• Saudi folklore artists perform Taashir, a traditional dance of the people of Taif, about 65 kilometres to the east of the holy city of Makkah. AFP
    Saudi folklore artists perform Taashir, a traditional dance of the people of Taif, about 65 kilometres to the east of the holy city of Makkah. AFP
  • Taashir is a war dance performed by carrying a weapon stuffed with gunpowder, which turns into a flame under the dancers' feet. AFP
    Taashir is a war dance performed by carrying a weapon stuffed with gunpowder, which turns into a flame under the dancers' feet. AFP
  • Barefoot and in their traditional thobe and ghutra headdress, Taashir performers dance to traditional music in Saudi Arabia's western city of Taif. AFP
    Barefoot and in their traditional thobe and ghutra headdress, Taashir performers dance to traditional music in Saudi Arabia's western city of Taif. AFP
  • A Taashir dancer bounces up and down with his knees pressed close together, as he fires at the ground, resulting in a blast of sparks and smoke under his feet, in Saudi Arabia's western province of Taif. AFP
    A Taashir dancer bounces up and down with his knees pressed close together, as he fires at the ground, resulting in a blast of sparks and smoke under his feet, in Saudi Arabia's western province of Taif. AFP
  • Taashir requires some degree of training as the dancer has to jump, aim and shoot while in mid air. AFP
    Taashir requires some degree of training as the dancer has to jump, aim and shoot while in mid air. AFP
  • Young boys also take part in the Taashir dance, but train with an unloaded weapon until they are able to handle a gun. AFP
    Young boys also take part in the Taashir dance, but train with an unloaded weapon until they are able to handle a gun. AFP
  • The Taashir dance, originally performed before battle to motivate fighters and intimidate opponents, has been passed down from generation to generation. AFP
    The Taashir dance, originally performed before battle to motivate fighters and intimidate opponents, has been passed down from generation to generation. AFP
  • Tasshir is a popular legacy and many in Taif want their children to learn the dance to preserve their tradition. AFP
    Tasshir is a popular legacy and many in Taif want their children to learn the dance to preserve their tradition. AFP
  • A tribal tradition believed to date back hundreds of years, Taashir is now performed at weddings, festivals and on other special occasions. AFP
    A tribal tradition believed to date back hundreds of years, Taashir is now performed at weddings, festivals and on other special occasions. AFP

Gulf

Gun jumping in Saudi Arabia: dancers perform Taashir folklore dance in Taif - in pictures

The traditional war dance involves barefoot men in traditional thobes leaping and jumping over guns while firing them

The National

April 14, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic
Gulf

Most popular today

1

Palestine and ICE protest messages on Golden Globes red carpet

2

Cartoon for January 13, 2026

3

Al Hilal v Al Nassr: Cristiano Ronaldo and Kingsley Coman rally troops ahead of Riyadh derby

4

My Dubai Salary: ‘From earning Dh3,000 in Dubai Duty Free, I now draw Dh200,000 a month in real estate’

5

George RR Martin has outlined 12 unpublished Dunk & Egg stories for HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

6

Sharjah power cut strikes large sections of emirate

7

Xabi Alonso sacked by Real Madrid and replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa

8

How crops are being grown and fish reared in an eco-friendly way in the Sharjah desert

9

Etihad Airways named world’s safest airline thanks to turbulence management and crash-free history

10

Death toll from Iran protests far higher than initial estimates, doctor says