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Drumming to accompany dancers

Updated: Jan 31, 2003 

This article is part of Kamuran's Guide for Doumbek Players.

Below is advice for hand drummers and "ethnic" dancers (cabaret, tribal, etc.) on working with each other in different settings for better performance:

This article includes ideas from the SCA-Drummers list and has useful information for both dancers and drummers.

Informal, without leaders


Dancers need plenty of room. At SCA events, we often dance around campfires. Dancers prefer not to be on fire in the literal sense. Elinor says, "There is nothing worse than a flaming dancer ending up your lap."

(To which I reply, "Sure there is - how about busting the head on your last drum during a serious performance?!?" Besides, if I had a flaming dancer in my lap, I'd do the Right Thing - I'd have to smother them thoroughly to extinguish the fire! Which, given it was a curvaceous female dancer, could be kinda fun.*G*)

Be able to see and hear each other when you're playing. (Enough said?)

Play mellow. Anyone can play loud. Can you play smooth? You should be able to hear any particular drummer at a given time. If you're a newbie drummer, and you have a big drum, go Really, Really Easy on it. If you get jittery, you can get off-track and then your big loud drum can pull other drummers with you.

Let the dancers control the speed. Dancers, please tell the drummers when you want to speed it up, slow it down, or wrap it up.

Someone who can count, speak and drum at the same time should watch for when the drummers or the dancers get tired - or maybe just tired of the current rhythm! When it's time for a break, take charge temporarily and call out the last four repeats so that the dancers know when you'll be stopping - and possibly re-starting with another rhythm.

Drummers: Both dancers and audiences appreciate a variety of speed and volume combinations. Fast playing doesn't have to be loud. Slow playing doesn't have to be quiet. An exceptional drummer can play the extremes loud-and-slow, soft-and-fast as well as the usual stuff.

Don't guzzle and drum. Drinking heavily does NOT help you drum better. (Same applies to dancers!)

Playing "kill the dancer" (let's drum at Way, Way Ludicrous Speed!) can result in the appearance of the deadly flying zils! (Zzzzzzing!)

If you get tired while drumming: Stop, take a break, relax. People will appreciate your good sense.

If a rough-n-tough group comes in and takes over the area with loud drums, discuss things quietly during a break - approach them politely once and see if they're willing to blend in. If not, just walk away clean. On the way out, you could let a dancer or two know where you're going to be in case they're interested in following.

Informal, with leaders


Drummers: Follow the leader. The lead drummer is (ideally) getting cues from the lead dancer or the dancers as a whole. The leader is the conductor - please let them control the speed and volume. Don't play louder than the leader. It's good for the leader to have a second who can nudge them and bring them back if they float off into the Heavy Embellishment Zone.

An embellisher is someone who plays something away from the main rhythm. Preferably something that is a complement or enhancement, rather than a tangle or a pollution.

Two embellishers is plenty during a performance with a group of ANY SIZE - and only if they complement each other well. Otherwise, I'd have just one.

As one musician known as Flutesong put it, "After two, it starts to sound like a string of straight 16th notes and the only thing a dancer can do to that is shimmy. Separate it so that most are playing the main rhythm, some just doing the base beat and just a few are elaborating on the rhythm."

This is great advice! Also, embellishers generally shouldn't play a Doum (low tone) that goes against the basic rhythm. It can easily throw people off.

Leaders: Get together and agree on signals for "speeding up", "slowing down", "hold that speed", and "let's wrap this up, I'm ready for a break".

Dancers: Sometimes it's nice to let the drummers keep going - just dance gradually out of the performing area when feasible.

Advanced tactic - changing rhythms in mid-air! Lead dancer: set up the signals and rhythms (say, 3 or 4 so you can signal with just one hand) with the lead drummer, as well as the countdown. Lead drummer: remember this is not something a typical drummer can do, even with a countdown. Kindly ask those who can't make the switch seamlessly to drop out before the switch and then jump back in on the new rhythm.

Also - see the same advice in the previous section!

Formal performances

Dancers and drummers, see the advice above for working with each other in general.

Plan the production well in advance. For drummers, this includes rhythm choices and changes, speed choices and changes, and signals for changes. When you practice, try to simulate the performance conditions - wear what you'll wear, adjust the distance between people, and consider the floor surfaces and the acoustics.

Rehearse. Perfect practice makes perfect. If you want to be top-notch, don't just practice until you can get it right a few times in a row - practice until you can't get it wrong. This takes some serious dedication, of course, and it's not always feasible.

Advice for both dancers and drummers


Take classes in the other area. Drummers could learn a few sequences. Dancers could learn the rhythms well enough to name and play them. You'll be able to communicate with the other group better since you'll know some of their lingo.

How do you get to be a leader? Practice. Teach what you know. Practice some more. Be able to talk and perform at the same time. Let students find you. Having a strong voice can help. For drummers - having a big drum can help - as can having extra drums to loan out!


My thanks to various folks on the SCA-Drummers list, especially the lady Elinor von Holtzclaw from Atenveldt, both for their thoughts and letting me post them here.

Also see the article "Drummer's advice to dancers" by Kirk Templeton. It's good reading.


Your feedback is most welcome!

 

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Original page posted: December 3, 2001. Links tested: May 24, 2008. Last tweaked: July 1, 2006.

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