Al Dabke
is a form of dance performed by the Arab people and it has a huge cultural
significance. Originated in the Eastern Mediterranean,
this form of dance involves people forming up a line and dancing to the tunes
of rhythmic beats. The line moves from right to the left and the head of the
line faces the other dancers and audience periodically. This kind of dance is generally
performed on happy occasions and marriages.
This
event to be held at Katara is particularly a kind of commemoration and a salute
to this ancient form of dance. More than 20,000 people will be coming all the
way to witness the occasion. Katara aims to spread awareness about this ancient
folk dance among all the expats and Arabs residing in Qatar. They are also
aiming to get a place at the Guiness World Records as the highest Dabke
gathering ever witnessed in any country. The idea is to showcase the art, its
diversity and significance all across Qatar, through exhibitions, workshops and
3 shows at the Amphitheater and many more events as well.
The Al
Dabke festival will be organized from 3 April to 5 April. After all, it’s time
to pay tribute to one of the oldest forms of Arabic dance that have evolved
drastically all through the years. By organizing this festival, Katara salutes
the spirit and positivity that the performance tags along. This type of dance
is also well known in areas such as Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Lebanon and
Syria.
Going
down the memory lane, this kind of dance was performed as a means to keep the
atmosphere at work happy and spirited. In ancient days, the roofs of houses
were built using wood, dirt and straws. To bring about uniformity in the
construction, this kind of rhythmic dance was performed.
So are
you ready to witness this beautiful form of dance?
