Dabke Dance Mix أحلى دبيكه
- 00:09:47
- YouTube
Dabke Dance Mix أحلى دبيكه
Dabke (Arabic: دبكة; also transliterated as dabka, and dabkeh) is the national dance of Lebanon. It is also popular in Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. It is danced by both male or female with different steps and different rhythms being more common in different areas of the Middle East. Dabkeh is a dance of community, often performed at weddings and other joyous occasions such as family parties or competitions. Like other folk dances of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Greece, Armenia, and Eastern Europe, dabkeh is a line dance. At times dabkeh can be formed into a semi circle. Usually the leader of the dabkeh would be in the front of the line or out of the line alternating face to face to the audience and the other dabkeh dancers. Many learn dabkeh as children and as they become better at dabkeh, they would join well known dabkeh groups. The meaning of "dabkeh" in Arabic is "stomping of the feet", and stomping, as well as jumping and kicking, are moves that characterize the dabkeh in a unique manner. The leader, called raas (meaning "head") or "lawwih" (meaning "waver"), is allowed to improvise on the type of dabkeh being danced, and he or she would also be twirling a handkerchief or string of beads known as a masbha (similar to a rosary), while the rest of the dancers keep the rhythm. The dancers also use vocalizations to show energy and to punctuate the rhythm. However, it is also a dance of solidarity and a way of expressing nationalism and the age-old presence of art and culture in a positive way. The Dabkeh leader is supposed to be like a tree, with arms in the air, a proud and upright trunk, and feet that stomp the ground in rhythm, emphasizing their connection to their land. Dabkeh was popularized and modernized during the Twentieth Century by Lebanese composers Assi and Mansour Rahbani and singers like Zaki Nassif, Fairuz, Wadih el Safi, and Nasri Shamseddine and sooner by Wafik Habib and Ali el Dik, all who performed at the legendary Baalbek Festival. This was held at the ancient Roman temples of Baalbek, Lebanon. Some famous performers of various troupes in Lebanon included Alain Merheb, Kigham, and Hassan Harfouche. Lebanon's most famous dabkeh troupe was the Firkat el Arz. Other non-Lebanese troupes today include Ibdaa, Sareyyet Ramallah, and El-Funoun, all based in Palestine. There are several theories on its origin, none which are well documented. The main origin of dabke in the middle east is believed to be Lebanon. It expresses brotherhood and manly attitude when men line up close to each other and stomp. Another theory is that since the Middle East was under various Turkic dynasties for many centuries, it is possible that the Turks introduced it, since most Middle Eastern cultures with line dancing were under their rule. However, it is more likely though that the relatively new Turks were influenced by the Assyrians, Kurds, Greeks, Arabs and Armenians given the fact that their cultures are more ancient and prevalent in the Middle East. However, the Turks may have received the dance from the Gypsies (or vice versa) since most instruments affiliated with the dabkeh are also affiliated with Gypsies, particularly the Ghajar and Nawar tribes who populate the Middle East: buzuk, tabl, mijwiz, mizmar, nay, kamanja, rababa, derbekkeh and bagpipe. Some popular dabkeh songs, like Ala Ain Moulayiteen have Turkish Gypsy counterparts (Shashkin is its name in Turkish). It may also have influenced North Indian dancing. _______________________________________________________________________________
YouTube | February 18, 2009
