Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarik Sultan
One of my student's Ariel, within the past year, has started dancing publicly. All of the establishments she has worked in are Egyptian owned and they all have been presuring her to play them. She does know how, but she doesn't want to play them in her show util she feels she has mastered them. I know that the owner of my primary venue, also Egyptian, didn't hier her because she didn't play them. That and the fact that he's crazy.
I think it has something to do with the venue in Egypt. What i mean, is that I think there are different expectations of the dancers who perform at the local weddings as versus the ones in the upscale nightclubs and venues. In the latter, they seem to be considered "old school", where as on the wedding and moulid circuit they are common place.
In the clubs here in NEw York, we no longer have the types of venues with live music and a dance floor. We are in amongst the customers creating atmosphere and enlivining the crowd. The cymbals deffinately add to the felling of excitement and raises the energy level in the room, which is why owners tend to favor the dancers who not only play them but play them well, over those who don't.
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And yet, I have danced a many Arab parties, including those hosted by Egyptians, and have never even once been asked about finger cymbals. I play them when I am dancing with shamadan at weddings and that's about it, unless I am doing another kind of Beledi. I have danced at three weddings in the past couple of years, as a hired performer, several Arab parties where I was hired, and quire a few parties where I was just a guest. I have never been asked about sagat at any of them, whether or not I have played them. this could be because my reputation precedes me or something. I do not know. Americans, on the other hand, always seem to expect belly dancers to play sagat.
I agree with Tarik that there are times when sagat can definitely add to the excitement and energy in the room when they are sued with the right music at the right time, regardless of the nationality of the clientele.
Regards,
A'isha