''Dabke'' ( ar, دبكة also spelled ''dabka'', ''dubki'', ''dabkeh'', plural ''dabkaat'') is a
Levantine Levantine may refer to:
* Anything pertaining to the Levant, the region centered around modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, including any person from the Levant
** Syria (region), corresponding to the modern countries of the Lev ...
Arab folk dance. Dabke combines
circle dance
Circle dance, or chain dance, is a style of social dance done in a circle, semicircle or a curved line to musical accompaniment, such as rhythm instruments and singing, and is a type of dance where anyone can join in without the need of part ...
and
line dancing
A line dance is a choreographed dance in which a group of people dance along to a repeating sequence of steps while arranged in one or more lines or rows. These lines usually face all in the same direction, or less commonly face each other.Knight ...
and is widely performed at weddings and other joyous occasions. The line forms from right to left and leader of the ''dabke'' heads the line, alternating between facing the audience and the other dancers. In English, it can be transcribed as ''dabka'', ''dabki'', ''dabkeh''.
Etymology and history
The etymology of 'dabke' is uncertain but is thought to be derived from the
Levantine Arabic
Levantine Arabic, also called Shami (autonym: or ), is a group of mutually intelligible vernacular Arabic varieties spoken in the Levant, in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Turkey (historically in Adana, Mersin and Hatay on ...
word ''dabaka'' ( ar, دبكة) meaning "stamping of the feet" or "to make a noise".
The dabkeh jumps may have originated in ancient
Canaanite fertility rituals related to agriculture, chasing off evil spirits and protecting young plants.
According to Lebanese historian Youssef Ibrahim Yazbec, the dabke descends from Phoenician dances thousands of years old.
Another theory is that stomping part of dabke started out as a way of solidifying roofs made of mud. People would stomp on the rooftops of houses together to help compress the material to compact it to prevent cracks from forming. This eventually evolved into the dancing form of dabke that is known today.
Variations
![Alawites Dance](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Alawites_Dance._1880.jpg)
Dabke is popular across the
Levant
The Levant () is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is eq ...
, where there are about twenty types of dabke, including but not limited to:
* Habel Mwadea’ (): is the Jordanian dabke of any type performed by men and women jointly.
* Al-Karaadiyya () also known as ''Al-Taiyyara'' (): Is a type of dabke in Jordan, it is characterized by its fast rhythm in an open circle. It is performed from left to right.
* Al-Tas’awiyya () also known as ''Al-Ma’aniyya'' (): It Is performed in
Ma'an
Ma'an ( ar, مَعان, Maʿān) is a city in southern Jordan, southwest of the capital Amman. It serves as the capital of the Ma'an Governorate. Its population was approximately 41,055 in 2015. Civilizations with the name of Ma'an have existed ...
city in South Jordan.
* Al-Sha’rawiyya (): It is one of the simplest types of dabke and very close to the normal one.
* Al-Darrazi (): It is played on
Mijwiz
The ''mijwiz'' ( ar, , DIN: ''miǧwiz'') is a traditional Middle East musical instrument popular in Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Its name in Arabic means "dual," because of its consisting of two, short, bamboo pipes with reed tips p ...
, widely famous in Jordan and Palestine.
* Al-Shamaliyya (): It consists of a ''lawweeh'' () at the head of a group of men holding hands and formed in a semicircle. The ''lawweeh'' is expected to be particularly skilled in accuracy, ability to improvise, and quickness (generally light on his feet). Typically, the dabke begins with a musician playing a solo on the ''mijwiz'' or ''yarghoul'' of a ''Dal Ouna'' piece, often with two singers accompanying his music. The dancers develop a synchronized movement and step and when the singers finish their song, the ''lawweeh'' breaks from the semicircle to dance on his own. When the leader of the dabke sees that the men's steps are one, in sync, he instructs the dancers to slow down and begin a movement crossing their right foot in front of the opposite one (their left foot). The ''lawweeh'' continues to inform the dancers of their basic rhythms, and at this point other guests at the wedding or event occurring will join in the dabke line. This form of dabke is danced for happy family celebrations, such as weddings, circumcisions, the return of travelers, release of prisoners, and also for national holidays, in which dabke becomes a demonstration of national personality.
[(]
* Al-’Askariyya ():
* Al-Joufiyya (): it consists of two groups stand in opposition to each other: the first group sings and the second responses with Jordanian folkloric songs.
* Al-Ghawarneh () also known as ''Deir ’Ala'' (): performed in
Jordan Valley
The Jordan Valley ( ar, غور الأردن, ''Ghor al-Urdun''; he, עֵמֶק הַיַרְדֵּן, ''Emek HaYarden'') forms part of the larger Jordan Rift Valley. Unlike most other river valleys, the term "Jordan Valley" often applies just to ...
