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(Photo by Sabeena Hossenally) Nobody knows the origins of raks shamadan for sure. Mahmoud Reda has said that Turkish Court dancers of Egypt's Ottaman rulers introduced the candelabra dance to Egypt. Originally the shamadan had no headband to support them. One story has it that the famous Lebanese nightclub owner Badia Masabni invented the candelabra dance at her nightclub, Casino Opera during the 1920's. However in Mohammad Ali Street legend the originator of the Shamadan Dance is Zouba el Klobatiyya, reputed to be the first dancer to balance a klob (lantern) on her head during a Zeffa al arousa (procession of the bride) and also Shafia el Koptia "The Coptic Christian".
The Zeffa al arousa is the procession of the Bride and is led by dancers and musicians followed by the wedding party. It traditionally takes place at night through the streets from the home of the Brides parents to her new home at the grooms house. It is also accompanied by lots of zaghreet cries from the woman. The idea is to make sure everyone knows the couple is married.
Nowadays the wedding celebrations are held in a hotel or function room and the Zeffa has moved with it. The Zeffa takes place through the hotel foyer into the reception room where it will circle the room and take the bride and groom to their special wedding thrones. In Egypt the procession may be stopped several time for entertainment. It can take at least an hour. Here they have stopped for a bit of Saidi folkloric dancing Here they have stopped for a tanoura dancer. This is the same wedding as above.
Nadia Gamal from a film-she gets the bride and groom to their seats pretty quick (not really recommended in real life!!) and then starts dancing. Very traditional Zeffa song. traditionally done to using a zeffa beat and to traditional songs.Nowadays more modern songs can be used if the Bride and Groom prefer.
No shamadan but here is some footage of Dina working the room at a wedding. The custom for having a dancer at the actual entertainment afterwards does not always happen these days. Well off people may have a famous dancer like Dina or Asmahan. Read about Leila's wedding dancing experiences. Attending weddings as a foreigner living in Cairo Fascinating insider accounts.
Camellia dancing with shamadan at the Nile Festival Aida Nour dancing with shamadan. A lovely shamadan duet with Nour and our own Khaled Mahmoud Shamadan from an old black and white Egyptian film.
traditional zeffas can be found on CD Cairo classic with Fifi Abdo (Hollywood music centre) CD Best of Modern Belly Dance from Arabia by Aboud Abdel Al (ARC music)has a 10 minute zeffa It is an instrumental version but the words are translated here. Dokku al Mazaher on CD Jalilah Raks Sharki 4 CD Belly Dance Sensation 3 short zeffas that you could use as one long one or shorter version Other suggestions are songs that start with a zeffa and go into a jolly pop song with a catchy beat. These are great for a slightly less traditional and very upbeat feel. Mabrouk by Saad el Sougheir. get the version on CD The greats of Shaabi- its on the bellydance superstars/Miles Copeland label. this version is a good edit and has a nice ending. (Contact me for translation))
CD Showtime. Zeffa/Zeina- good if you have a small room about 2.30 minutes of zeffa then it goes into a nice upbeat version of Zeina. You can download from emusic.
The music for the shamadan dance is very lively. It is accepted that finger cymbals are also part of the dance. The music usually used is a medley. It usually starts with an old tune sometimes called Raks Hawanem or ladies dance or sometimes Bamba Kashar (various spellings) then it may go into a baladi progression as the version on Cairo Delights does or into another tune called Sharouk like it does on the Raks Badia version or Music for Egyptian Dance. It might even go into a medley of various old songs, but the first bit is always the same.
Unless stated buy from www.aladdinscave.com
In the UK Michelle Pender, Whirling Dervish either on line at www.whirling-dervish.co.uk or from her shop in Manchester, Urban Dervish, shop details on her website Hilary Thacker, either on line at www.hilarysbazaar.com or from her shop in Edinborough. Shop details on her website. In Egypt Mahmoud Al Ghaffar in the Khan el Khalili-see Cairo travel tips page for location Mr Yassers also in the khan el Khalili
Most shamadans are not made with brilliant workmanship and need a bit of work to make them safe to use. Make sure the head piece is deep enough to fit down on your head. The bottom of the band needs to come just above your eyebrows. First you need to make sure your shamadan is safe and will stay securely on your head. Nothing must wobble. It is important that it fits tightly on the head. I usually take the foam padding out and adjust the headpiece so it nearly fits then pad it out with layers of black self adhesive Fab Foam that you can get from Hobbycraft , putting in more at the back to keep it level.
I've now used nail glue on all my old shamadan disasters and they are usuable. I no longer have a shamadan graveyard!!!
