Have you ever kept pace with this organised rhythm?

An Arab traditional dance, a jolly dance that essentially involves three small steps forward and one step backward. Apart from this basic formation, the interesting part comes in when people form a synced line or a circle from right to left adding dancers one by one, creating a more vibrant atmosphere; the record now holds 5050 synced dancers! Moreover, when performed to a certain beat, the dance involves more elaborate and professional manoeuvres which enhance and boost the energy for the rest of the participants.

Time is truly flying…

Now that we are in our second, final week, it feels like time is in a rush, more than ever before… so many experiences and jam-packed days that, were it not for this this blog, I would probably not manage to find time (without eliminating two hours of my sleep) to digest and discern on what is happening. These experiences, which seem to have been played in fast-forward, have inspired me to use ‘dabke’ as an analogy to life.

The synced dancing steps, with other participants in a group just like ours, pave the way of the the experience: a fast rhythm which in turn pushes you to keep up with the rest. The forward and backward steps are like a mirror to life’s experiences, with small steps into success and maybe a backward step from time to time - a lesson or a mistake which helps you propel forward since it clears the way for your next step. This is how we danced yesterday!

Throughout the day we had a number of experiences including presentations at the Lebanese International University, usual training class and an invitation to the Lebanese military party (this is where we practiced ‘dabke’). These experiences, which differ from agara’s project, nonetheless involve some sort of preparation...at all levels. Here it occurred to me how the synced dance consists of several individuals with different characters and talents.

Different dancers… different talents!

I am presently, and happily experiencing this. The training that we are delivering involves a wide spectrum of sessions which provide insights into different fields of knowledge. Efficiently and without any effort, each volunteer is showcasing his capabilities and knowledge in delivering a particular session which only he or she can master. Just like ‘dabke’ - the dance of life, is coloured by the experiences and energy of every participant!

Life is like a synced performance with small positive steps and that occasional negative one, in tune with the lives it is composed of. It is built on impulses of spontaneous energy which, inevitably, widen the smile on your face and the sharpness of your eyes.

Yesterday evening we ended the day, “with a blast”... now it is time for Paul to play out his moves and inform us for this afternoon’s session.

Stay in touch until tomorrow, before we we start to wrap up the experience.

Have a nice day… and just like ‘dabke’ stay positive, and on the move!

Adrian Cassar