Let's Make Some Noise!

Did you know that Middle Eastern dancers love it when their audience makes noise? Of course, we appreciate a little applause at the end of the show. But we also love it when audiences get clap along, move to the music, or (as we talked about last week) zagharoot during the dancer's performance.

Western audience members can find it challenging to clap along to the music, though, as Arabic rhythms are often entirely unlike typical Western rhythms. Today we'd like to share with you a few tips to help you have fun making some noise, no matter what Arabic rhythm you might hear!

In most Western music, the accent (the time when you'd normally clap your hands along with the music) is on the second note, like this:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Most Arabic music, though, is accented on the first note, not the second. And, to make things more complicated, many Arabic rhythms, while technically 4/4 rhythms, track across 8 counts, instead of 4. For example, in the baladi, there's an accent on the first 1, the second 1, and the second 2, like this:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 1 - 2 - 3 - 4  1 - 2 - 3 - 4 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

You may be wondering how in the world you'll follow along and make some noise as you enjoy the show, but not to worry -- you even have options! You can clap along on that first count. It's okay if you miss some of the accents. Or, if it's easier for you, clap on each count, instead of hitting just the accents. (You'll often hear dancers on the sidelines doing this for their fellow dancers.) If you can catch the accents, then feel free to follow along with your clapping. Have fun and enjoy the music and dance!