jordan pulse -

Jerash audiences experienced a remarkable evening of heritage at the Southern Theater, joined by the Abnaa Al-Jibal ("Sons of the Mountains") troupe of the International Academy of Circassian Culture, who delivered a night steeped in authenticity.
Before a large crowd, audiences were treated to a complete performance celebrating Circassian cultural heritage and its artistic and human value, expressed through music, folk dance, and traditional costume.
That night, the Abnaa Al-Jibal troupe wrote a new chapter in Circassian culture's history with the Jerash Festival, now in its 40th edition — a festival that brings civilizations together and unites peoples through the language of art, offering audiences a chance to discover Circassian culture in its most vibrant form.
The performance carried the audience through stories told in rhythm and heritage tableaus pulsing with pride and elegance, as folk music blended with traditional dances in a display reflecting the beauty of this authentic human heritage.
The International Academy of Circassian Culture welcomed the Jerash audience and expressed its happiness at being part of the festival's 40th edition, promising the crowd an exceptional artistic evening.
The Abnaa Al-Jibal troupe performed ten of the finest folkloric dance tableaus, accompanied by traditional music and heritage costumes in vivid colors.
The opened with "Islamiye," a Circassian folk dance rhythm expressing the blend of masculine strength and feminine grace through the girls' graceful movements and the riders' lively performance — the tableaus formed on stage brimming with energy, evoking themes of chivalry and masculinity set against the girls' delicacy.
The performance continued with "Zhyu" (Tlepersh), one of the rare traditional Circassian dances expressing emotional and heartfelt interaction, performed as part of the folk dance sequence known as "Zhyu" or "Jagu."
The show's beauty continued with "Abkhazia," a folk dance representing the Abaza and Abkhazia region, marked by fast rhythms and precise movements.
Amid strong audience engagement, the performance continued with "Wij Hasht," a traditional dance specifically meant for connection and emotional expression between a young man and woman.
The celebration's beauty grew further with the rhythm of the "Zeghelaz" dance, followed by "Bashasha Qafa," the dance of first meeting and welcome in Circassian tradition, showcasing the girls' grace and the riders' movements, guided by the moral and honor code known as the "Khabzeh" system.
The continued with "Mazdok," a traditional Circassian dance that originated in the Mazdok region of the North Caucasus, often accompanied by spirited chants and rhythms.
This was followed by "Qafqas" (Caucasus), a time-honored folk dance form symbolizing chivalry, pride, and dignity, with its most prominent variations including the Qafa, Shoshan, and Wij dances.
The evening closed with "Abnaa Al-Jibal" itself, a signature heritage showpiece performed by the International Academy of Circassian Culture in Jordan, embodying the pride and vigor of Caucasian horsemen.
The evening, adorned with authentic Circassian culture, closed to warm applause and enthusiastic cheers celebrating the artistic and cultural beauty the Abnaa Al-Jibal troupe brought to a stage where art came together to unite in one place.
At the close of the event, International Academy of Circassian Culture president Yinal Hatek honored Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts Director Yazan Al-Khudair, thanking him for his outstanding efforts in this exceptional edition of the festival.