The Evolution of Modern Dabke Fusions
By: Ramsey Zeidan / Arab America Contributing Writer
The Dabke is an Arab folklore dance characterized by people stomping their feet rhythmically in lines or circles. Often performed in celebratory settings like weddings or parties, the Dabke is a staple in Levantine culture. The historical roots of the Dabke can be traced back to modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. Historians debate whether the Phoenicians, Canaanites, or tribal practices in the Levant first pioneered the dance, but the Dabke we know in its modern form comes from the Levant.
Dabke has plenty of regional variations and has come a long way from its inception. However, at the turn of the century, the Dabke began to change. Borrowing from modern synthetic sounds, the dance and its instrumentation are more malleable than ever. As a result, new styles of the dance form and feed off each other, evolving in the process.
The Fusion of Afro-Dabke
Many elements of the Dabke are similar to various African dances, especially sub-Saharan Africa. Several folk dances in Africa are also means to exercise resistance, particularly traditional dances in South Africa, which were used to protest apartheid. An emerging intersection between these two traditions of dance is Afro-Dabke. The creator of modern Afro-Dabke is renowned Palestinian choreographer Sharaf DarZaid. During an interview with Al-Jazeera, Palestinian choreographer DarZaid described how he fused the Dabke and African folklore. Collaborating with Cameroonian dancer Serge Tsakap, DarZaid found parallels between the two dance styles and expanded on them.
He argued that passion triumphs finesse, as he says, “What sets folklore dancing apart is that it is a bit rough. I call it elegant roughness. You cannot dance Dabke and be extremely elegant like in ballet. It is more popular, more about presence, charisma, personality, energy and liveliness.” These are all characteristics he found within Tsakap’s Cameroonian style. Furthermore, Sharaf DarZaid has masterminded several contemporary Palestinian dance productions that take inspiration from Afro-Dabke fusion.
After a 2014 tour around France, Afro-Dabke began catching on. Irish dance program Catherine Young Dance has presented workshops featuring a fascinating fusion of Afro-Dabke and old style Irish céilí dance. These workshops bring the Dabke to a broader audience that otherwise would not be exposed to it. In the Dabke’s cultural home, students at Birzeit University say they find solace in teaching members of their community the dance. A small community of Afro-Palestinians in Jerusalem have adopted Afro-Dabke as a means of demonstrating resistance and remembering their heritage.
Modern Dabke: Electronic Revolution
Dabke as a musical genre does not exist in a void. For example, the rapid growth of the Afrobeats genre is a contributing factor to the diffusion of Afro-Dabke and electronic styles. During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, an Afrobeats-adjacent song Jerusalema by South African singer Nomcebo Zikode went viral on social media. DarZaid choreographed a routine to Jerusalema using Afro-Dabke and posted it to YouTube, and the video got over half a million views. Its virality played a crucial role in introducing modern Dabke styles to a broader audience.
Emerging bands like 47Soul have infused the dance with elements of reggae, electronica, and even hip-hop. The band Ministry of Dub-key have found a similar lane, giving a more socially conscious perspective on the dance. Even where new flavors of the dance aren’t being pioneered, its rhythm is being modernized. Wassim Bou Malham and Koudaih, the guitarist and lead vocalist with Who Killed Bruce Lee, have worked on a UNHCR funded project to rework Dabke to a contemporary form.
In a sense, the Dabke is its own genre. From casual social gatherings to contemporary dance on the global stage, everyone has a part to play in its evolution. Though only time will tell, the Dabke will continue to evolve outside the Levant while remaining a centerpiece in the zeitgeist of the Arab world. The diffusion of Dabke in dance studios around the globe has provided unity and enriched existing styles to create unique fusions.
Want more articles like this? Sign up for our e-newsletter!
Check our blog here!
