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Dabke

Lebanese Dabke is a country dance from the mountain villages of Lebanon. Many Middle Eastern countries have their own dabke style. This dance form is communal with participants commonly holding hands and the lead dancer leaping to the beat and waving a scarf. Dabke is known to be a celebratory dance. As a matter of fact, my parents met during a dabke performance in their Lebanese village where they lived with their respective families. My mom was a young teen and my dad 18 at the time. Their marriage, which was agreed to and arranged by their parents, took place within a month of meeting.  (Music by Fares Karam, “Yokberni”; translates to “Bury me,” an expression of endearment.)