SAUDI ARABIA: Delegates to the 2011 Energy Dialogue conference in Riyadh take part in a traditional Saudi war dance that uses swords

Record ID: 188860

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Delegates to the 2011 Energy Dialogue conference in Riyadh take part in a traditional Saudi war dance that uses swords
  • Date: 23rd November 2011
  • Summary: BAND MEMBERS BEATING DRUMS FOREIGNER DANCING WITH THE LEADER OF THE BAND
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: International Relations,Arts,Politics,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA1EH0QFX0HLPQ63R7EAAHB681U
  • Story Text: Some of the 700 international delegates to the 2011 Energy Dialogue conference in Riyadh took a break from discussing the world's future energy needs and expended a little energy of their own on Monday evening (November 21) as they were introduced to traditional Saudi dances.
    The cultural event brightened the sidelines of the inaugural three-day meeting looking at the global development of sustainable energy and environmental policy options.
    The traditional Saudi "Ardha" dance originated amongst bedouin tribes as a war dance, and is the country's national dance performed only by men on special occasions and national days. During the dance, drummers beat a rhythm whilst a poet chants verses and white-robed men sway in line, carrying curved swords.
    "I feel so excited, it is my first time to just feel this culture in Saudi and also with this kind of dancing," said Chinese delegate, Han Yury, after he was drawn into the dance.
    The organiser of the celebration, Abdul-Aziz al-Bahri, said the event helped promote Saudi traditional culture.
    "This is giving a wonderful impression, the event is very well-structured and organised, and the folkloric element is very important, a lot of people learned about our heritage, the heritage of this country," al-Bahri said.
    Jawhar al-Dosari, leader of the al-Rayah traditional dance group, explained the origins of the dance.
    "The Saudi Arabian Ardha dance is performed in events and weddings and was formerly used during preparations for war. The Ardha would start and the poet would start reciting, they would beat drums and brandish swords, and this would give the warriors courage and pride before entering battle," al-Dosari said.
    The dancing was enjoyed by some high-profile delegates, including Professor Ernie Moniz, Director of the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Energy Institute.
    "I am very happy, it's wonderful, I like the culture."
    "Each region has its own tunes, these tunes are from the eastern region and the Gulf, they have beautiful tunes to which listeners can really react," said Siham Abdul Kareem.
    Delegates were also invited to take part in the al-Sawahili dance, which was originally brought to the Gulf region by migrant workers from Africa and is often performed ahead of a marriage ceremony.
    During the dance, which can take up to three hours to complete in all its phases, up to 40 men link hands and step in a circular clockwise motion to the beat of a drum, accompanied by pipers and singers.
    The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center's inaugural Energy Dialogue event, "Partnering for a Sustainable Future", opened in Riyadh on Sunday (November 20).
    The conference has attracted high-ranking Saudi officials and more than 700 delegates from around the world.
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