The Art of Al-Muradah is an ancient folk singing and dancing art form that was originally performed exclusively by women during specific occasions, such as holidays and wedding celebrations. Typically, between twenty to thirty girls participate in the performance, standing in two parallel, facing lines. Each girl holds the hand of the one next to her, starting in the first line. They begin by singing a verse of a poem while raising their arms upwards and stomping their feet in rhythm, advancing towards the second line, and then returning to their original position. This process is repeated, with the second line performing the same actions as the first, continuing until the end of the poem.
One of the famous poems performed in Al-Muradah is:
“Amsharq w’raih … Yadha al-qamar yali … Amsharq w’raih
Maraqaduh fi al-braih … Sallam ‘ala aly … Maraqaduh fi al-braih
‘Ala al-ghaban tayih … Mutawassid bishtih … ‘Ala al-ghaban tayih
Khanin al-rawaih … Sallam ‘ala khalyi … Khanin al-rawaih
Min ash-sharq ‘ani … Hayy al-dhi yani … Min ash-sharq ‘ani
Amtiyb ‘atana … Fi aydih mashmum … Amtiyb ‘atana.”
The performance is marked by the elegance and synchronized movements of the dancers, emphasizing cultural pride and heritage, with each girl playing an essential role in maintaining the rhythm and poetry of the performance. Al-Muradah remains a cherished tradition in many communities, celebrated for its ability to bring people together in a spirit of joy and unity.