Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, Al Youla competition engrosses visitors to Modhesh Fun City day after day
Al Youla, the UAE traditional dance, has been a major crowd puller at Modhesh Fun City. Performed with mock rifles by young UAE nationals, who have inherited this dance from their forefathers, the dance was traditionally performed to celebrate victory.
Today, the young UAE nationals who perform the Al Youla, do so to stay connected to the UAE's cultural heritage and achievements and raise awareness of its deeply rooted history. The event is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders
To enhance this feeling of patriotism and cultural pride in the young generation, the Modhesh Fun City at Hall 4 of the Dubai World Trade Center has allocated a special theatre for Al Youla competitions, which will be held at Al Medan Citadel. The competition is designed for children under 12 years, who showcase their skills, dancing to traditional music using swords and rifles. The energy and agility of the young dancers is tested; those who perform perfectly are declared winners and given prizes.
Such competitions are organised in the hope that younger generations perform their folkloric and heritage dances, thus keeping alive their country's rich heritage and culture. Many children have expressed their keen enthusiasm to participate in Al Youla competitions, while others have showed their willingness to learn -- as it gives performers a feeling of power and energy. The event is aired live on Sama Dubai TV on Sundays.
One such young visitor, Abdul Rahman Mohammad, said that Al Youla has captivated him, and he's determined to perfect his technique. "I read about this folk dance and heard about it from my parents," he said.
Al Youla has been developed and updated from its early roots, when it was performed by tribals with guns and swords to celebrate victory. Today, modern guns and arms are used which are not heavy as those used in the past.
Obaid Hamad Salem congratulated Modhesh Fun City for hosting a heritage competition, which reflects the city's great attention to the arts. "The Al Youla competition shows that the city is keen to inculcate values and traditions in the young minds and strengthen their loyalty to their home country. Many children from different Arab and foreign countries ask me about Al Youla dance and want to learn how to perform it and know more about it. Thanks to the attention and support given by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his son HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to the folk arts, hundreds of young men are prompted to learn folk dances and take part in Al Youla competitions," he said.
"Al Youla is a folk dance exclusively performed by men, but sometimes women and girls stand behind them to encourage and urge them to perform it better. I have seen these dances performed during our country's official occasions and festive celebrations, especially the national celebrations. I love this dance and wish I could dance too, but unfortunately it is only for boys," said Sara Yousuf, adding that she gets excited while watching the competition but feels sorry for the dancer whose arms tire and fall down and he has to walk out of the competition.
Speaking about his love of heritage and old traditions and customs, Sultan Ahmad said, "I love our folk arts, and I would urge Modhesh Fun City to increase the number of heritage-related activities. Such events educate and inform children about history and heritage, keeping us strongly connected with our past."
The 10-week long DSS, which opened with Ice Surprises week on June 21, celebrated the Arts Surprises Week and Food Surprises weeks and continues with the weekly themes of Adventure Surprises, Cartoon Surprises, Nature Surprises, Knowledge Surprises, Flower Surprises, Heritage Surprises and will conclude with Back-to-School Surprises on September 1.
-Ends-
For further information feel free to contact:
Laila Suhail
Executive Project Director
Dubai Summer Surprises
Direct: +9714 2020282 -2020397
Fax: +97104 2020588
Email : lmsuhail@mydsf.gov.ae
Ilyas Qureshi
Media Officer
DSS Media Center
P.O. Box 25425,
Dubai,
UAE
Telephone, direct: 9714-2020509
Fax: 9714-2221110
Email:iqureshi@mydsf.gov.ae
© Press Release 2006
