ArtOfNubia - Nubian Art, Music, Song, Dance, Arageed, History, Literature, Poesy, Painting, Traditions

About Arageed Dance

Imitating the gentle waves of the Nile river - which has been the lifeline of the Nubians for millennia, and the graceful waving of the palm leaves in the wind, Arageed - or the popular folklore dance - is the way all Nubians express their deep feelings of joy and sorrow and translate the beauty and rhythms of Nubian music and songs into charming bodily expression. Nubians don't need to learn Arageed dancing - the movements arise naturally by themselves as a lively tribute to the musicians, poets and singers who offer their songs to the people surrounding them.

Nubians form a very tight community in which all members share most aspects of their life with each other. This mutual sympathy, care and love encourages and enhances common activities such as singing and dancing. Arageed is mainly danced by young and old, men and women during the lengthy wedding ceremonies, during religious holidays and other cultural and traditional events; however, it may also be danced during mourning ceremonies, allowing the deep-felt sadness to slightly dilute. Contrary to Muslims from other regions, Nubians sing their own religious songs which are also danced in a specific manner expressing their devotion to God.

Inspired by the beauty of arageed dancing, many young men form their own Arageed teams, training for a perfect coordination of their movements and adding creative new features. Their training and performances provides a welcome opportunity of coming together, sharing their friendship, singing and forgetting about the daily routine and occasional humiliations they unfortunately still suffer due to the intolerance of uncultured people. it also allows them to feel closer to their Nubian heritage and to improve their physical fitness, especially if they are living in towns.

While Arageed are mainly a form of folk dance shared by the whole community, more elaborated forms of synchronized dance - performed either by men alone or as a mixed troupe and even by children's dance groups - are sprouting all-over the Nubian regions as well as in towns where Nubians resettled after they were displaced while their villages were drowned as a consequence of the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

Some Nubian artists maintain their own Arageed troupe, which performs during the artist's concerts, TV appearances or performance during weddings and provides the artist with increased popularity, as his audience is inspired and utterly pleased seeing the beautiful coordinated dances.

There are Arageed troupes that became professional dancers who are coveted for appearances during events and shows in and outside the lands of Nubia as well as in touristic locations, hotels and Nubian guest houses.

Arageed dance is doubtlessly one of the most visible and rousing fourms of Nubian Art, motivating and arousing the spectators to participate in their movements and transmitting the message of purity, beauty, tolerance and peace inherent to Nubian art.

Arageed Folks Dance

Arageed is the folks dance performed by participants in weddings and other cultural and social events. Danced by young and old, men and women, the whole community expresses its feelings and joy in elegant movements inspired by the rhythms of Nubian music and songs.

Arageed Troupes

Incited by the beautiful melodies and rhythms of Nubian songs, young people - mainly young men - create Arageed dance troupes. They train the coordination and alteration of their dance moves and perform at weddings, concerts, TV shows and occasional presentations.

Festivals

Trained amateur or professional Arageed dance troupes perform at major events, shows, concerts and at touristic locations transmitting the joyful and peaceful spirit of the Nubian heritage.

Nubian Hand Clapping

Arageed dance is often accompanied by the famous coordinated Nubian hand clapping by the dancers, alternating rhythms and patterns and adding an arousing scent to the melodious music and songs.

Weddings

Weddings are the biggest event in every Nubian's life, and they are the joyful moments shared by the population of the whole village or the Nubian community in the towns and in exile. At weddings everybody is dancing, expressing their joy and happiness.

Shows and Performances

Increased interest in Nubian culture and heritage, both inside Egypt and Sudan as on the World stage, increases the opportunity for Nubians to showcase their wonderful coordinated Arageed dance in the framework of large performances, in films and on TV.

Art of Nubia

Arageed - Beautiful artistic Nubian folklore dance