Kattara for comments

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by David R

There are actualy two traditions of sword dancing in Morris, one with a conventional "sword", and the other with a grip at each end of the blade so it can be held by two dancers at the same time. It is believed the double grip originated in the use of horse grooming tool as a sword substitute. Just one of those oddities we have here in the UK.

Salaams David R ~ Then it appears that the closest comparison to the Razha section(SWORDS CELEBRATORY SECTION) in the Funoon pageant tradition~ in the form of a processional dance and secondly in a mimic fight "al yalaah" which goes back to 751 AD and beyond is Morris Dancing in the UK!

UK Pantomime styles I believe also exist in the Guy Fawks celebrations and in the ring a ring o roses enactment by children of the great plague...and in pageants such as The Furry Dance.

In Oman the unwritten form takes on quite another level and everyday "way of life" events are recorded so that the body of work (The Funoon) is sub-divided into Agriculture, Fishing, Trade, Marriage and War to name a few of the unwritten, acted out, pageantry; songs, dances, poetry and performances which are sacrasanct and handed down faithfully generation to generation.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.