, and it's one of the fastest types of dabke.
* Wahad w Nos ()
* Abu ’Alanda ()
* Al-Aqabawiyya (): It is performed in
Aqaba
Aqaba (, also ; ar, العقبة, al-ʿAqaba, al-ʿAgaba, ) is the only coastal city in Jordan and the largest and most populous city on the Gulf of Aqaba. Situated in southernmost Jordan, Aqaba is the administrative centre of the Aqaba Govern ...
in South Jordan.
* Al-Ramthawiyya (): It is performed in
Ar-Ramtha
Ar-Ramtha ( ar, الرَّمثا, ar-Ramṯā), colloquially transliterated as Ar-Romtha ( ar, الرُّمثا, ar-Rumṯā), is a city situated in the far northwest of Jordan near the Jordan–Syria border, border with Syria. It covers 40 k ...
in North Jordan.
* Al-Sahja () : is a popular Palestinian and Jordanian dance. Al-Sahja belongs mostly to northern and central Palestine, and in the south has two kinds: As-Samir () and Al-Dahiyya (). As-Samir's form involves 2 rows of men on opposite walls, competing with folk poetry, sometimes improvised and even exchanging insults, competing in cleverness of retorts. Al-Dahiyya is a Bedouin version of the same kind in which there is a professional dancer that dances between the two opposing walls of men who are competing for her attention, and at times give her money. ''Al-Sahja'' usually occurs the night before the wedding party of the groom (''zafat al-'arees''), with most of the men in the village participating, especially those who will be attending or are directly involved in the other wedding festivities.
* Al-Dahiyya ''(الدحية)'' limited to men: It is close to Al-sahja dance. It's performed by southern Palestinians and Southern Jordanians.
* Al-Hashi ''(الحاشي)'' limited to women
* Al-Farradiyya ''(الفرّادية)'' limited to women
* Al-Jamma’iyya ''(الجمّاعية)'' also limited to women
* Al-’Adiyya ''(العادية)'' also known as ''Al-Dalo’una'' ''(دبكة الدلعونا)'' is a type of dabke danced in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
Amongst Palestinians, two common types of dabke are the ''shamaliyya'' and ''sha'rawiyya'' – which have six measure phrases – and the ''karaadiyya'' which has square phrases (of four or eight measures). Another type is the ''dabke niswaniyyah'', danced specifically by women. Each type of dabke dance has its own corresponding set of songs, the theme of which is often love.
[Cohen, Katz, 2006, pp. 271–274.]
There are six main types of dabke:
# ''Al-Shamaliyya'' ''(الشمالية)'': It consists of a ''lawweeh'' ''(لويح)'' at the head of a group of men holding hands and formed in a semicircle. The ''lawweeh'' is expected to be particularly skilled in accuracy, ability to improvise, and quickness (generally light on his feet). Typically, the dabke begins with a musician playing a solo on the ''mijwiz'' or ''yarghoul'' of a ''Dal Ouna'' piece, often with two singers accompanying his music. The dancers develop a synchronized movement and step and when the singers finish their song, the ''lawweeh'' breaks from the semicircle to dance on his own. When the leader of the dabke sees that the men's steps are one, in sync, he instructs the dancers to slow down and begin a movement crossing their right foot in front of the opposite one (their left foot). The ''lawweeh'' continues to inform the dancers of their basic rhythms, and at this point other guests at the wedding or event occurring will join in the dabke line. This is the most popular and familiar form of dabke danced for happy family celebrations, such as weddings, circumcisions, the return of travelers, release of prisoners, and also for national holidays, in which dabke becomes a demonstration of national personality.
# ''Al-Sha’rawiyya'' ''(الشعراوية)'': is limited to men and is characterized by strong steps or stomps. The ''lawweeh'' is the most important element in this type of dabke.
# ''Al-Karaadiyya'' ''(الكرادية)'': is characterized by a lack of a ''lawweeh'' and slow movement with an ''azif'' ''(عازف)'' (flute player) in the middle of the circle.
# ''Al-Farah'' ''(الفره)'': is one of the most active types of dabke and therefore requires a high degree of physical fitness.
# ''Al-Ghazal'' ''(الغزل)'': is characterized by three strong stomps of the right foot, and is usually tiring for those dancing.
# ''Al-Sahja'' ''(السحجة)'': is a popular Palestinian and Jordanian dance which became significantly more popular during the
British Mandate for Palestine
The Mandate for Palestine was a League of Nations mandate for British administration of the territories of Palestine and Transjordan, both of which had been conceded by the Ottoman Empire following the end of World War I in 1918. The manda ...
