1. Essay answering question K: If all of the world's
cultural heritage (sports, music, fashion, architecture,
literature, painting, etc..) was contained in a time
capsule, what would you include to demonstrate the
legacy of your country?
Made by: Heba Abdel Latif
Date: 10 November 2017
2. If the world’s cultural heritage was contained in a time capsule I would
include Dabkeh to demonstrate the legacy of the region I come from
which is the middle east.
For many decades the Middle East countries including Jordan, Lebanon,
Palestine, Syria and Iraq have been suffering from wars, refugee crisis,
political tension and economic struggles that made life very hard for
people who live there.
While all these struggles have been the core of attention in the present,
their records will be representing the middle east in future, missing out
on the beautiful culture that people in this region shared, therefore I
would choose Dabkeh to remind everyone in the future that the
currently troubled Middle East also had art and culture, that people for
thousands of years have had something called Dabkeh; a beautiful way
of dancing to celebrate joyous occasions, a beautiful way of dancing that
resembles unity, happiness and legacy.
Source of the background picture: https://studentaffairscollective.org/function-hope-leadership-transition/
3. I have always believed that one of the most
important activities my parents enrolled me
and my siblings in was learning Dabkeh. I
joined a professional Dabkeh group when I
was ten and left when I turned twenty two.
For twelve years I learned Dabkeh and at
later years taught Dabkeh to new members.
With all the performances we had on stages
I built confidence and built more love to my
culture and identity. Expressing emotions
through dancing is a beautiful thing but
not an easy one, with practice your body
becomes a tool of your emotions.
Photo taken by Eyad Jadallah
4. What is Dabkeh:
The word Dabkeh in Arabic means foot stomping, Dabkeh (also spelled Dabka, Dubki,
Dabke, plural Dabkaat), is an Arab folk dance native to the Middle East. Dabkeh combines
circle dancing and line dancing which is widely performed at weddings and other joyous
occasions. The line forms from the right to the left.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabke#cite_note-2
Photo taken from Al Hannouneh group website
5. The History of Dabkeh:
Although all stories agree that Dabkeh originated thousands
of years ago, the stories differ from one area to another; in
Jordan and Palestine it is believed that the Kanaanies used this
dance to drive away bad spirits from their crops and fields. In
Lebanon it is believed that Phoenicians were the first people
to create dancing in the world and that Dabkeh we have now
is the new version of the old Phoenician dance, another story
(which I believe might be the most legitimate one) is that
people in the middle east used to build rooftops of their
houses from mud; to make the mud in the perfect texture it
should be stomped on by feet, therefore family members and
neighbors used to help one another by forming a line or
circle and stomping on the mud.
Source: https://dancehistorydevelopment.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/the-dabke-an-arabic-folk-dance/
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabke#cite_note-2
6. Instruments:
When people are performing Dabkeh there is usually a singer singing along with music
played on the following instruments:
The drum (Tableh or durbakkeh in Arabic): The sound is made when the player bangs
the skin of the drum with his hands or with a stick.
The Arghul (Yarghoul in Arabic) and Mijwez: a single or double wooden pipe
instruments that have many holes and make sounded when blown in it.
The Oud A stringed musical instrument, with seven strings that is played when
plucked with fingers.
Source of Image 1: http://www.afromix.org/html/musique/instruments/oud/photo_.jpg
Image tableh: http://www.bestarabicmusic.net/wp-content/my_images/instruments/Egypti
tablah.jpg
Image mijwez: http://www.worldmusicalinstruments.com/Mid-East-Double-Mijwiz_p_1189.html
7. Types of Dabkeh:
There are many types of Dabkeh that varies from one country to the other, Dabkeh in Iraq is
different than Dabkeh in Jordan or Syria. Even in the same country there are different types of
Dabkeh in mountain areas in contrast to the cities. They all have similarities in movements, foot
steps and instruments but different names were given to Dabkeh types from one area to
another. Some of the popular Dabkeh types are called: Shabieh, Tayarah, Shamalyeh, wahdeh w
nus, dalounah and ghzayyel.
8. Formation of the Dabkeh:
• Usually Dabkeh is formed as a circle or line that
starts from right to left. The leader of the dabkeh
is called Laweeh which leads the line, usually
the Laweeh is the best Dabkeh dancer and he
plays an important role in giving instructions to
the dancers and the instrument players.
• Dabkeh Dancers hold hands together and
sometimes hold each others shoulders.
• Dabkeh can be formed of men and women, or it
can be only men, or only women.
• Dabkeh has no age, if the dancer is 4 or 100
years old and can dance Dabkeh then he/she can
join the Dabkeh line.
Photo of Karakalla group
9. Dabkeh between the past and the
present:
Dabkeh is a beautiful Heritage we
inherited from our ancestors for
thousands of years, with time, Dabkeh
which had been danced in joyous
occasions such as weddings and festive
gatherings started to take a new form
and new spirit, nowadays in addition to
dancing Dabkeh in weddings it is also
performed on stages by different
Dabkeh groups to entertain viewers,
competitions for Dabkeh have been
created to choose the best Dabkeh
dancers.
Photo taken from Oushaq Centre website
10. I leave here for your review three videos that represent the traditional Dabkeh, the modern
Dabkeh, and Dabkeh training, I hope you will enjoy it.
1. The traditional Dabkeh performed by al funoun Palestinian dance:
https://youtu.be/punAn0b29B0
2. Dabkeh performed in Lebanon as a flash mob, it represents how Dabkeh in the present
in performed, and how it got influenced by other dances like hip hop and belly dancing:
https://youtu.be/VEp29GS1VXI
3. Dabkeh training in Jordan, my sister Rasha Abdel Latif was training a number
of people in a community activity:
https://youtu.be/4C9LEVF9xvU
11. My hope:
I hope that Dabkeh will continue to be passed down through us and
will remind next generations of the legacy they inherited from their
ancestors, I hope Dabkeh will remind them of the beauty of their
traditions and culture.
