My Dabke Group

Published: 10.12.2006
TUCSON MEET YOURSELF
Mideastern dancing reaches their hearts first, minds later
By CHUCK GRAHAM
Tucson Citizen
The spirit of Tucson Meet Yourself has always been to nurture the curiosity of all people about the cultures of other people. But when that culture is the Middle East there is an extra urgency about it. Current events in the headlines always seem to be more important than any amount of folk dancing. Bonnie Toland is one person who would like to change that emphasis.
"One reason I got involved with the Al-Haneen Arabic Dabke Dance Group was to affect people through their hearts rather than their minds," Toland said. She first became interested in the dabke form of dancing when she was a foreign exchange student in the Middle East a few years ago.
Returning to the United States, she lived in Boston and joined a dabke dance group there. About two years ago she moved to Tucson, began studying interior design, married a Middle Eastern man who completed his graduate studies at the University of Arizona, and wanted to start another dabke dance group.
"My first concern was wondering how many people would want to be in it, but there has been so much interest in having us perform. Sometimes, we have to turn down invitations because we already have agreed to perform somewhere else. That surprised me."
The Al-Haneen Arabic Dabke Dance Group has been meeting, practicing and performing for a year, spreading the joy and culture of this regional dance form. Most of the dancers are students - the group is officially affiliated with the UA - so the number of dancers at any particular performance depends on whether school is in session and who has to take a test the next day.
One of Toland's favorite stories is from a recent dance performance at the 17th Street Market.
"One person in the audience said 'They are Arabic, but they look so friendly,' " said Toland with a smile in her voice. "That was a wonderful moment for me. It is amazing the impact something as simple as dancing can have."
Dabke is an Arabic word that means, essentially, to stomp one's feet.
"It is very rhythmic dancing with a lot of stomping," Toland said. "A lot of rhythm in the feet. Traditionally it is danced by males. It is a strong, masculine dance. Not at all like belly dancing."
Modern times have brought more steps, more individualized choreography and a place for women. "These days, there are a lot of mixed groups," Toland said.
Culturally, the Middle East is divided into four regions, each with a different dialect and a different regional dance. Egypt is the land of belly dancing. North African dance uses different moves. The Gulf states, which would include Iraq, have a different style
Dabke belongs to the countries of "Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine" Toland said. The Al-Haneen Arabic Dabke Dance Group will perform Saturday at 8 p.m. on the City Hall Stage. For details about the group and a schedule of upcoming performances, e-mail bontoland @hotmail.com



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