Sage-Tips

What are finger cymbals used for?

Zills or zils (from Turkish zil ‘cymbals’), also called finger cymbals, are small metallic cymbals used in belly dancing and similar performances. They are called sājāt (‏صاجات‎) in Arabic. They are similar to Tibetan tingsha bells.

What was the original purpose of belly dancing?

Bellydancing began as ritual for childbirth preparation in the ancient Middle East. Before Islam and Christianity, when the Mother Goddess was worshipped, sex and childbearing were sacred. During this time, many societies were matriarchal, and bellydancing was performed by women for women.

What do belly dancers wear on their fingers?

Finger cymbals are called “zilleri” in Turkey and “sagat” or “sajat” in Arabic. Dancers often refer to them as “zills”. They are small metal disks, worn on the hands, and they can be played by a dancer while performing. Belly dancers wear four of them: one on each thumb, and one on the middle finger of each hand.

What are the things belly dancers use?

Belly dance tops range from coin or bead bra tops, usually part of the classical cabaret style costume; choli tops, cut just above the navel like the ones that Indian women wear under their sari, used a lot in tribal style; bolero tops, short tops tied in front with a knot.

Where did finger cymbals originate?

Asia
It is believed that finger cymbals originated in Asia, where many forms of cymbals have been used in the ancient East. From there, they probably traveled the trade routes to the Middle East. By 1100 B.C., finger cymbals are known to have been used in Israel.

What is Kyi waing?

The kyi waing is a high-pitched set of bronze gongs played with mallets and set in a gilded wooden circular frame similar to, but lower than that of the patt waing. The maung hsaing is a set of bronze gongs lower and more mellow in tone than those of the kyi waing.

Is belly dancing allowed in Egypt?

Today many Middle Eastern countries forbid women to perform the dance. During the 1950’s, bellydancing was declared illegal in Egypt. There is a strong social stigma attached to female performers in particular, since they display their bodies in public, which is considered “haram” (forbidden by God) in Islam.

How do you play zills?

The zills can be played in a way that makes them sound dull or resonant. For a more resonant sound, you need to slide the sagat against each other slightly, while striking them together. A dull sound is usually better for a folkloric dance, while a resonant sound is more adapt to a cabaret-style.

What do belly dancers hold in their hands?

The use of cymbals actually affixed to the thumbs and middle fingers of dancers’ hands was recorded as early as 500 A.D. Today, Finger Cymbals (Arabic: “Sagat” or “Sunouj;” Turkish: “Zills”; Persian: “Zang”) are popularly played by dancers on both the cabaret and the concert stage.

What do belly dancers wear underneath?

What Should I Wear to a Belly Dance Class? For clothing, at the bottom, you can wear Stretch leggings, yoga pants, or jazz-dance pants. On top, a suggestion is Sports bra or another bra that offers adequate support underneath the proper top.

How many finger cymbals do belly dancers wear?

Belly dancers wear four of them: one on each thumb, and one on the middle finger of each hand. In Morocco, there is a style of playing the finger cymbals in the folkloric dance known as schikhatt that employs only three finger cymbals: two on one hand, and one on the other hand.

What are finger cymbals called?

Finger cymbals are called “zilleri” in Turkey and “sagat” or “sajat” in Arabic. Dancers often refer to them as “zills”. They are small metal disks, worn on the hands, and they can be played by a dancer while performing. Belly dancers wear four of them: one on each thumb, and one on the middle finger of each hand.

What are the cymbals called in Turkish?

Finger cymbals are called “zilleri” in Turkey and “sagat” or “sajat” in Arabic. Dancers often refer to them as “zills”. They are small metal disks, worn on the hands, and they can be played by a dancer while performing.

What is the history of cymbals in music?

The best-known example of an early use of cymbals is probably Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Turkish opera from 1782, The Abduction from the Seraglio (cymbals, triangle, bass drum). It was in the last thirty years of the 19th century that the cymbals finally established themselves as a permanent part of the percussion section.