Some of the most common instruments used for dabke music are Oud, which looks like a pear-shaped guitar; mijwiz, which is a kind of reed clarinet; tableh, which is a hand drum; and tambourine. Dabke songs are often sung by men and a choir of women as well who make a particularly high-pitched sound of celebration.
Dabke has been around for hundreds of years, and it has taken many shapes, forms and purposes, and differs from region to region. However, it’s stuck around all this time because it is a part of the culture that is fun, easy and inclusive. While dabke traditionally was danced mostly by men, now that is something that is changing. Many dabke dance troupes have both male and female members. Dabke is most often danced at celebrations such as weddings, engagements and other festivities.
Many Palestinian young people that I have met have taken dabke classes at one point or another in their lives. Community centers such as El-Funoun Popular Arts Center—where I take dabke classes at the moment—take the lead in preserving dabke and appreciating and promoting it among Palestinian youth. Dabke is a dance of stories and through this dance, one can preserve his/her culture and heritage.
In a way, dabke is connected to the physical, social and political environment. Historically, it is said that dabke originated from when villagers would come together to help their neighbors repair their homes.