Fix whatever kind of candles you use firmly in the holders with blu tac
Before you dance anywhere check ceiling height,fire regulations and agree what you are going to do with the shamadan after you finish dancing with it - if its an entrance number.All performers should have public liability insurance and your insurance company should be aware that you are dancing with lit candles. I am insured with Towergate www.towergate.co.uk
It is so much more spectacular to use real lit candles, if you can. I use 9 inch ones. Get non drip if you can. Don't light the candles till just before you start dancing. The longer they are lit the more they drip. They also drip less the first time they are used, so use new candles everytime.It looks better anyway.
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Scroll down for history, music, where to get one, preparation, insurance and safety,DVD performance and instruction and about shamadan workshops with me if you fancy something different for your group or event.Photo by Tracey Gibbs.
Shamadan as part of the wedding procession began in the 1920's. Before that time the zeffa was led by dancers and musicians and the light was provided by 3ft long wedding candles and lanterns. The special wedding candles are still an important part of the procession and are carried by the bridesmaids as in this picture.There is special music to be used during the procession known as the Zeffa. 
Its a great way for the wedding party to enter the reception. Photo of me leading a zeffa. To find out how to book a zeffa for your wedding 
The dancer may also perform a dance wearing the shamadan But this is completely different from the Zeffa and, unusually for Egyptian dance, may include floorwork. In the old Almeh style this included the splits.This is also sometimes done in a nightclub setting if shamadan is the dancers speciality.It is a nice entrance to a second or third set.
Nadia Hamdi learned the dance from her grandmother who learned it from the originators of the dance so this is as authentic as it gets. Sadly Nadia has now retired and no longer teaches. 
Present queen of shamadan in Cairo is Camellia.This is the lady who inspired me to take it up. Here is a picture of her dancing on the Grand Hyatt boat in Cairo.Note the battery candles. Even Cairo has health and safety. 
Track 3 on this CD. El Layali a lovely song sung by Mustapha Amar I really recommend this CD if you dance at weddings it has the traditional zeffa and other suitable wedding songs including some wedding debke. Buy from 
CD The soul of cairo (HMC) Arous Wa Arees (zeffa wedding song) like the other songs it starts with a zeffa and then goes into a mor modern song. This has a steady saidi beat
CD Cairo Delights with Nagwa Fouad
CD Rakset Badia 
CD Music for an Egyptian dance 
After years of trying unsuccessfully to get my shamadan welded, or continually tightening screws that don't want to be tightened, I have discovered an amazingly simple shamadan cure all. Nail glue!! The glue for sticking false nails on. I've glued my shamadan together with this and it is more rigid and safe than its ever been. This means I can no longer take it apart but its a really quick, easy and safe solution. This works best on this style of shamadan-where the arms screw into the central piece. I recomend this style as it is easier to fix up safely. Here is my shamadan being assembled. The arms all screw in separately into the central column..Once you have glued the central column firmly into the head piece then you can glue in the arms making sure that the larger branches are at the bottom and the smaller ones at the top
I would recommend the above type of shamadan rather than one of these. This type has the arms crossing in the central column and the candle holders held on by a screw which drops off and is lost very easily.They can be made safe but in my experience are less stable than the other type.
Some people use coloured candles to match their costume or the occaision. This is a lovely idea the only trouble is coloured wax is very hard to get out of your costume.I like to decorate my shamadan to match my costume. I've recently started putting flowers on it. battery fairy LED lights are also nice. If you are using battery candles this makes more of a spectacle of it.
Photo by Sabina Owen
If you can't use real candles there are battery ones. The trouble with most battery candles is that the batteries are so heavy which really makes the shamadan top heavy and throws the balence out. I had a real find LED battery candles which were really nice and lightweight.Sadly you can no longer get the LED candles I use (as the picture) which is a real shame as they were perfect for shamadan. I am now on a quest to find something similliar. You can buy battery tealights which are lightweight but they don't look as good, however they are easy to find.
If you or your group fancy having a go I do 3 types of workshops (Picture of Shamadan workshop in Barnsley)
General Shamadan workshop-covering the history,advice on choosing your shamadan,leading a zeffa procession and how to build your own shamadan dance. I have 9 shamadan which is enough for 24 people. it is best to share because they are heavy and you don't want to be wearing the shamadan for long the first time. (picture of shamadan workshop at JOY)
More Intensive Workshop designed for people who actually want to use the shamadan for performance or Zeffa. For 9 people/more if people have their own shamadan
The Zeffa- this workshop recreates an Egyptian style Zeffa. Zeffa drumming, sagat and ideas on how to do a Zeffa with your dance troupe.Also how you can lead a simple style zeffa solo.
Shamadan Workshop at Huntingdon,Cambridge.Leading a Zeffa