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UNESCO Meeting in Abu Dhabi Opens on 28 September |
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The fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Intangible Heritage of the UNESCO, opens tomorrow at the Abu Dhabi Intercontinental Hotel. About 400 official delegations from the 114 countries which have signed the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage of 2003 will be attending the meeting which ends on October 2. Also attending the meeting, which seeks to activate the 2003 Convention, are representatives of more than 50 associations, regional organisations, and non-governmental organisations. Commenting on the meeting at a press conference held here today at the Abu Dhabi Intercontinental Hotel, Bilal Al Bodoor, Executive Director for Culture and Arts Affairs at the Ministry of Culture, Youth ’&’ Community Development, said the UAE gives great attention to heritage and culture. "That is why the UAE is very keen on signing such an important international agreement. We realise how important it is to maintain and preserve human cultural heritage since it represents the cornerstone of any country’s sustainable development," he stated during the press conference which was held in the presence of Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrue, Director General of Abu Dhabi Authority for Heritage ’&’ Culture (ADACH). Al Budoor added that the UAE has a rich and vibrant cultural heritage and continued to make great efforts to maintain that history. He noted that the meeting will discuss the priorities of participating countries in preserving and maintaining cultural heritage and hinted that the Ministry of Culture, Youth ’&’ Community Development has two plans to discuss "Al Ayala and Al ahaala arts". The ministry began recording and maintaining the works of Al haala arts since it’s only known in the UAE and is considered one of the most difficult arts because it is performed without musical instruments thus spectators and listeners can feel the beat of the dances which are presented in sentimental situations. Al ahaala art consists of harmonised performances whilst the team members stand in two rows performing their dances in unique rhythmic situations. The dance is usually done at night after the end of Al ayala dance and can be performed as a challenged between two teams representing two cities or areas until one of them surrenders for the other. Presented to the UNESCO by the UAE, the second dossier of Al Ayala dance concentrates on the importance of the dance since it is the main common dance in the country while known in other gulf countries as the "Aarda". Al Ayala was so called to represent the power of a tribe that beats another when it feels danger or war. The dances begin to drum roll and attract audience around them. Such a dance symbolises the love and loyalty of the tribe to their country and nation and at the end they raise victory flag. Al Ayala dance is now performed in national ceremonies, celebrations and weddings. Bilal Al Bodoor then gave a presentation about Al Ayala dance and its types. Al Bodoor explained that the ADACH will present a dossier on "Falconry"" as part of the UAE’s dossier to the UNESCO. The Minister of Culture, Youth ’&’ Community Development, Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, has set up a committee, headed by Abdul Aziz Al Mussalem, Director of Heritage Section at the Sharjah Department of Culture, to examine, maintain and make a regular inventory of cultural heritage. Al Bodoor lauded the efforts of ADACH in its preparation to host the UNESCO meeting.
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