Belly Dance Spoons - Finger Clackers?

Reen.Blom · 05-02-2008, 09:53 AM

I was just looking through ebay shops and saw these:
Four Belly Dance Spoons - Finger Clackers Traditional on eBay, also, Women's Dancewear, Dancewear Accessories, Clothes, Shoes Accessories (end time 24-May-08 15:02:45 BST)

Has anyone seen anyone bellydance with these? youTube links would be appreciated. Im really curious now!

*hugs*
reen.blom

jenc · 05-02-2008, 11:15 AM

There's this but the spoons have handles.

Andrea Deagon · 05-02-2008, 12:57 PM

Artemis Mourat plays spoons for some of her performances to traditional Turkish music. I believe it's mostly Turkish, at least now.

I have to add, for anyone who is into obscure history, that there is a set of "castanets" from Egypt in about the 2nd century CE that looks a lot like these "spoons." (The sands of Egypt preserve things so nicely ...) They are wooden, and on the outer curve is a pinecone pattern, so they look like a pinecone with a short stem when you put the sides together.

Ready for more obscurity? I think that the spoons as played as a musical instrument, were not necessarily always spoons. The basic premise of spoons is that for the ordinary person, if you wanted percussion when you danced, you'd break out the spoons and use them for the purpose. In the days of big families, I guess you could always scare up at least four. (I have done this myself and played spoons from my drawer or someone elses, Appalachian style (2 between knee and hand) at various music-making events.) OTOH I would not be surprised if all along there had been "performing spoons" that people in the profession used. PArallel traditions for different sorts of performances and performers.

Marya · 05-02-2008, 01:29 PM

I have seen wooden spoons used for Turkish Folk dances,

The spoons on ebay are not wooden but they are from the Turkish emporium.

Spoons used in Turkish folk dance are held so that the handle go between the fingers and the outside of the bowls can be controlled with the fingers and the palm so that they would clack together. I have seen spoons that were nearly regular looking as if you could eat with them and I have seen "spoons" that were just curved but flat pieces of wood.

I once saw a fusion Tribal dancer with a Turkish Rom overlay use wooden dance spoons in her performance, but I have never seen a Turkish Oriental dancer use spoons. I also have never seen an American Cabaret or other American Style Belly dancer use spoons other than the above mentioned individual.

I have a video of native Alaskans using clam shells and rocks in a dance performance.

And again on video, I have seen Laurel Victoria Grey and a Uzbekistan musician using rocks like finger cymbals.

In folk dance, ordinary found items are utilized for any number of purposes.

Marya

Reen.Blom · 05-02-2008, 02:30 PM

Thank you girls for the info! I have seen spoons used a musical instrument in folk music bands, just never thought that anyone would bellydance with them! I suppose its just a variant of castanets.... I agree that wooden spoons would rather fit folk or trybal- hard to imaging glitzy Amcab with woonden spoons...LOL

Oh I find the info about the Egyptian spoons educating!

Thanks Jenc for the clip, im off to watch it!

Reen.Blom · 05-02-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenc

There's this but the spoons have handles.

Is this a fantasy dance? Gypsy-bellydance fusion? I wonder...

da Sage · 05-02-2008, 03:48 PM

Cassandra Shore, Cindy Kissee, and other local dancers play spoons regularly (while dancing).

I think it is typically Turkish and Romani, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen in other traditions, too. I'm pretty sure my Grandfather played spoons at one time, too (Southern USA).

Jane · 05-02-2008, 08:52 PM

I love my spoons and use them for Turkish Oryantal numbers. I have both kinds, long and short handel, and prefer the short. Makes a nice break from zills, although I love zills too, sometimes in small spaces they're just too loud. Artemis M. was the one who showed me how to play them.

gisela · 05-10-2008, 10:07 AM

I have seen metal spoons used in some folkloric dance, possibly fakeloric though. Something looking a bit like bamuteyya or some fishing-dance. A lot of hopping and clicking. It was not egyptians though but young finnish girls at a recital.

Gilana · 05-12-2008, 04:16 AM

Years ago when I was folk dancing I learned how to play the turkish spoons, as it is a folk dance done in central Anatolia. I had not played in many years and a few years ago was re-introduced to them by Ruby, a bellydancer from Bellingham, Washington who goes over to study with Reyhan every year. Although it is my understanding that this is not part of a Rom dance, it is a Turkish folk dance and has been incorporated by Americans in their Turkish Oryantal dance.

I have many sets of spoons, including the ones you picture which have a fairly loud sound. I also have both short and long handled sets that are brightly painted, but made of a softer wood so the sound they make is not as loud. Just like zills, I can choose which to use depending upon the venue, but I have found that the long handled ones seem to impress the audience more.

