Women's Arabian Gulf Dances

An introduction to the culture and customs of Kuwait and their women's dances. The starter choreography featured in this booklet requires the dancer to wear the traditional "thobe" -- an extremely large, beautiful, baggy over-dress with huge umbrella sleeves. Since the thobe is an integral part of the routine, it is often considered a "dance partner". Directions on how to create a temporary "knock-off" thobe for rehearsal are also included.

The unique steps, turns, spins, sways, hand gestures, and other actions are fully described, as well as how to seamlessly incorporate each of them with the unique motions of the thobe. A suggested starter choreography is also included.

Because of the highly rhythmic movements, the steps, as well as the order of your dance actions, depends almost entirely on your chosen performance music. Although we offer a practice music CD on this site, the dance can be performed to any indigenous gulf music.

A DVD demonstrating one group's version of the dance is available on this site, as well as a practice music CD.