. Al-Sahja belongs mostly to northern and central Palestine, and in the south has two kinds: As-Samir ''(السامر)'' and Al-Dahiyya ''(الدحية)''. As-Samir's form involves 2 rows of men on opposite walls, competing with folk poetry, sometimes improvised and even exchanging insults, competing in cleverness of retorts. Al-Dahiyya is a Bedouin version of the same kind in which there is a professional dancer that dances between the two opposing walls of men who are competing for her attention, and at times give her money. ''Al-Sahja'' usually occurs the night before the wedding party of the groom (''zafat al-'arees''), with most of the men in the village participating, especially those who will be attending or are directly involved in the other wedding festivities.
The ''Oxford International Encyclopedia of Dance'' also mentions these additional kinds of line dances in its entry under "Middle East":
The ''Murdah'' was originally performed by women in Eastern Arabia
Eastern Arabia, historically known as al-Baḥrayn ( ar, البحرين) until the 18th century, is a region stretched from Basra to Khasab along the Persian Gulf coast and included parts of modern-day Bahrain, Kuwait, Eastern Saudi Arabia, Unite ...
, while the men of the community were away on extended fishing and pearling expeditions. It involves two lines of dancers who move toward each other with small steps and then retreat while singing rhymed couplets. These couplets were largely laments for absent loved ones. Although seafaring is no longer economically important in the region, women continue to perform this dance at social gatherings.
The ''Ahwash'' (Fr., ahouache) performed by Berber tribes of the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains, includes one or several curved lines of men and one or several curved lines of women, the whole forming a circle or ellipse around male drummers (Jouad and Lortat-Jacob, 1978; Lortat-Jacob, 1980). One line recites a poem that the other line responds to with another poem; then all move to the beat of the drums. Customarily, the whole community participates. While performing, women dancers hold themselves very straight and move with staccato steps, holding onto the weaving rod of the house. Women as well as men compose the poetry that is recited. A similar dance reported for Morocco is the dukkala. In one variation a man and woman facing each other compete to see which one can dance the longest (Mercier, 1927).
Song genres
There are numerous kinds of songs that are sung during and specifically for dabke, by both men and women respectively, depending on the occasion, song, and audience. Some of the most popular of these songs, such as ''Dal Ouna'' ''(دلعونا)'', ''Al Jafra'' ''(الجفرا)'', ''Al Dahiyya'' ''(الدحية)'', and ''Zareef il-Tool'' ''(ظريف الطول)'', are actually entire genres in themselves, in the sense that lyrics can vary significantly in each performance but the basic rhythm of the music is consistent and recognizable. This variation can be seen in the hundreds of lyrical variations heard and recorded of these songs which regardless of specific lyrics, are recognized by their rhythm and at times, a single phrase, as in ''Ala Dal Ouna, Jafra'', and others. For example, even though one might have heard ''Ala Dal Ouna'' sung previously telling a different story in this famous love song, people will still call another song ascribing to the same rhythm and theme as ''Dal Ouna''.
The majority of dabke music, being folk songs, is on
maqam
MAQAM is a US-based production company specializing in Arabic and Middle Eastern media. The company was established by a small group of Arabic music and culture lovers, later becoming a division of 3B Media Inc. "MAQAM" is an Arabic word meaning a ...
Bayati
{{About, a form of Azerbaijani folk poetry, other uses, Bayat (disambiguation)
Bayati ( az, Bayatı) is one of the oldest forms of Azerbaijani folk poetry. A bayati consists of four lines, each of which has seven syllables. The rhyme scheme is ...
musical mode.
Instruments
The
Oud
, image=File:oud2.jpg
, image_capt=Syrian oud made by Abdo Nahat in 1921
, background=
, classification=
* String instruments
*Necked bowl lutes
, hornbostel_sachs=321.321-6
, hornbostel_sachs_desc=Composite chordophone sounded with a plectrum
, ...
''(عود)'', from which the English word "lute" comes, is shaped like half a pear with a short non-fretted neck. It has six courses of two strings and played with a plectrum, usually a trimmed eagle's feather. This instrument creates a deep and mellow sound.
The
mijwiz
The ''mijwiz'' ( ar, , DIN: ''miǧwiz'') is a traditional Middle East musical instrument popular in Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Its name in Arabic means "dual," because of its consisting of two, short, bamboo pipes with reed tips p ...
''(مجوز)'' which means “double” in Arabic is very popular in Levantine music. It is a type of reed clarinet that is played by breathing smoothly through a circular aperture at the end and by moving the fingers over the holes down the front of the tube in order to create the different notes. The minjjayrah is similar to the mijwiz, an open ended reed flute played in the same style.
