to use it, but if not, maybe you shouldn't.

I'd keep away from carols-if you can find Arabic versions of Christmas songs that would be OK. I've been in Cairo in December and they are BIG on Father Christmas. I suppose it depends on your clientele and the owner

Originally Posted by Candi

if you can find Arabic versions of Christmas songs that would be OK.

Fairuz recorded a couple of CDs of Christmas songs in Arabic. Here's one: Fairuz - Fairuz in a Christmas Concert - With the London Chamber Orchestra #01CC1000051

If they're that bloody holy they shouldn't be watching a dancer anyway.

Muslims don't actually hate Christians as a rule, Crusades aside. Christians are people of the book, as are Jews. We just haven't been enlightened yet. If the bulk of your set is classic and you pop a Christmas themed piece in, I think it would seem novel and, to sophisticated people anyway, quite tolerable. These people do know they live in a largely Christian country and that the holiday period is very Christmas-focused. Obviously checking with the management first is a good idea though.

Perhaps just stay away from the more religious songs? Stick maybe with the more pagan stuff (like Frosty but not Frosty). It is less likely to offend perhaps if you are not dancing to something that actually references the baby J.

This is going to sound TOTALLY harsh, sorry.
You are doing a foreign dance in AMERICA, during the BIGGEST American holiday of the year.(not saying the holiday is only american. See context I use it in) If the owner of a restaurant can't see that than something is wrong, but you should still ask anyway. I would be totally surprised if our restaurants did allow the dancer to use a holiday song.
That's my idea and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks, ya'll, this has been enlightening. You know, I may just pop in a "Santa Baby" and see what happens. Hm. Oum Kalthoum followed by Santa Baby.....

I would sure leave out "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" given the state of things in Palestine right now.

Souzan

Originally Posted by JeanneLF

Fairuz recorded a couple of CDs of Christmas songs in Arabic. Here's one: Fairuz - Fairuz in a Christmas Concert - With the London Chamber Orchestra #01CC1000051

I have this CD (I think -- at least a Christmas CD by Fairuz) and most of the songs were carols, not Christmas secular songs. Didn't I just see a new Christmas CD advertised on maqam.com? Don't know anything about it, but you might check it out.

Naser Musa has a CD of Christmas songs from the Middle East. You might check that one out

My own personal opinion is that you should stay away from the holy songs. I saw someone dance to one this past weekend, and while the performance was wonderful, it bothered me from my own religious feelings that a holy song was used this way. However, the unreligious songs are okay with me.

Originally Posted by bonnywhiteford

My own personal opinion is that you should stay away from the holy songs. I saw someone dance to one this past weekend, and while the performance was wonderful, it bothered me from my own religious feelings that a holy song was used this way. However, the unreligious songs are okay with me.

I can see your point. I think it would be fine to dance to a hymn in a church-related situation such as a Christmas pageant or a liturgical dance, but I'm not so sure I'd want to see someone do so in a secular commercial environment such as a routine restaurant gig. For some reason, I think I'd feel better about seeing someone dance to a hymn at a hafla than I would at a restaurant - I'm not sure why that is, though.

I'd feel uncomfortable dancing to Carols. I'm always on the look out for jolly Christmas songs I uploaded one in the music on here. Iwanna wish you a Mery Chrismas for an example of the songs I'm looking for its not brilliant but its fairly usable. I'd like a fun ME sounding version of Jingle Bells

Originally Posted by Souzan

I would sure leave out "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" given the state of things in Palestine right now.

Souzan

..l;,..l;,..l;, Noted!

Originally Posted by Candi

I'd feel uncomfortable dancing to Carols. I'm always on the look out for jolly Christmas songs I uploaded one in the music on here. Iwanna wish you a Mery Chrismas for an example of the songs I'm looking for its not brilliant but its fairly usable. I'd like a fun ME sounding version of Jingle Bells

Oh I think Jingle Bells would be a blast!! ..l;,

Originally Posted by bonnywhiteford

Oh I think Jingle Bells would be a blast!! ..l;,

Especially with zills!

90% of egyptians are muslim and Christmas is about Christ. so i would ask the Manager. it were most American's i'd do it. Cause i love Christmas!

