Yola dance (Al-Ayyala): A traditional Emirati dance: 

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A dance is what people choose to celebrate their joy and excitement. Every culture has its representative tribal dance. The Emirati people used to celebrate their happiness and joy at weddings and national day celebrations. The dance is Yola, which is rooted in their culture and has a traditional spiritual meaning of amplifying joy together.

Origins:

Al-Ayyala is a traditional Emirati dance also known as Yola. It is rooted in the tribal Bedouin culture, which holds more meaning than just a performance; the people of these tribes view it as a symbolic tradition for pre-battle preparation and post-battle celebrations. They used to perform this when the tribe was preparing for a battle. The people of the tribe perform this ritual to demonstrate their strength, unity, and power. After a victory in battle, they perform it to show respect and honor the fallen. Later, Yola transformed into a traditional ceremonial dance.

Performance: 

The dance features a bamboo stick, known as an Asa, a traditional weapon that represents strength and defense. There are two rows of men facing each other, representing unity and discipline. These men synchronized their movements in such a way that they represent a collective harmony and also a calm strength. During the performance, the man raised flags and toy rifles that symbolized pride, victory, and honor for their past Emirati warriors, who were indeed strong and fought in battles. Some chants and poetry are used to recite during the Yola dance that carry the storied tales of their history. 

Yola in 21st century: 

Today, even royal families participate in the Yola dance to keep Emirati culture alive. It is also included in the school curriculum, helping to preserve the traditional Emirati heritage passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. In 2010, UNESCO added Al-Ayyala to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Maham Tauseef