Dancing at Arab weddings - help please! - Page 2

Sofia · 09-22-2007, 12:25 PM

Hi Mark Balahadia,

you mentioned Kawliya, however, is there a sorce where one is able to learn about background, etc. It proved almost impossible to find something "officially". And do you know where one is able to obtain music ("Portugale" for example...).

Mark_Balahadia · 09-22-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sofia

Hi Mark Balahadia,

you mentioned Kawliya, however, is there a sorce where one is able to learn about background, etc. It proved almost impossible to find something "officially". And do you know where one is able to obtain music ("Portugale" for example...).

No unfortunately there isn't any "official" information about this dance except you sometimes get references of romani iraqi dancers swishing their hair in long circles. However, the best resource for more information would be Iraqi musicians and drummers because they would be most familar with the music and the dance style in general.

I was listening to NPR yesterday and they were talking about satirical Iraqi programming about daily life. They included a clip from a song that featured the chobi, an iraqi drum and a female singing about the visa backlog!

Mark_Balahadia · 09-22-2007, 01:57 PM

Good example of Iraqi dancing:

YouTube - al tufaha

el tafa7a

Here is a clip from the Khaleeji channel:

YouTube - iraqi Music

Sofia · 09-22-2007, 02:16 PM

Thanks Mark,

well, I have allmost all clips from you tube. Any idea where one my buy the cds?

Eshta · 09-22-2007, 06:36 PM

A great big thank you guys, this is all a big help.

I believe they are Kurdish Iraqis, but that's based more on the connection from whom they got my contact details than anything they've told me. Apart from having a shamadan, there are very little directions.

I was thinking of something like the following:

Long oriental piece
Drum solo with drummer
Shamadan
duet choreo, probably pop (thinking Nancy Ajram or similar)
Break
Oriental piece
Drum solo with drummer
one or two pop songs to get people up to dance!

I know shamadan is not traditional Iraqi but this won't be a traditional Iraqi wedding from my understanding owing to the fact that they aren't first generation Iraqis.

Please, there's no such thing as too much info, anything more you can add please keep it coming!

Sofia · 09-23-2007, 06:02 PM

Hi Eshta,

well, I would stay away from songs sounding too Egyptian (not realy baladi - no Adawia). As for the oriental pieces I would choose something very traditional and something more or less everybody likes (Farid, Abdel Halim...there are nice medleys)
The drum solo I would not make too long - in contrary to westernes drum solos are not so much fancied by Arabs.
Shamadan would be nice.
Make sure not to dance all in a two piece costume - Arabs love dresses, and make sure to include the elder ladies...

Eshta · 09-23-2007, 09:12 PM

Thanks Sofia, some very useful advice.

The two oriental pieces we were planning on doing weren't 'classical' ones (ie, by one of the greats) but are quite upbeat, and the one I'm doing has a lot of changes in it, like saaidi, khaleegy, etc. But I'll have a think about what you said and maybe swap for something more 'classical'.

The drum solos were because I told the guy doing the booking that it would be possible to bring a drummer and he seemed quite enthusiastic. But I was planning on keeping them short anyway. I'm personally not a big fan of the drum solo myself so shouldn't be a problem!

Hmm, I don't own too many dresses

pity...

Don't worry, I've already discovered that the older ladies are usually the most keen to dance, and usually the best to watch!

Mark_Balahadia · 09-24-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sofia

Thanks Mark,

well, I have allmost all clips from you tube. Any idea where one my buy the cds?

Hi Sofia,

Most of the Iraqi music I have is given to me by friends or has been downloaded off the internet from a site called demna.com

Sometimes, the major suppliers will have Iraqi music but it is usually not very extensive. Maqam offers Rida el Abdullah, he has some good music with chobi in it: http://www.maqam.com/cgi-bin/cdtest....RidaAlAbdullah

09-22-2007, 01:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mark_Balahadia Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: balad ra'eesa Posts: 204	Good example of Iraqi dancing: YouTube - al tufaha el tafa7a Here is a clip from the Khaleeji channel: YouTube - iraqi Music __________________ badde 3eish!!! www.markbalahadia.com Last edited by Mark_Balahadia; 09-22-2007 at 02:00 PM.

09-22-2007, 06:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
Eshta Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 328	A great big thank you guys, this is all a big help. I believe they are Kurdish Iraqis, but that's based more on the connection from whom they got my contact details than anything they've told me. Apart from having a shamadan, there are very little directions. I was thinking of something like the following: Long oriental piece Drum solo with drummer Shamadan duet choreo, probably pop (thinking Nancy Ajram or similar) Break Oriental piece Drum solo with drummer one or two pop songs to get people up to dance! I know shamadan is not traditional Iraqi but this won't be a traditional Iraqi wedding from my understanding owing to the fact that they aren't first generation Iraqis. Please, there's no such thing as too much info, anything more you can add please keep it coming! __________________ Saqarah - London's monthly Belly Dance Hafla!

09-23-2007, 09:12 PM	#17 (permalink)
Eshta Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 328	Thanks Sofia, some very useful advice. The two oriental pieces we were planning on doing weren't 'classical' ones (ie, by one of the greats) but are quite upbeat, and the one I'm doing has a lot of changes in it, like saaidi, khaleegy, etc. But I'll have a think about what you said and maybe swap for something more 'classical'. The drum solos were because I told the guy doing the booking that it would be possible to bring a drummer and he seemed quite enthusiastic. But I was planning on keeping them short anyway. I'm personally not a big fan of the drum solo myself so shouldn't be a problem! Hmm, I don't own too many dresses pity... Don't worry, I've already discovered that the older ladies are usually the most keen to dance, and usually the best to watch! __________________ Saqarah - London's monthly Belly Dance Hafla!

09-22-2007, 12:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
Sofia Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 53	Hi Mark Balahadia, you mentioned Kawliya, however, is there a sorce where one is able to learn about background, etc. It proved almost impossible to find something "officially". And do you know where one is able to obtain music ("Portugale" for example...).

09-22-2007, 02:16 PM	#14 (permalink)
Sofia Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 53	Thanks Mark, well, I have allmost all clips from you tube. Any idea where one my buy the cds?

09-23-2007, 06:02 PM	#16 (permalink)
Sofia Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 53	Hi Eshta, well, I would stay away from songs sounding too Egyptian (not realy baladi - no Adawia). As for the oriental pieces I would choose something very traditional and something more or less everybody likes (Farid, Abdel Halim...there are nice medleys) The drum solo I would not make too long - in contrary to westernes drum solos are not so much fancied by Arabs. Shamadan would be nice. Make sure not to dance all in a two piece costume - Arabs love dresses, and make sure to include the elder ladies...