Despite the disagreement of specialists about when the folk dance began in Saudi Arabia, this folklore is still steadfast despite the passage of hundreds of years, especially in the northern regions of the Kingdom.
The name "Al-Dahha" is taken from the sound "Al-Dah" issued by people, which is represented by shouting and applause. The dance spreads in the northern borders of Saudi Arabia in particular, and is performed on social and national occasions, and it is one of the performing arts that make up the Saudi popular culture.
The "Dahha" is an ancient war dance that sings of heroism and is characterized by its rhythms that transmit enthusiasm, and aims to spread terror in the hearts of enemies or celebrate victory after the battle. age collectively.
Al-Dahha spreads in the northern regions of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Press Agency)
performance method
The dancers line up in the “Dhaha” one or two rows facing each other, and the poet in the middle of one of the two rows sings his sung poem.
The “Al-Dhaha” movement comes at the end of the poetic chant, by the “Al-Hashi” or “Al-Mahoushi” – in front of the class or between the two rows – performing a dance, whether with a sword or a stick, while wearing the bisht, usually played by another person, and the ranks applaud in a rhythmic, dynamic and enthusiastic manner. Consistent in sound and movement performance.
Al-Dhaha is also called - in the folklore - the name of "The Knights' Breath" due to the importance of reconciling movement and the soul, and it has an active presence in all national festivals.
Khalaf Al-Qaran, director of the Culture and Arts Association in the northern border region in Saudi Arabia, explained that "Al-Dhaha is a northern heritage performed by distinguished teams, the number of which ranges between 20 and 40," noting that the association's inheritance department attracts young people from the new generation, to train them and benefit from the distinguished among them in reviving this Beautiful color.
Al-Dha is one of the beautiful #folk_arts that
was present at the ceremony of the #first_forum_of_media_associations , and
its performance was excelled by the members of the #Al-Dahha_Northern_Team # Saudi_Heritage pic.twitter.com/Ez0wXAvcJg
— Abdullah Ayesh abdullah Ayesh (@a_alayesh) March 11, 2022
Disagreement about being upbringing
Specialists differed about the date of the emergence of this folklore. There are those who linked this dance to the victory of the Arabs over the Persians in the Battle of Dhi Qar, considering that the “Dhaha” began since this battle, while others believe that its origin dates back to a circulated story that a convoy of caravans of pilgrims Its people were few, and they felt thieves watching them at night, so they became frightened of them, and they agreed to clap and make sounds like camels roaring to make the thieves believe that they were many and they feared them, and they actually succeeded in expelling them in this way, and then spread and became a popular dance.
Abdullah bin Abbar, a researcher in history, believes that linking the Dhaha dance to the Battle of Dhi Qar is a story that has not been proven correct, and spread in this era and was established in the minds of the common people, and it "has nothing to do with the battle at all."
He added that "Al-Dhaha is just a game that has no history, and it is like the Qilta, Al-Ardah and Dabkeh, and it is not limited to a particular tribe, but rather is played by all the tribes of the north, as well as in Jordan and Palestine."
Ibn Abbar explained that the battle of Dhi Qar was attended by two tribes from Rabia, namely Bakr bin Wael and Anza bin Asad, "and that was after Khosrau attacked them and fought him and defeated his army and won over it, not with the dance of the daha, but with swords and spears and the will of men and their courage."