Tag: Lebanese folklore
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What Is the Real Dabke? A Debate Sparked by “Let’s Dabke” Exposes Lebanon’s Cultural Divide
The Rise of “Let’s Dabke” MTV Lebanon’s hit show Let’s Dabke (يلا نندبك) is more than a dance competition. It’s a stage for Lebanon’s most talented dabke troupes to showcase rhythm, creativity, and cultural pride. With a judging panel that blends tradition and modernity—Omar Caracalla (Baalbek’s ritualist and theatrical innovator), Dr. Nadra Assaf (dance scholar…
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The Henna Night in Baalbek | A Celebration of Heritage, Music, and Tradition
In Baalbek, Lebanon’s heart of heritage and hospitality, the Henna Night (Laylat al-Henna) remains one of the most symbolic and emotional pre-wedding traditions. This ritual, celebrated on the night before the wedding, reflects the depth of Baalbek’s social and cultural identity, where community, family, and joy merge into a single vibrant scene. The Traditional “Bride’s…
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Caracalla Family: From Baalbek to the World Stage – The Legacy of Omar and Abdel-Halim Caracalla
Few Lebanese families have carried the rhythm of tradition and modernity as powerfully as the Caracalla family. Rooted in Baalbek, the ancient city that has long symbolized Lebanon’s cultural soul, the Caracalla brothers — Abdel-Halim and Omar — transformed traditional Lebanese Dabke into a form of world-class theatrical art. Their pioneering work bridged the past…
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The Masters of Baalbek Dabke – Preserving the Heartbeat of Lebanese Folk Dance
At the center of this living heritage stands a group of men known as “The Masters of Baalbek Dabke” — legendary dancers and singers who safeguarded and passed down the original styles of Dabke Baalbackieh from generation to generation. Their performances weren’t staged spectacles; they were a living heartbeat of the community.Who Are the Masters…
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The Solh Family & the Khataira: Baalbek’s Keepers of Authentic Dabke Tradition
Introduction: Before the Stage, There Was the Rooftop Long before Dabke was choreographed for grand theaters, it lived on the rooftops of Baalbek. At the heart of this oral and community-based tradition was one family: The Solh family. Known locally as the “Khataira” (the wise elders), they were not only performers — they were the…
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The Caracalla Legacy: How One Baalbek Family Took Dabke from Village Roofs to Global Stages
Introduction: From Baalbek’s Heart to the World’s Spotlight The Caracalla family — originating from Baalbek, Lebanon — has played a pivotal role in transforming Dabke from a rural, communal dance into a global performance art. Through the vision of Abdel-Halim Caracalla and the theatrical genius of Caracalla Dance Theatre, Dabke became not only a symbol…
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أبو يحيى | أسطورة الدبكة البعلبكية
أستاذ كلّ من أراد تعلّم الخطوات; لم يكن له منافس قط بالأسلوب أو التعبير الرجولي لخطوات الرقص، هو الجبل الذي حمى التراث للأجيال القادمة. زكريا إسماعيل صلح، ولد وتوفّى في بعلبك، عشق تراثها وتاريخها، وعشقه أهل بعلبك. منذ سنين مراهقته الأولى، عندما كان في السادسة عشر ربيعًا في حي صلح في بعلبك، لفت زكريا صلح…
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