All cultures of the world have celebratory events and most often tend to express through music and dance. Emirati and Omani cultures express their joy during celebrations with the Al Ayyala Dance or the Stick Dance or the Yowala Dance.
The Ayyala Dance is practiced in the North Western parts of Oman and throughout the UAE. Usually this dance is a simulation of a battle scene to tell stories and is deeply rooted in the culture of the Bedouins.
With minor variations in movement, poetry and tone, the dance is practiced in Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia too.
Within the region each community may have its own minor variations.
Twenty or more male members of the community, dressed in the tradional Kandura, stand facing each other in two rows, holding out thin bamboo sticks or canes which symbolize swords or spears. These men stand shoulder to shoulder and place their left hand on the back of the person standing on the left. In the center of the two rows are drummers playing different musical instruments like the brass cymbals, tambourine and different sizes of drums.
The performers rhythmically move their heads and sticks in synchronicity to the Nabati or Al Taghrooda poetry sung by the group to the drum beat. The movement involves alternate movements of the head, shoulders, arms, knees and the hand holding the stick.
The topic of the poems revolve around valour and bravery on the battlefield, painting a scene of victory or defeat. The melody involves seven tones of irregular but repetitive pattern.
There are other men called the “Al Yaweela” or “Al Jaweela” yielding mock guns, swords or sticks who may move around the rows, to the beat, throwing up their weapon into the air from time to time. “Al Jaweela” stands for “movement” in the Emirati dialect.
In front of the group are young girls who dress up in traditional “mekhawar” (elaborate Emirati traditional wear) tossing their head from left to right, thus swaying their hair to the beat of the rhythm. This symbolizes the reinstatement of their faith in the chivalrous protection of the males of the community.
The lead performer is usually an inherited role and is responsible for training the others in the group. The dance includes all genders, ages and social classes of the Bedouins.
Al Ayyala is typically performed on all festive occasions like weddings ceremonies, National celebrations, historical events and similar.
The Al Ayyala dance has become a symbol of National identity and unity of the UAE.The government and heritage groups are making efforts to preserve the dance form. Many performing arts groups have emerged who continuously practice and perform the Ayyala.
They also try to encourage the younger members of the community to participate and making the Al Ayyala a symbol of pride. It exemplifies the richness of the Bedouin culture of the UAE.
The TV and media are playing a significant role in providing visibility and popularity to the traditional performing art.
Having being practiced by all people across the UAE across generations and communities, Al Ayyala was inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO ‘Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity‘.
Mrs Rashmi Kotriwala
Parent