Candi’s Summer Workshops - Wings and Shaabi (3rd August '08)
by Siobhan
I’d been looking forward to these workshops for ages, not least because I’d only previously played around with Isis wings before and had felt a bit like a demented parrot, and also because I like Shaabi music.
The first workshop was held in Barnsley Metrodome (fully mirrored so any duff moves stared right back at us!) and there was much ooing and aahing amongst us as we all unpacked an amazing variety of coloured and glitzy wings. Prize for the grooviest set went to Candi as hers were gold on one side and leopard print on the other - wing envy all round. Anyway, down to business, Candi taught us a good deal of technique (above all don’t rush with wings as it doesn’t look as effective), combinations, and some very handy tips (like how to prevent ‘stick poke’ - a problem that arises if you grip the sticks so tight that they poke out of the bottom of the wings [not a good look]). How long you use the wings and the choice of music is personal to the dancer really, but Egyptian dancers tend to use the wings at the beginning of a dance, similar to a veil, then take them off to continue dancing*. That news delighted me because I’m not sure I’d have the upper body strength to use wings for a full performance! It was really worthwhile going to this and she delivered the workshop with her usual great sense of humour.
The second workshop was held in Tankersley Village Hall and so after driving over and scoffing our lunch, we were treated to some DVD performances of Shaabi singers and dancers. To really get to know about the music of the working class, the class culture and the sub-meanings and politics of shaabi music, you really should go to Candi’s website www.rakscandi.co.uk where all will be revealed, including a shaabi singer who’s who. Researching the meaning of the lyrics of a piece of music you want to perform to is always a good idea but more so with Shaabi music. As Candi said, a lot of the modern stuff is great fun party music for everyone to dance to, but probably not recommended as solo performance music. We were shown some great dance ideas and had the opportunity to improvise too. The icing on the cake for me was when we danced to one of my favourite pieces of music sung by Ahmed Adaweya - “Bint El Sultan”. If you like this piece of music too, go to You Tube and put in the song title - you’ll see Adaweya singing in one clip with Soheir Zaki dancing, and another with Fifi Abdou (some of the soundtrack is very ropey in quality but don’t let it put you off!)
I’d recommend everyone to go to either of these workshops if they come around again because you will learn a lot about the dance, music, singers and culture of Egypt; if you are a wings novice, she will ensure you will no longer feel like a parrot on blue smarties, and best of all you will have a really good laugh.
* Sophie Mae did this in one of her performances for Britain’s Got Talent (and guess who taught her to dance? - Yep, Candi !).
by Siobhan
I’d been looking forward to these workshops for ages, not least because I’d only previously played around with Isis wings before and had felt a bit like a demented parrot, and also because I like Shaabi music.
The first workshop was held in Barnsley Metrodome (fully mirrored so any duff moves stared right back at us!) and there was much ooing and aahing amongst us as we all unpacked an amazing variety of coloured and glitzy wings. Prize for the grooviest set went to Candi as hers were gold on one side and leopard print on the other - wing envy all round. Anyway, down to business, Candi taught us a good deal of technique (above all don’t rush with wings as it doesn’t look as effective), combinations, and some very handy tips (like how to prevent ‘stick poke’ - a problem that arises if you grip the sticks so tight that they poke out of the bottom of the wings [not a good look]). How long you use the wings and the choice of music is personal to the dancer really, but Egyptian dancers tend to use the wings at the beginning of a dance, similar to a veil, then take them off to continue dancing*. That news delighted me because I’m not sure I’d have the upper body strength to use wings for a full performance! It was really worthwhile going to this and she delivered the workshop with her usual great sense of humour.
The second workshop was held in Tankersley Village Hall and so after driving over and scoffing our lunch, we were treated to some DVD performances of Shaabi singers and dancers. To really get to know about the music of the working class, the class culture and the sub-meanings and politics of shaabi music, you really should go to Candi’s website www.rakscandi.co.uk where all will be revealed, including a shaabi singer who’s who. Researching the meaning of the lyrics of a piece of music you want to perform to is always a good idea but more so with Shaabi music. As Candi said, a lot of the modern stuff is great fun party music for everyone to dance to, but probably not recommended as solo performance music. We were shown some great dance ideas and had the opportunity to improvise too. The icing on the cake for me was when we danced to one of my favourite pieces of music sung by Ahmed Adaweya - “Bint El Sultan”. If you like this piece of music too, go to You Tube and put in the song title - you’ll see Adaweya singing in one clip with Soheir Zaki dancing, and another with Fifi Abdou (some of the soundtrack is very ropey in quality but don’t let it put you off!)
I’d recommend everyone to go to either of these workshops if they come around again because you will learn a lot about the dance, music, singers and culture of Egypt; if you are a wings novice, she will ensure you will no longer feel like a parrot on blue smarties, and best of all you will have a really good laugh.
* Sophie Mae did this in one of her performances for Britain’s Got Talent (and guess who taught her to dance? - Yep, Candi !).