05-02-2008, 09:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Posts: 2,263	Belly Dance Spoons - Finger Clackers? I was just looking through ebay shops and saw these: Four Belly Dance Spoons - Finger Clackers Traditional on eBay, also, Women's Dancewear, Dancewear Accessories, Clothes, Shoes Accessories (end time 24-May-08 15:02:45 BST) Has anyone seen anyone bellydance with these? youTube links would be appreciated. Im really curious now! hugs reen.blom __________________ Join WORLD BELLY DANCE DAY! www.worldbellydanceday.com

05-02-2008, 11:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
jenc V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colchester UK Posts: 1,042	There's this but the spoons have handles. Last edited by jenc; 05-02-2008 at 11:21 AM.

05-02-2008, 12:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Andrea Deagon Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 123	Artemis Mourat plays spoons for some of her performances to traditional Turkish music. I believe it's mostly Turkish, at least now. I have to add, for anyone who is into obscure history, that there is a set of "castanets" from Egypt in about the 2nd century CE that looks a lot like these "spoons." (The sands of Egypt preserve things so nicely ...) They are wooden, and on the outer curve is a pinecone pattern, so they look like a pinecone with a short stem when you put the sides together. Ready for more obscurity? I think that the spoons as played as a musical instrument, were not necessarily always spoons. The basic premise of spoons is that for the ordinary person, if you wanted percussion when you danced, you'd break out the spoons and use them for the purpose. In the days of big families, I guess you could always scare up at least four. (I have done this myself and played spoons from my drawer or someone elses, Appalachian style (2 between knee and hand) at various music-making events.) OTOH I would not be surprised if all along there had been "performing spoons" that people in the profession used. PArallel traditions for different sorts of performances and performers. __________________ "I am not contradictory, I am dispersed." (Roland Barthes)

05-02-2008, 02:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Posts: 2,263	Thank you girls for the info! I have seen spoons used a musical instrument in folk music bands, just never thought that anyone would bellydance with them! I suppose its just a variant of castanets.... I agree that wooden spoons would rather fit folk or trybal- hard to imaging glitzy Amcab with woonden spoons...LOL Oh I find the info about the Egyptian spoons educating! Thanks Jenc for the clip, im off to watch it! __________________ Join WORLD BELLY DANCE DAY! www.worldbellydanceday.com

05-10-2008, 10:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
gisela Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 944	I have seen metal spoons used in some folkloric dance, possibly fakeloric though. Something looking a bit like bamuteyya or some fishing-dance. A lot of hopping and clicking. It was not egyptians though but young finnish girls at a recital. __________________ You need chaos in your soul to create a dancing star-nietzsche

05-02-2008, 01:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Marya Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Enterprise OR, USA Posts: 323	I have seen wooden spoons used for Turkish Folk dances, The spoons on ebay are not wooden but they are from the Turkish emporium. Spoons used in Turkish folk dance are held so that the handle go between the fingers and the outside of the bowls can be controlled with the fingers and the palm so that they would clack together. I have seen spoons that were nearly regular looking as if you could eat with them and I have seen "spoons" that were just curved but flat pieces of wood. I once saw a fusion Tribal dancer with a Turkish Rom overlay use wooden dance spoons in her performance, but I have never seen a Turkish Oriental dancer use spoons. I also have never seen an American Cabaret or other American Style Belly dancer use spoons other than the above mentioned individual. I have a video of native Alaskans using clam shells and rocks in a dance performance. And again on video, I have seen Laurel Victoria Grey and a Uzbekistan musician using rocks like finger cymbals. In folk dance, ordinary found items are utilized for any number of purposes. Marya

05-02-2008, 03:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
da Sage V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: MN Posts: 1,108	Cassandra Shore, Cindy Kissee, and other local dancers play spoons regularly (while dancing). I think it is typically Turkish and Romani, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen in other traditions, too. I'm pretty sure my Grandfather played spoons at one time, too (Southern USA).

05-02-2008, 08:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jane Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In the mountains Posts: 432	I love my spoons and use them for Turkish Oryantal numbers. I have both kinds, long and short handel, and prefer the short. Makes a nice break from zills, although I love zills too, sometimes in small spaces they're just too loud. Artemis M. was the one who showed me how to play them.

05-12-2008, 04:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
Gilana Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Monroe, WA Posts: 65	Years ago when I was folk dancing I learned how to play the turkish spoons, as it is a folk dance done in central Anatolia. I had not played in many years and a few years ago was re-introduced to them by Ruby, a bellydancer from Bellingham, Washington who goes over to study with Reyhan every year. Although it is my understanding that this is not part of a Rom dance, it is a Turkish folk dance and has been incorporated by Americans in their Turkish Oryantal dance. I have many sets of spoons, including the ones you picture which have a fairly loud sound. I also have both short and long handled sets that are brightly painted, but made of a softer wood so the sound they make is not as loud. Just like zills, I can choose which to use depending upon the venue, but I have found that the long handled ones seem to impress the audience more.