- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia to take local culture to Brazil World Cup
- Date: 27th May 2014
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (MAY 26 ,2014) (REUTERS ) SAUDI DANCE GROUP PERFORMING TRADITIONAL DANCE DRUMS VARIOUS OF SAUDI DANCE GROUP PERFORMING TRADITIONAL DANCE UNDERSECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL RELATIONS, ABDULAZIZ AL-MELHEM, TALKING TO DANCE GROUP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNDERSECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL RELATIONS, ABDULAZIZ AL-MELHEM, SAYING: "The participation of the kingdom in the World Cup in Brazil is going to be a cultural one. We had no luck to participate in the sport event so we will share our experience of this event with the world through a cultural participation during which we will promote Saudi culture by showcasing its folklore, art, food, traditional costumes and all kinds of Saudi art." LEADER OF SAUDI TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUP SINGING VARIOUS OF DANCE GROUP PERFORMING SUDANESE FAMILY WATCHING MEMBER OF SAUDI TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUP PERFORMING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNDERSECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL RELATIONS, ABDULAZIZ AL-MELHEM, SAYING: "The world perceives us as the people of camels, desert and oil, in addition to some negative stereotypical perceptions. But through our cultural participation in the World Cup, we aim to show that Saudi society and the Saudi people are part of the international society." VARIOUS OF SAUDI TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUP PERFORMING SAUDI MAN CLAPPING HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SUPERVISOR OF THE ARDHA TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUP, ABDUAZIZ AL-DAKHEL, SAYING: "If you go out on the streets and ask anyone about the samba dance they would know it is a Brazilian dance. How do they know? We learnt about it from the World Cup and other cultural events. So it is now our turn to introduce Saudi heritage and Saudi ardha dance and mizmar dance to Brazil." PHOTOGRAPHERS SAUDI TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUP POSING FOR PHOTO
- Embargoed: 11th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Entertainment,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA8JSKIIUJG7K6YQR0VREPQN318
- Story Text: Saudi Arabia is to hold traditional dance performances and host cultural activities at Brazil's World Cup in a bid to promote the country's cultural identity.
Their soccer team may not have qualified, but Saudi Arabia still intends to make an appearance at this year's World Cup.
Instead of a football team, the kingdom is sending a dance troupe, and plans to host an assortment of cultural activities in Brazil in a bid to promote Saudi culture.
"The participation of the kingdom in the World Cup in Brazil is going to be a cultural one. We had no luck to participate in the sport event so we will share our experience of this event with the world through a cultural participation during which we will promote Saudi culture by showcasing its folklore, art, food, traditional costumes and all kinds of Saudi art," said Abdul Aziz al-Melhem of the Ministry of Information for International Cultural Relations.
Al-Melhem said the kingdom wanted to use the sports event to show the world a different side to Saudi Arabia.
"The world perceives us as the people of camels, desert and oil, in addition to some negative stereotypical perceptions. But through our cultural participation in the World Cup, we aim to show that Saudi society and the Saudi people are part of the international society," he said.
To prepare for Brazil, cultural events have been held across Saudi Arabia.
At one dress rehearsal outside the National Museum in Riyadh, a group of Saudi men wearing traditional white robes beat hand-held drums, while performing the traditional 'ardha' sword dance.
And in a nod to the international character of the World Cup, the performers have translated the Arabic songs that accompany the dances into English so they can be understood by everybody.
The leader of the dance group, Abdulaziz al-Dhkeel, said he hoped their World Cup appearance would make 'ardha' as well known as samba dancing .
"If you go out on the streets and ask anyone about the samba dance they would know it is a Brazilian dance. How do they know? We learnt about it from the World Cup and other cultural events. So it is now our turn to introduce Saudi heritage and Saudi ardha dance and mizmar dance to Brazil," he said.
The Saudi 'ardha' or 'war dance' is a stylised martial dance performed by two rows of dancers, accompanied by an array of percussion instruments.
The performance is said to promote unity between a nation and its people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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