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

Marwan Jarrar

Wadia Haddad Jarrar

Rhythmic movements to the strains of the waltz