Wadia and Marwan Jarrar: Behind the Folk-Dance Renaissance

The eighty thousand spectators and more who attended the opening ceremony of the Second Arab Games, on October 12 in Beirut, were astonished — astonished at the rhythmic movements and the folk dances performed by 550 girl students from Lebanon's public schools. And they asked who this graceful young woman might be, guiding, directing, commanding? They watched her swift, well-balanced movements across the great stadium, behind the rows of girls swaying to the melodies in their ornamented folk costumes, like butterflies in a field...

Of all that followed in succession at the opening ceremony — from the release of the white doves, to the parade of the athletic teams, to the playing of the music — everything was splendid, but the most splendid of it, beyond doubt, was the part played by our girls... It was they and no others who lent to the blazing pageantry that delicate feminine air. Would that the officials grasped this truth, and never in future undertook any project without giving the feminine element a share in it, lest it come out dry and lifeless!!

Behind this renaissance — the renaissance of folk dance in Lebanon — is a name, or rather two names, that have been passing of late through artistic circles: the married couple Wadia and Marwan Jarrar... Their story begins at the folk festivals of the American University of Beirut, and perhaps their meeting was a divine arrangement, or a sweet chance! He was her partner in the dance, and how quickly the glances answered one another and Cupid bound their two hearts with a rosy ribbon! And their sweeping love came as the greatest and most stirring spur to their setting out together on the path of art.

And once marriage had crowned love, every difficulty was humbled, enthusiasm blazed up, possibilities burst forth, and genuine art found an outlet — none more spacious, none of loftier flight.

But Wadia, brimming with vitality, sure of herself, firm-footed in this field, is the one seriously acquainted with what the West has attained in physical education. She has five years of study and specialization behind her.

As for Marwan, his first provision was a rich creative bent, nourished here in Lebanon, and a striving after everything that would add to his knowledge, his learning, and his experience. He showed a surpassing skill that carried him into the ranks of the outstanding teachers, and his fondness for folk dance reached the point of passion, so that he went roaming through the various regions of Lebanon, gathering the varieties of the dabke and its steps, refining its movements, and training young men and women to dance it in a new and original performance.

His experience and his knowledge of folklore were consolidated by a journey to Moscow on which his wife was his companion; in its course they became acquainted with some of the basic Russian steps and dances, and gathered what information could be gathered within this compass...

And at the Baalbek festivals last summer the "Jarrars" passed their first great test "with distinction"! They drew all eyes to themselves, and everyone acknowledged their capacity, their energy, and the conquering determination that means to kindle in Lebanon an artistic renaissance in folk dance, local and Western alike. And for such singular efforts they earned Lebanon's thanks in a decoration with which His Excellency President Chamoun adorned their breasts.

And yesterday the opening ceremony of the Games came to confirm this will. The assembled thousands applauded long the rhythmic movements and the folk dances, performed with the utmost order, precision, and harmony — and which were none other than the creation of Wadia herself!

And when she spoke to me of the troubles she had met with while training the girls, she could not hide a lump that rose in her throat, and a hot tear in her eye. I said to myself: "She is a valiant soldier, fighting with light arms; but

her faith is strong, and therefore in the end she is bound to triumph!"

And the next question follows: does Lebanon draw the utmost benefit from the "Jarrars"? Of course not! For Marwan is engaged in commerce; and as for Wadia, though she teaches physical education at Beirut College for Women and at the Children's House attached to Makassed College, this is only a part of her mission, not the whole of it... And the Ministry of Education, which had earlier engaged her under contract as supervisor of physical education, was forced to accept, under protest, the resignation she tendered because her technical observations and reports were not taken into consideration... And now, on every important occasion — festivals, or opening ceremonies — the Ministry contracts with her "by installments," because it can find no one to do it credit but Wadia and Marwan.

I asked her, finally: do you not think of opening a school of folk dance?

Wadia answered, her eyes flashing with a delicate smile:

— It is the wish of both our hearts, Marwan's and mine, and were it not for the money we should not have delayed a single day in realizing it. And we have great hope in certain high quarters from which we have met with every appreciation and encouragement... Did she mean, by her hint, His Excellency the President and Mrs. Chamoun? The inference is not far-fetched, for our beloved President and his fairer half are famous for their bounty toward art and its people, above all the folk variety, which has lately begun to flourish in Lebanon!