The
tablah
The goblet drum (also chalice drum, tarabuka, tarabaki, darbuka, darabuka, derbake, debuka, doumbek, dumbec, dumbeg, dumbelek, toumperleki, tumbak, or zerbaghali; arz, دربوكة / Romanized: ) is a single-head membranophone with a goblet- ...
''(طبلة)'' is a small hand-drum also known as the durbakke. Most tablahs are beautifully decorated, some with wood, tile or bone inlay, etched metal, or paintings in designs typical of the Near East. One of the most commonly played of the percussion instruments; the tablah is a membranophone of goat or fish skin stretched over a vase-shaped drum with a wide neck. Usually made of earthenware or metal, it is placed either under the left arm or between the legs and struck in the middle for the strong beats and on the edge for the sharp in-between beats. Though today fishskin heads are rarely used due to the climate. When used it becomes loose, you would have to heat the head to get the correct sound back. The membrane or head of the drum is now made out of plastic. The most common head is from Alexandria, Egypt.
The
daf
Daf ( fa, دف) also known as Dâyere and Riq is a Middle Eastern (mainly Iranian) frame drum musical instrument, used in popular and classical music in South and Central Asia. It is also used in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Iran, Uzbe ...
f ''(دف)'', also known as the
Riq ''(رق)'', is similar to the tambourine. It consists of a round frame, covered on one side with goat or fish skin. Pairs of metal discs are set into the frame to produce the jingle when struck by the hand. The sounds of this percussion instrument set the rhythm of much Arab music, particularly in the performances of classical pieces.
The
arghul
The ''arghul'' ( ar, أرغول or يرغول), also spelled ''argul'', ''arghoul'', ''arghool'', ''argol'', or ''yarghul'', is a musical instrument in the reed family. It has been used since ancient Egyptian times and is still used as a tradit ...
, ''(يرغول)'' also known as the ''yarghoul'', is commonly used in solos, often accompanied by singers, that begin dabke performances. Unlike the ''mijwiz'', it only has finger holes in one of its pipes/reeds. (see ''Al-Shamaliyya'', under Types).
The Shubabeh, (
شبابة) is a woodwind instrument traditionally made from reed cane. It differs from the Mijwiz and Arghul in that it does not have a reed, instead the musician blows against the side of the instrument at an angle to produce the tone. The Shubabeh is traditionally played by herders in the wilderness.
Competitions and performances
![Palestinian Dabke](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Palestinian_Dabke.jpg)
''Dabke'' competitions or shows often consist of different cultural dances and various troupes performing ''dabke.'' For example, the International Fiesta, a well known festival at the
University at Buffalo
The State University of New York at Buffalo, commonly called the University at Buffalo (UB) and sometimes called SUNY Buffalo, is a public research university with campuses in Buffalo and Amherst, New York. The university was founded in 1846 ...
, consists of a series of clubs performing their cultural dances. This competition occurs every semester in the main stage theater of the
UB Center for the Arts
The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo
The State University of New York at Buffalo, commonly called the University at Buffalo (UB) and sometimes called SUNY Buffalo, is a public research university with campuses in Buffalo ...
during the spring time, usually at the end of February or beginning of March. This allows the Organization of Arab Students to participate and promote the cultural awareness of ''dabke''.
Many universities host events called Arab Night or a title to that effect. When these shows occur, ''dabke'' is either performed on stage (inside or outside), in a hall on the floor, or outside on the floor. There are different steps that comprise the ''Dabke'' dance: the belbel, the inzel, shemmel and taxi; a combination of each of these steps as well as the occasional jump and turn make the dance complete.
In America, the tradition has not been lost and is held in the same places as it would in the original homeland and the dance music is also commonly played in America at Arab-community cultural centers and conventions such as the annual convention hosted by the American Federation of Ramallah Palestine.
In her study titled Syrian Radical Dabka, ethnomusicologist Shayna Silverstein described the changes in social interpretations and performances of ''dabke'' as performed in Syria. In the 20th century and beyond, ''dabke'' has both been interpreted as an element of nationalist ideologies or as a modern and aesthetic form of folk dance, performed by academically trained dancers from the
Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts
Higher may refer to:
Music
* The Higher, a 2002–2012 American pop rock band
Albums
* ''Higher'' (Ala Boratyn album) or the title song, 2007
* ''Higher'' (Ezio album) or the title song, 2000
* ''Higher'' (Harem Scarem album) or the title song ...
