Al Ardha attracts large crowds at Al Janadriyah

A particular highlight of the Al Janadriya festival has been the music and dancing from the regions of Saudi Arabia. One of the most popular dances of the festival which attracted large crowds was the ‘Al Ardha’.

This folkoric dance is regarded as Saudi Arabia’s official dance and was traditionally performed by warriors before they encountered their adversaries in battle. The dance was used as a way to stir up passion and enthusiasm amongst warriers and to harnass high morale.

Today, the ‘Ardha’ is performed at celebrations throughout the regions of Saudi Arabia, in particular at weddings or other special occasions.

The Performance of the Ardha

The performance of the Al Ardha can differ from individual regions in Saudi Arabia. At the Al Janadriyah festival, the men from the Bisha region performed the dance in the most well known way of two rows of men facing each other. The dance began with a man reciting a single line of poetry that is repeated as the Bisha musicians beat their drums. The men in the two rows facing each other then wielded their swords and danced to the beat of the drum. The men from the Bisha performed the dance in front of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz at the opening of the festival.

Clothing

Specific clothing was worn by the men of the Bisha region for the performance of the Ardha; this consisted of loose white fabric clothing and a black velvet overcoat worn over the top known as the ‘Qarmaliya’.

Also, The men from the Bisha region performed Al Ardha in presence of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the opening of the Al Janadriyah festival.