WEST BANK: Palestinian folk dance troupes take part in a tournament aimed at preserving the traditional Arab dance form, the "Dabka"

Record ID: 560483

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian folk dance troupes take part in a tournament aimed at preserving the traditional Arab dance form, the "Dabka"
  • Date: 12th August 2009
  • Summary: FARKHA VILLAGE, WEST BANK (AUGUST 8, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DABKA TROUPE OF THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, PERFORMING ON STAGE DURING THE DABKA TOURNAMENT SIGN READING IN ARABIC "FOURTH FARKHA FESTIVAL FOR THE TRADITIONAL DABKA" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF FARKHA FESTIVAL, BAKER HAMAD, SAYING: "This festival pursues many aims. The first aim to increase the international awareness of the Palestinian heritage and culture, to introduce the Palestinian case for the international youth, also to increase their support. The other aims are to promote and stabilize the Palestinian heritage and the traditional arts. And also to deepen the national dimension for the youth." VARIOUS OF THE DABKA TROUPE OF THE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN CARE ASSOCIATION PERFORMING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) THE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT DABKA TROUPE, MUHAMMAD ALI, SAYING: "This participation in the festival is helping us to improve our troupe; secondly it's reviving the Palestinian heritage, also it's reminding people that our heritage is still alive and we will protect it." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN FROM THE CHILDREN CARE ASSOCIATION TROUPE CARRYING SWORDS, AND PERFORMING A TRADITIONAL DANCE VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE AT THE TOURNAMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) THE TRAINER OF THE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN CARE ASSOCIATION DABKA TROUPE, OMAR ZURIK, SAYING: "This is our first participation, it was very good. I hope that we will participate in the coming tournaments." VARIOUS OF LUBAD DANCING TROUPE PERFORMING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF LUBAD DANCING TROUPE, KIFAH FARID, SAYING: "This is the least we can do to preserve our traditions which the zionist enemy is trying to erase. It is a good step that should be repeated. That doesn't mean it is enough, we should learn about our heritage, and not forget that they are trying to erase our heritage." MORE OF LUBAD TROUPE PERFORMING ON STAGE MAN IN TRADITIONAL CLOTHES, SELLING ARAB TRADITIONAL DRINKS YOUTH WEARING TRADITIONAL CLOTHES AND DANCING
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA4M5FQM7S9W556BLBZIIVOT5H6
  • Story Text: Dancers from all over the West Bank have made their way to the Palestinian town of Farkha, to perform the traditional Arab folk dance, the "Dabka", at the fourth annual festival for the dance form.
    Festival director Baker Hamad said the event has a number of purposes, including preserving Palestinian heritage:
    "The first aim to increase the international awareness of the Palestinian heritage and culture, to introduce the Palestinian case for the international youth, also to increase their support. The other aims are to promote and stabilise Palestinian heritage and the traditional arts and also to deepen the national dimension for the youth."
    The word "Dabka" in Arabic literally means "stamping the feet". Looking somewhat like a line dance with Cossack acrobatic kicks thrown in, it's often performed at weddings and joyous occasions.
    Fifteen troupes altogether are competing for three prizes at this year's festival in Farkha. But for one group, taking part is a reward in itself:
    "This participation in the festival is helping us to improve our troupe; secondly it's reviving the Palestinian heritage. Also it's reminding people that our heritage is still alive and we will protect it," said Muhammad Ali, the director of the Youth Development Dabka Troupe.
    The Dabka festival is one of many events organised to celebrate Jerusalem as the 2009 capital of Arab Culture. The Arab League named the city, considered holy by Muslims as well as Christians, its cultural capital following on from Damascus last year. But Israeli authorities intervened to disperse Palestinian celebrations. The Israeli government sees the events as attempts to host political activities in a city it considers its capital.
    Palestinians have however continued to hold events all over the territories.
    "This is the least we can do to preserve our traditions which the zionist enemy is trying to erase. It is a good step that should be repeated. That doesn't mean it is enough, we should learn about our heritage, and not forget that they are trying to erase our heritage," member of Lubad dancing troupe, Kifah Farid, said.
    The folk dance troupes will don their boots and scarves and compete in Farkha until August 16th, when the winner will be announced.
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