Raqs Caravan Showcase Preview: Sahara Tabla

December 17, 2009 01:54 PM

Let’s shine some limelight on the beat makers behind the belly dancers. The Middle Eastern percussion troupe, Sahara Tabla, is preparing to heat the stage with desert rhythms during the winter Raqs Caravan Showcase.

Sahara Tabla is directed by Brad Sidwell, a percussionist who has over 25 years of experience studying and performing Middle Eastern and Eastern European drumming techniques. He is the founder of World Music Folklife Center, a non-profit group that hosts the annual Balktoberfest and Romany festivals in the DC area to benefit Macedonian communities. Brad also has an extensive history of teaching at prominent musical events including Rakkasah East.

Brad plays the Darabuka, which is a goblet-shaped hand drum with the body made of wood, metal or clay. The Darabuka is often played throughout the Middle East, the Balkan countries and Greece. It is often played to produce the famous Beledi rhythm, “doum doum tek a tek doum tek a tek”.

Sahara Tabla often performs with Raqs Caravan West during local cultural events, Sahara Dance showcases and the annual gala, Under a Desert Moon. For the Raqs Caravan Showcase on Saturday, Sahara Tabla will be performing with Raqs Caravan East and accompanying a solo performance by Ramona.

Studying percussion will enrich any belly dancer’s studies of Raqs Sharqi. Visit the spring semester schedule to learn more about drumming classes and open drum circle.

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