Raquy on Baladi and Maqsum

photo: www.jbeardfoto.com"Raquy Danziger is hailed as one of the most popular performers, teachers and composers of Middle Eastern drumming today. This young American woman has amazed audiences worldwide with her talent," says Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram Weekly.

A classically trained pianist, Raquy knows how to teach westerners. Her infectious enthusiasm has made her one of the most sought-after teachers of Middle Eastern drumming in NYC. She is an inspiration to scores of students at drumming retreats around the US and the Middle East.

I visited Raquy at her apartment in Brooklyn on a hot summer day and asked to share with us some of the most popular Middle Eastern Rhythms used in bellydance music. Although Raquy's focus is on concert music, she sure knows how to play for a dancer!

In an earlier blog we defined the fundamental structure of the three basic 4/4 Middle Eastern Rhythms used in bellydance: Baladi, Maqsum and Saiidi. Of those three, the most popular in drum solos are Baladi and Maqsum. In the following video, Raquy  demonstrates these rhythms and teaches you how to recognize their basic skeleton.

Note: As usual, "D" means Doum and "T" means Tek. Raquy will also be using Ka, which is similar to Tek, but played with the left hand.

BLANCA: What advice do you have for bellydancers?

RAQUY: If you're going to dance with a drummer that you've never worked with, speak to him before the show and explain that you want things based on the typical rhythms. Also, ask him to play the same phrase four times. Make sure you ask this because not all drummers know how to do that and it makes it very difficult to dance if he doesn't do it.

The other important thing is to be in the moment. I think the best drum solos happen when the dancer and the drummer are communicating, being playful, and looking at each other. That is so much more important than doing some fancy moves. It's the playfulness and interaction between the dancer and the drummer that make for a great drum solo, not the technique of it. A lot of this stuff is obvious, if you just open your ears and listen you will 'get it'. You don't need to think so hard — let yourself feel it. These rhythms are something that bellydancers are already familiar with. Simply open your ears, relax, enjoy it, and be playful.

BLANCA: I love the drum solo you just played. There's so much texture in it. All that contrast in rhythm and tempo gives us dancers a lot to work with.

RAQUY:  If an entire drum solo is played fast and filled, you don't feel it as much. My favorite things are contrast and drama — in music, in dance, in everything.

To learn from Raquy:

Visit her website
Study with her instructional kit
Watch her channel
Become her fan on facebook

Let's now listen to Baladi Playlist 1: Arabic Classics. 

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RHYTHM & DRUM SOLO WORKSHOP
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