. To reinforce these interpretations and the continuation of ''dabke'' in rural as well as in urban settings, performances have been promoted countrywide by government-sponsored folk dance ensembles as well as in educational programs disseminated by the Ministry of Culture. Since the beginning of the
Syrian Civil War, dabke performances as a manifestation of community gatherings have futher accompanied protest meetings and demonstrations against the ruling government of Syria.
World records
In August 2011, a group in a Lebanese village
Dhour El Choueir
Dhour El Choueir ( ar, ضهور الشوير), sometimes Dhour Shweir, is a mountain town in Lebanon ('dhour' meaning 'summit, top f a mountain) located in the Matn District. It lies slightly north of the main Beirut - Damascus highway, overlooki ...
,
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
set a new world record. Organized by Dhour El Choueir Summer Festival, a human chain of 5,050 was made and currently holds the world record. This event broke the record set by Tollab, the Lebanese Student Federation in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
, with the participation of "La Troupe Folklorique Les Chevaliers du Liban" that had made a human chain of 4,475 people dancing the ''dabke'' for more than five minutes straight at Montreal's Marcelin Wilson Park. Tollab had itself broken a record of 2,743 set by a group of
Israeli Arabs
The Arab citizens of Israel are the largest ethnic minority in the country. They comprise a hybrid community of Israeli citizens with a heritage of Palestinian citizenship, mixed religions (Muslim, Christian or Druze), bilingual in Arabic an ...
in
Acre, Israel
Acre ( ), known locally as Akko ( he, עַכּוֹ, ''ʻAkō'') or Akka ( ar, عكّا, ''ʻAkkā''), is a city in the coastal plain region of the Northern District of Israel.
The city occupies an important location, sitting in a natural harb ...
. An earlier record of 1,700 had been set in Toronto.
See also
*
Aromanians
The Aromanians ( rup, Armãnji, Rrãmãnji) are an Ethnic groups in Europe, ethnic group native to the southern Balkans who speak Aromanian language, Aromanian, an Eastern Romance language. They traditionally live in central and southern Alba ...
have a virtually identical dance, the
Treambura pamporea
*
Middle Eastern dance
The traditional dances of the Middle East (also known as Oriental dance) span a large variety of folk traditions throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
For detailed information on specific dances of the region, see the main ...
*
Syrtos
Syrtos ( el, συρτός, ''syrtos'' (also ''sirtos''); plural , ''syrtoi'' (also ''sirtoi''); sometimes called in English using the Greek accusative forms ''syrto'' (also ''sirto''); from the el, links=no, σύρω, ''syro'' (also ''siro''), ...
References
Bibliography
* Adra, Najwa. "Middle East" ''The International Encyclopedia of Dance.'' Ed. Selma Jeanne Cohen and the Dance Perspectives Foundation. Oxford University Press, 2003. Georgetown University. 3 December 2010
/ref>
*
* Kaschl, Elke. ''Dance and Authenticity in Israel and Palestine: Performing the Nation''. Leiden & Boston, MA: Brill; 2003.
* Ladkani, Jennifer. "Dabke Music and Dance and the Palestinian Refugee Experience: On the Outside looking in." Ph.D. dissertation, Florida State University, 2001.
* McDonald, David A. "Poetics and the Performance of Violence in Israel/Palestine." ''Ethnomusicology''. 53:1, Winter 2009.
* Rowe, Nicholas. "Dance and Political Credibility: The Appropriation of Dabkeh by Zionism, Pan-Arabism, and Palestinian Nationalism." Middle East Journal, 65.3 (2011): 363–80. Summer 2011. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. Print.
* Rowe, Nicholas. “Raising Dust: a Cultural History of Dance in Palestine.” Publisher London ; New York, NY : I.B. Tauris ; New York, NY : Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
* Handelsman, JoEllen. 3, Dance Styles of the Middle East. “Near and Middle Eastern Dance Workbook.” 2nd ed. Tucson: Premium Source, 2012. 7. Print.
External links
A variety of The Jordanian Dabke performed by Al Yarmouk University Folk Troupe.
Jordanian Dabkeh Performed By Al-Ramth Youth Folk Troupe
Jordanian Dabke (Tas'awiya) – Ma'an 1975
El-Arish Dabka
Palestinian Dabkeh performed in London
La Troupe Folklorique Les Chevaliers du Liban (Montréal, Canada)
Palestinian Dabkeh Troupe (Hurriyah Dabkeh Troupe)
Al-Juthoor performs in the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
{{Middle Eastern music
Dabke,
Arab dance
Group dances
Arab culture
Dance in Lebanon
Middle Eastern dances
Palestinian arts
Dance in Israel
Circle dances