Al Ahli troupe takes audience into journeys of Circassian art

JERASH — Members of Al Ahli Ensemble for Circassian Folklore took their audience into a journey of Circassian traditional art when they performed a number of dances during Jordan’s Jerash Festival on Saturday.

Samir Sobar, the director of the troupe, said Jerash is a special event for the ensemble because it witnessed the beginning of their artistic path in 1994.

“We introduce Circassian dances and we want to send a message of peace through this art. Circassians residing in Jordan always aim for peace,” he told The Jordan Times in an interview ahead of the show.

He noted that, unfortunately, there is an outlook perceived by people that Circassians are a closed community.

“Our aim at Al Ahli is to change this outlook. As you can notice that the members of the audiance are diverse today [Saturday]. We also receive non-Circassian students at the club who wish to learn these dances,” he added.

A total of 50 artists aged between 10 and 24 years took part in the show on Saturday.

Mohammad Qushha, a member of the troupe, said the Jerash festival is important for them because it is usually attended by a wide range of concert-goers.

The way Circassian artists dance and the attractive elements of their music drew Diana Manaseer, who is not originally Circassian, to attend the show.

She noted that the movements of male and female dancers always fascinate her.

Rita Mamkigh, a member of the audience, said all the Circassian troupes are working on the message of spreading the Circassian art and folklore into a wider range of audiences.

“[The] Jerash festival is not a local one but an international festival. I noticed that many people like to attend this show because it highlights unique elements of Circassian music and there are tourists and visitors who like to attend these shows because they are special well-organised events,” she told The Jordan Times.

Her husband Khaled Al Bakri said the Circassian art is “in his blood”.

“This art is beautiful because both men and women learn their roles very well with great morale. [It shows] how men respect women and how women appreciate the enthusiasm of men dancing,” he added.