FINGER CYMBALS IN EGYPTIAN DANCE
© A'isha Azar

In Egypt, finger cymbals are rarely played while the RIGASSEH (Dancer) is performing RAQS EL SHARGHI ( Dance of the East or belly dance). However SAGAT, (finger cymbals) may well be the prop of choice when the music is Beledi. RAQS BELEDI (Dance of my country or the country), is a folk style of Egypt. The movements are very much like the root movements for Raqs el Sharghi. The reason is that the styles are very closely related and in fact belly dance owes its root movements to the older folk styles. Many kinds of Beledi dances involve props. These dances can be seen in the country and the city at parties, weddings, community gatherings such as saint's days and other festive occasions. The dancer might be using a cane or stick (ASSAYA), a water pipe (SHISHA) in some urban variations, a candelabra (SHAMADAN), sagat or other kinds of props. All of these dances come under the basic style of Beledi.

Unlike their American sisters, Egyptian dances are not overly concerned about intricate cymbal patterns or holding the arms in just the right artistic position. The Rigasseh Beledi is usually playing just one rhythm, LONGA. The pattern will be written out at the end of this information. Longa fits nicely into the rhythm of the music and it is not difficult to play.

The music of Beledi might be very folkloric in its feel or very modern. It may have a quite FELLAHI ( peasant or farmer) feel to it. This can be heard on Aisha Ali's Music of the Fellaheen. Beledi can also be found in very modern sounds, such as the song Agheeb Agheeb on Raqia Hassan's WASH YA WASH. This music is sometimes referred to as “Urban Beledi”.

There are other styles that utilize finger cymbals as well, such as Ghawazi and Saidi music. Aisha Ali has great examples of Ghawazi use of cymbals on her Music of the Ghawazi. The musical offering, Metcal Kanawi, is a perfect example of Saidi style, or Upper Egyptian folkloric music.

PATTERNS FOR SAGAT

In these patterns, R denotes the stroke of the right hand and L the stroke of the left hand.
LONGA
1 2 3 4
R- RLR-RLR-RLR- ad infinitum

RUN
1 2 3 4
RL-RL-RL-RL- RL-RL-RL-RL- ad infinitum

BELEDI 1 2 3 4
RR-RLR-R-RLR (rl) (and –ah)

There are many, many different rhythms and variations on rhythms in the world of Middle Eastern dance, but these three are commonly heard in Egyptian dance. Cymbal playing is a talent that takes practice, but some dancers become aficionados on them and can play as well as any musicians.