Hello darlings! Today’s “Office Hours” installment is dedicated to happy couples (including friends and family) in the midst of wedding planning! Congratulations!
With one of the hottest wedding trends for 2011 being unique reception entertainment, I decided to give you savvy planners out there information to help you understand your options for making bellydance part of your day.
Bellydance is a traditional part of weddings and other family celebrations in the Middle East. Dancers are often involved in the zeffa – more on this later – and provide dinner entertainment during the reception. Lavish weddings at 5-star luxury hotels in Cairo will hire a dancer and her band for multiple sets with costume changes. This usually involves all or a combination of the following: the zeffa, an Oriental set, a Folkloric set.
Let’s explore these in more detail, shall we?
The Zeffa (Wedding Procession) – Congratulations! You are a married couple and ready to celebrate with your guests… now how will you enter the room?
Mary performing with shamadan at a stage show
In the Middle East, the zeffa is a celebratory processional with dancers and musicians that announces the arrival of the bride and groom. Dancers usually wear zills (finger cymbals) and balance a shamadan (candelabra) symbolically lighting the path for the couple as they start their new life together. Since many reception locations do have restrictions on the use of fire, dancers that offer this option will have a non-flame option available in addition to the standard candles. The couple is led into the room to either the head table or to the center of the dance floor to begin their reception.
At this time, the dancer leaves to change costume and prepare for the main show, comprised of either one or two unique sets:
The Oriental Set – The meal has been served and everyone is enjoying the food when the music changes and, to your guests’ delight, the dancer swoops back into the room and onto the dance floor. A nod to the glamorous days of supper clubs, the meal has transformed into an event on its own! The Oriental set has all the glitz and glamour one expects of a bellydance show, and is a 5-piece show custom created for your event.
For most weddings, the above two sets are most common, but for very large events and those with a Middle Eastern audience, a third set is added to complete the show:
The Folkloric Set – Dinner shows at luxury Cairo hotels or Nile cruises are always comprised of two sets with the first being in the Oriental style and the second being more folkloric. For this set, the dancer will again change her costume to something suitable for the style she is to perform. Depending on your audience and preferences, this set could include a variety of styles like Egyptian saiidi, Turkish karislama, Lebanese debke, or khaleeji from the Gulf. The music used is earthy, lively, and a bit of “home” for many Middle Easterners.
If you would like a more traditional presentation without adding a full folkloric set, talk to your dancer! Many of us will gladly include a folkloric song in our Oriental set.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be Middle Eastern or have a Middle Eastern-themed event to enjoy an elegant dance performance at your wedding. It’s a wonderful enhancement to the day for you and your guests – not to mention a fantastic photo opportunity!
Are you a Central Coast bride (Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Montecito, Santa Maria, SLO, and surrounding area) who would like to know more about booking Mary for your wedding? Call (805-323-6449) or e-mail (maryraks@gmail.com) to schedule your free consultation today.
Related Articles:
Picking the perfect memory for your guests by Nyla Crystal of Sacramento: http://blog.nylacrystal.com/2011/01/26/do-your-wedding-guests-a-favor/
