Hi Beautiful Belly Dancers and Students and Welcome back to my Zill Drill Blog

This blog is about the Malfouf rhythm (referred to as Malfuf, Wihda Kagira, Baruel, and Laff). Malfouf is a 2/4 pattern and perfect for a fast-paced entrance, light/quick movements, and drums.

There are so many variations of this basic pattern (Dum Tek Tek) and so many variations on how to dance to this rhythm. We will zill drill to the basic pattern (Dum Tek Tek) and add one variation (Dum Ka Tek   Ka Tek Ka). Then we will add one variation to an 8 count phrase (Dum KaTek  KaTekKa, Dum KaTek KaTekKa, Dum KaTek KaTekKa, Dum Dum Tek). The emphases as you go through this practice is to focus on the basic core rhythm. To demonstrate the different zill patterns and zill drill, I will be using music from Mizan Project Arab Rhythmologh, La Casa De Malfouf by Michael Beach, Lessons-Malfouf by Sayed Balaha, and Malfouf by Mallet Speak.

Malfouf is a fun pattern to work with. What is interesting about this rhythm is that there are 2 counts. For the basic rhythm, if you break down each Count into 4 qtr beats, for the 1st Count, the 1st beat starts with a Dum and the 4th beat is Tek. For the 2nd Count, there is a Tek on the 3rd beat.

For the variation Malfouf pattern, for the 1st Count, the 1st beat starts with a Dum, 3rd beat is Ka, and the 4th beat is Tek. For the 2nd Count, the 2nd beat is Ka, the 3rd beat is Tek, and the 4th beat is Ka.

In this 8 Count Pattern, there are 3 sets of Malfouf for the first 6 counts. On count 7&8, we add a Dum Dum Tek (referred to sometimes as Duck Duck Goose)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5hVb7PGPSU&t=48s

Here is a link to the basic Malfouf rhythm  and its variations as played by drummers. Hearing the sound and recognizing the sound is essential.