A TRADITIONAL dancer is helping movers and shaikhas all over the globe learn performing arts, perfected by Bahraini women, through a series of books documenting the step-by-step processes involved.
Instructor and DJ Shareefa Al Zayani hopes to soon release an English translation of her book Khaleeji Women’s Dance – Volume One as a general reference for dance lovers in the region and beyond.
“I started my traditional dance journey after being booked as a DJ and noticing how few women were dancing at female wedding gatherings,” she told the GDN.
“Only the older women were performing the traditional dances, while the younger ones seemed to not know how to.”
The former physical education teacher decided that it would be her mission to teach the art and expand the knowledge. “I felt that the current generation was missing out on something important.”
In addition to her documentation of the topic, Ms Al Zayani has so far given one-on-one training sessions to about 20 females as well as teaching a further 200-plus students at group sessions.
She also posts dance tutorials on social media platforms. “I’ve seen lots of poor attempts at performing Khaleeji-style dances, for example, by people overseas. I want to create a reference for them so at least they can attempt to get it right!”
Having learned the art by observing her aunts, the 42-year-old Bahraini started researching and interviewing traditional dance groups, dancers and researchers.
“It soon became clear that there was a severe lack in resources, references and documentation on the subjects related to women’s performing arts,” she added.
“There are a few books but they rarely mention the attire or describe a step-by-step process of performing the dance.
“Although there are 25 bands for male ceremonial performers I could only find three for women, one of which, unfortunately, isn’t very active nowadays.”
In the first volume of her book, Ms Al Zayani outlines 14 different kinds of dance from Bahrain as well as from neighbouring Kuwait, Qatar and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
With both written and visual instructions, she has listed the attire required for each dance, along with any props that are used and puts it all into context with details of the cultural background and special purpose of each one.
She also specified the time signature, musical instruments used and popular songs that the dance can be performed to.
Some of the dances described in the book include ‘muradah,’ a dance to celebrate Eid and other happy occasions, where people stand in rows facing each other and sway towards and away from each other.
‘Laywa’ is a dance inspired by East African traditions, wherein a group of people stand in a circle surrounding a group of dancers playing drums in the middle.
Ms Al Zayani also described ‘samiri’ as “sad, romantic and slow – kind of like an Arabic version of ballet”.
The ‘basta’ is a very popular dance, which is performed with the intention of showcasing the beauty of the ‘thobe nashal,’ a traditional overdress embellished with intricate golden thread.
It can be performed to the rhythm of well-known songs and is described by Ms Al Zayani as ‘light and easy’ and dedicated to happy occasions.
A unique Bahraini dance, which simulates the movements of grinding grains with a big mortar and pestle, was also documented. The dancers make long, sweeping movements, beating the pestle into the mortar in an artistic and graceful gesture.
Her latest work can be found by visiting @shareefa_inspire_co on Instagram, where she posts videos of her performances and uploads dance tutorials.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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