“The Fire Dance,” a folklore dance, is an old war dance performed by one, two, or more dancers at the same time, where the performer holds in his hand a weapon
(Al-Muqamaa, a sort of long gun) loaded with gunpowder, which turns into a flame under his feet when the dancer/performer raises it high as if to embrace the sky.
This popular heritage dance combines coordinated and harmonized roles and tasks where performers must acquire very high skills and professionalism which is the most important feature of the warriors in the old times when they engaged in battles.
The act itself was to infuse enthusiasm in the hearts of the warriors and make the enemies fearful.
The dance is also performed after victory in battle.
Beating on the drums has always been always a military tactic
to spread fear and terror in the hearts of enemies, and to ignite and infuse enthusiasm among combatants.
Even today, drums are still used to express joy during festivals and events held in the western and southern parts of the Kingdom.
Daifallah Al-Sufiani, one of the most distinguished performers of this art was quoted as saying to a local newspaper, regarding this folklore dance:
“The art of the Fire Dance is inherited, it is an old and beautiful popular dance, not forgotten until today, and it receives the attention and love of the people. It is an old and famous heritage which was very popular in Hijaz and the southern area.
The performer uses the Al-Muqamaa weapon.
The dance is always performed during festivals and occasions, and weddings to express joy, and at the same time, to maintain this inherited folklore.”
He added the dance is performed differently according to the regions of the Kingdom, including Taif and the southern region, in terms of the performance itself, and the songs accompanying the dance.
The performer must be very professional because dancing with the weapon, gunpowder and fire is very dangerous.
Explaining to the newspaper the details of the dance he said: “The dance with the weapon first begins with training the performer on how to hold the weapon in a professional way so that no hazards or threats are imposed on the performer or the audience, and in a way to give an aesthetic image in harmonization with the traditional outfit belonging to Hijaz area. After mastering the skills on how to hold the weapon and dance with it, the performer is then trained on preforming the dance, the walk and other related steps to show the elegance and beauty of the movement of this dangerous folk dance.”
He added that after these steps are mastered, then comes the most dangerous phase of the training, which involves loading the weapon with gunpowder ready to explode.
“The performer is trained on how to jump high and press the trigger to explode the gunpowder under his feet with a powerful voice and a raging fire, with smoke covering his face for a little while,” he explained.
On the songs accompanying the dance he said:
“They are folklore songs specific to the dance.
In the area of Taif, a popular rhythm known as ‘Rajas’ accompanies the dance, where the poet or singer recites lyrics of pride in a certain melody famous in Hijaz.”
He said the process for loading the gunpowder involves preparing the weapon then filling the gunpowder in the mouth.
The explosive material is pushed deep inside the pipe of the gun, and then a brass piece is put to close the mouth and a spark ignites fire and flames burst outside the gun.
He hoped that this folklore heritage finds special attention because it holds special historical connotations and enjoys widespread popularity among citizens in the Kingdom, especially in the western and southern regions.
Хората на Badia и Hejaz практикуват традиционен военен ритуал, който изисква голяма смелост, способност и обучение: Нарича се „Ta'sheer“ или „Fire dance“, изкуството да танцуваш под ритъма на „барабаните на Zir“ и да скачаш високо преди да режисираш Оръжието към земята и стрелба там, където краката някога са стояли, без - разбира се - причиняване на вреда.
Тази традиция е дълбоко вкоренена в историята на Хеджази и е станала неразделна част от тържества и социални събития в Саудитска Арабия, където изстрелите резонират, димът се издига и искрите осветяват полета и градове.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPPctXFAPJg
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