jordan pulse -

Media Committee of the Jerash Festival
The Hippodrome Stage continued its performances as part of the 40th edition of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts, cementing its position as one of the festival's most notable qualitative additions. Since its opening, the stage has succeeded in attracting a growing audience and presenting diverse cultural and artistic shows that reflect the festival's civilizational dimension, affirming its role as a new space celebrating global creativity and heritage alongside Jerash's main theaters.
On Saturday evening, the stage hosted the "Al-Sharqia Folklore Troupe from Egypt," which presented a collection of folkloric tableaus inspired by Egyptian popular heritage. The performance took place in the presence of Omar Aref, Cultural Attaché at the Egyptian Embassy in Jordan, and Heba, Representative for International Cultural Relations, alongside a striking public attendance.
The troupe performed several of its most famous traditional routines, including the Tanoura, El-Hosan (The Horse), El-Hawaya, El-Sham'adan (Candelabra), and El-Farah (The Wedding) dances. Transitioning between popular dances and folkloric showcases, the performances captured the features and traditions of the Egyptian rural environment. The was marked by dynamic choreography, synchronized rhythms, and authentic traditional costumes that added a vibrant visual character. The audience engaged enthusiastically throughout, responding with rounds of warm applause after every dance and following the performance attentively until its conclusion.
For his part, Ahmed Wasef, Director of the Al-Sharqia Folklore Troupe, noted that the troupe participates in the Jerash Festival to present scenes from Egyptian folk heritage. He pointed out that this is not the troupe's first appearance, having previously participated in the festival around twenty years ago. Wasef explained that he had followed the news prior to the festival's launch and learned about the inauguration of the new Hippodrome Stage, describing the addition as a distinguished milestone that grants cultural events a fresh space to shine and engage audiences.
Wasef pointed out that the name "Hippodrome" historically refers to a horse-racing arena, expressing his delight at this pleasant coincidence—especially given that the troupe's program included the El-Hosan (Horse) dance, adding a unique symbolic touch to their participation. He emphasized that the troupe carries an artistic and cultural message from Egypt to its brethren in Jordan, driven by a desire to bring joy to the Jordanian audience through authentic traditional arts.
It is worth noting that the Al-Sharqia Folklore Troupe was established in 1968 and is considered one of Egypt's oldest folk art ensembles. Operating under the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, the troupe works to revive Egyptian popular heritage—particularly the traditions of the Sharqia Governorate—by presenting folkloric tableaus that depict rural customs, traditions, and life. The troupe has represented Egypt in dozens of international festivals and won numerous global awards, making it a key ambassador for Egyptian folk arts on the international cultural stage.