Yes, check with the manager/owner and if it's ok, stick to cheerful strictly secular songs like Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, etc.

Would dancing to the song "Silent Night" be offensive?

This is just my personal taste, but I wouldn't enjoy a performance by a belly dancer to a Western Christmas song. It would seem disjointed and confused to me.

Want to be Christmassy? Wear a Santa hat whilst you go about collecting tips, if that's something you do. I would find it very jarring and weird to hear Oum followed by Jingle Bells.

Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by que_66

Would dancing to the song "Silent Night" be offensive?

I certainly think there would be Christians in the audience that might deem it inappropriate to bellydance to Silent Night. For some people, that is a very moving song about a very significant, holy time, and invokes deep religious feeling. I would liken bellydancing to it in a restaurant to doing hip-hop to Oum Khalsoum...it just ain't right!

But I am totally into the idea of zilling and shimmying to Jingle Bells. Perfect to get the kids interacting, or audience clapping along to the chorus.

Hey, if you decide not to do the Christmas music thing, perhaps you can give a nod to Christmas via your costume - green or red with tinsel and Christmas decoration earrings, perhaps???

I too would find it odd and jarring to see belly dance done to a religious song (Little Drummer Boy qualifies, as far as I'm concerned). If you feel you must tip your hat to the holiday, I echo the suggestions to wear a Santa cap at some point and stick to the secular songs.

I've been opening my second set this whole month with a tray of candles dance to "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Loreena McKenitt. I've edited it so that there is only one verse sung, and the rest is very Eastern-style instrumentation. It's very pretty. My audience is usually half-American, half Arabic. I haven't received any comments about it, positive or negative. I'm an atheist myself - I don't relate to the lyrics of this song at all, to me it's just a traditional carol that reflects the season. I intended it as a crowd pleaser but I think I won't use it again in the future because I believe in the power of words and this is not the message that I want to put out there.

Another girl I know does a candelabra dance to "Arabian Coffee" from the Nutcracker suite. Absolutely beautiful and conjures up the season without being particularly religious. Plus it originates from a dance to begin with.

Well, my one restaurant gig is at an Italian restaurant so I think I'll be OK doing a Christmas-y song if I can find one that I like. I too am an atheist so just for my druthers I will not want to dance to a hymn-like piece of music. But there's lots of lively holiday songs out there so I'm going to see what I find that will be fun. I don't think it has to be Arabic-instrumentation... if it has a lively, lounge-y feel then I think it will work just fine for my purposes. I think I will be wearing the red/white costume in my profile pic and maybe the santa hat for just the first song...

But keep the music recs coming... I have a couple of hours to surf the net...

Originally Posted by deelight

Another girl I know does a candelabra dance to "Arabian Spices" from the Nutcracker suite. Absolutely beautiful and conjures up the season without being particularly religious. Plus it originates from a dance to begin with.

That's my vote, and Deelight beat me to it!

Hannah Nour from BDSS does a beautiful dance to this song with Sally Rand-style fans.

I did a Christmas show last year. I opened with the Arabian suite from the nutcracker (1.5 min), and while I don't remember the whole set (I also mixed in bellydance music), I ended with Jingle Bell Rock.

Jingle Bell Rock could be great for saidi because it mentions horses prancing! Also I think regular jingle bells goes well with zills.

I also found a silver sequined santa hat that I wore for that part of the show.

Why the hell not? Heck, a Palestinian regular at the restaurant told me it was one of his best xmases ever. And lots of Arabs in the United States are actually Christian.

I thought about doing it again this year but I know that the other dancer tonight does a whole show of xmas carols and I don't want to take her schtick (last year I didn't know we were both doing it.)

I danced for 25 years at Christmas at all kinds of Arabic restaurants(two were Egyptian) and parties using all kinds of music-I had an Arabic drumming version of Jingle Bells that I always used, Fairuz' songs, and American songs. I also danced with a dance troupe doing all kinds of Christmas routines (once with a Palestinian Papa Noel character), and never once in 25 years heard a word of complaint. Most people going to a restaurant at Christmas expect some type of holiday spirit. Also, several people in the dance troupe were Jewish and the audiences were always the typical American mix.