Dabke (Arabic: دبكة also spelled as Dabka or Debka) is a modern Levantine Arab folk circle dance of possible Canaanite or Phoenician origin.. When first created, the Dabke dance was practiced by people of the villages and towns of Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, and some Quasi-Bedouin tribes that were in nearby territories.
It has been reported that people in these regions built houses with tree branches and mud. Anytime the weather would change, the mud would crack and community or family members would come and patch it up by forming a line and joining hands, stomping the mud into place. In colder months, they would sing to stay warm. As roof building technology developed, this tradition was passed as a work and dance song through generations as a reminder of the importance of family, community, and tradition. Dabke signifies aspirations, struggles, and history of the Palestinian people, making it one of the most important cultural forms of art in their culture.
The dabke is a participatory dance in which people form a line that can be expanded as new dancers join the moving chorus. The movements of the line are led by a lawith, a dancer who leads and initiates changes in the line formation, and who is followed by a chorus. The dance involves movements up and down in space, and includes rhythmic stomping, clapping, and changes of pace. There are breaks created by individual dancers performing solos and the group response to them.
The dance has been celebrated for years and in recent times has more closely been tied to the Palestinian identity, especially within the context of social, political, and national aspirations.
It was performed at the Great March of Return protests in Gaza, which were launched on March 30, 2018 to peacefully demand the right for Palestinian people to return to their homes in what is now Israel.Some of the dancers wore Keffiyeh scarves, inspired by the late Palestinian resistance leader Yasser Arafat, to protect themselves from tear gas shelling. The dabke, which was traditionally performed at joyous occasions like weddings and celebrations, has now become a symbol of Palestinian resistance .
Dabke is just one way in which Palestinians have protested human rights violations while celebrating their equality and dignity. To use this dance as a form of not only protest through artistic expression is really significant in regards to fighting for what you believe in. The point of the dance is to tell a story. A certain narrative that will solidify Palestinian identity and experiences. A simple message of locking arms together, stomping to the ground, and singing or chanting in unison, can send a tsunami of feeling and empathy towards a certain cause. Although the purpose of dabke originated from just repairing the roof of a neighbor’s house, it has revolutionized into a symbol of love, life, solidarity, cooperation, steadfastness, and determination. It is a form of art through which Palestinians express joy and gratitude to each other, and also to their land. and struggle. It is a dance that tells the story of a striving but persistent and united community.
The Asayil Watan Band for Palestinian Hertage and the Palestinian dabke from Gaza , are a team of competent, motivated & committed people of all ages and genders , eager to deliver the Palestinian narrative. Their aim is to unify two million Palestinian ; to reach out to the outside world and raise awareness about the Palestinian Cause — their cause, their struggles, pain, past, futures, and indeed their triumphs in the face of adversity.Here is a link to a video of them performing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=143&v=f25RPbaNy1Y&feature=emb_logo
All members of this organisation are vehemently opposed to all forms of prejudice and racism and any form of discrimination on the basis of ability, gender persuasion, religion, race or skin colour.For members of the dance group, their art is also a form of resistance. It is a way for them to share stories and express their frustrations and emotions about the occupation in creative and non-violent ways.
Please consider helping them continue to talk about the Palestinian issue by preserving the Palestinian Dabke and spreading Palestinian heritage after their team headquarters were bombed by the occupation in Palestine. You can take a look at their story and what is their goal now via the link below, it certainly inspires me.Stand up for Palestine culture. Cheers, solidarity.
https://gogetfunding.com/help-the-palestinian-dabke-band-to-survive-and-grow/
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