Don’t just dip your toe in the water! Jump right in, step forward, and find your feet in this hour of fun and excitement
On 8 November 2019, we had a workshop to teach Dabke to the Mancunian community at Rethink Rebuild Society centre in Longsight. The workshop was conducted by instructor Bashar Farhat.
Dabke is a native Levantine folk dance performed by the Lebanese, Jordanians, Syrians, Palestinians and Iraqis (and, of course, on the Island of Crete, think Zorba the Greek!). It combines circle and line dancing and is widely performed at weddings and other joyous occasions, or even when we meet with friends.
Participates were introduced to various types of Dabke and performed to the melodies of traditional Arabic music. It was lovely evening.
Bashar Farahat
Bashar is a 34 year old Syrian doctor and poet, currently living in London.
After being detained twice by the Syrian regime, Bashar fled to Lebanon where he ran creative writing workshops with Syrian refugee children.
Bashar has participated in various refugee-focused events using poetry, drumming and dance as ways of self-expression.