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Afghan Attan Dance

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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Afghan Attan Dance
    Posted: 04-Feb-2006 at 19:00

<FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=6>


<FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=6>ATTAN




Attan is a traditional Afghan dance; It's origin lies in the Afghan tribes pagan yester-years and usually involved men performing a ritual dance. This was later modified into a Muslim dance of soldiers to allow the dancers to get 'closer to God' before they advance on their missions. It was noted by the Moghuls of the period and is unique to Afghans.


The dance has further evolved as a cultural tradition of non-Pashtuns during Weddings and other festive occasions. It is considered the national dance of Afghanistan, and the preferred dance of Pashtuns in Pukhtunkhwa of today's Pakistan and enjoyed by men and women.


       


It is performed usually with a Dhol, which is a double-headed barrel drum that has a very deep and low resonance sound. Other instruments can include a single barreled Dhol, Tablas, the 18-stringed Robab, Surnai flute (aka shanai-India, zurna - Central Asia and Turkey, and zurla Macedonia), or wooden flute known as a Toola. Newer/Modern renditions have also included the Saxaphone and electronic keyboard.


Like the instruments, the technique behind the Attan has changed much for over centuries, but itscore has not changed. Typically, its a circular dance ranging from two to over a hundred people, and the performers will follow each other going round and round in a circle to the beat as the rhythm and beats getfaster.



More complex Attans involve an Attan troup leader who begins the attan slowly using a variation of styles and techniques, and the ultimate spin is performed after the leader gives the signal, either by placing his hand on the floor or raising it in the air. The musicians, who sit on horseback or on the ground, perform the music.The Dholchi is fully dependent on the attan leader for guidance toinstruct his beats. Because the Attan dancers dictate the song and dance, hence thedance can be anywhere from 5 minute to 30 minutes long. The attan will end when no dancer is left standing on the dance floor.


It is not uncommon for a dancer to faint during the performance as it is very physically intensive. The dance has become very popular throughout Afghanistan and Pukhtunkhwa and can be performed year-round in all festive occasions. In Afghanistan each valley has its own unique style.


       


There are many different kinds of Attan in Afghanistan, Kabuli, Wardaki, Logari, Khosti/Paktia, Herati, Kochi, and Khattak. Other ethnic groups have adopted the Attan in similar or varied styles such as the Pashayi, Baluchi, and Nuristani.


I will describe and show pictures of them later on and will soon include some videos for your enjoyment.


    
    

Edited by Afghanan - 05-Jan-2007 at 23:46
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  Quote Zagros Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-Feb-2006 at 13:39
thanks for sharing.  I would like to see some movies and sounds of the dances, which are typically very colourful.
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  Quote Behi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-Feb-2006 at 14:50
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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-Feb-2006 at 18:16

Originally posted by Zagros

thanks for sharing.  I would like to see some movies and sounds of the dances, which are typically very colourful.

Don't worry, it's on the way.  

The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
~ Khushal Khan Khattak
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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-Feb-2006 at 19:24

Here is a list of Attans I think I can describe pretty well. All these different styles may be practiced and mixed by Afghans in other valleys, and its not uncommon to see Afghans of one province being better at a different regions' style.

Kabuli

Kabuli - In this dance, unlike Attans in other areas, the dancers perform to the beat of the musician. This dance typically performed by men & women. It involves 2-5 steps, ending with a clap given while facing the center, after which the process is repeated again. The hip and arms are put in a sequential movement including left and right tilts, with the wrists twisting in sequence, with ultimately a hand is projected outward and brought in a 'scoop-like' fashion towards the center where the other hand meets it for a clap. This dance is typically performed with the musician dictating the duration and speed.  At weddings, the dance is simplified to only 2 steps of turning half way and clapping towards the center. 

Another modification that has been made is that the dancers will perform the 2 step Attan, and afterwards all of them will sit down, while 2 of them remain standing, come to the middle and dance to a more faster beat.  After a few minutes, they will take their seat on the floor and another pair will come up to dance.

Wardaki

Wardaki - Wardaki consists of body movements no clapping and lots of turns and twists, and Spotting, as well as handkerchiefs in their hands to accentuate their spins. The men usually boast wild mustaches, including hair that is greased or wet, as to accentuate the spotting and give more weight to the hair during turns. This dance is performed either with the beat of the musician or the musician tuning the beat the technique of the performers.

Logari

Logari - Logari dancers have always been known for their shyness and also for their rythmic interruptions & spins during their local dance. Their attan also has the trademark spins of the Logari style, uses the clapping and the full twists in place as arms are usually in the air and come together medially during the circular dance with one or two claps in the center. It is not uncommon to see one ore two circles in one. This dance typically performed by men and/or women or even young boys and/or girls. The dance can immediately turn into a dance, with the Attan performers sitting or squatting down while 1 or 2 come to the center to dance. The men occasionally wear Turbans and they are taken off usually during the end of the dance when the beats get faster.

The sweat on their heads from wearing the Turban, puts added weight to their hair. This dance is performed either with the beat of the musician or the musician tuning the beat the technique of the performers.

Paktia/Khosti

Paktia/Khosti - Paktia/Khosti is typically a 5-7 step and can be longer. It is also interesting because of the head movements the head is snapped left & right as their long jet black hair fling through the air, and eventually ends with the dancers turned medially and squatting with arms to their sides towards the center. This dance is performed with the musician tuning the beat to the technique of the performers.  It is said that Attan originated first in this region.

Kochi Attan

Attan of the Kuchi - Women usually perform this attan during their own occasions, such as child birth or new years (Naway Kaal/Nou Rooz) and coming of spring. The men usually perform with long hair, almost to shoulder length and cut straight across the back, and some may sport a very wild mustache or beard. It is usually performed with Handkerchiefs, and involves lots of spotting movements, with multiple twists and squatting. This dance can be up to 10 steps, and also involve men walking with their knees or standing erect and snapping their head in random directions to the beat of the Dhol. The depth and complexity of their Attan may be because of the wide range of valleys they trek, and it may have been influenced by many other forms. This dance is performed with the musician tuning the beat to the technique of the performers.

Herati

Herati Attan - The first type, the Herat urban style of attan, begins with a greeting called mauzun qadam (elegant rhythmic step) also referred to as razm o gozasht, which starts with men in a row. When the leader raises his hand, others in the line follow suit and begin walking in procession. The dancers move forward in a single line stepping slowly to the rhythm with heads turned to the side as if respectfully facing viewing dignitaries or the audience in a military manner. At first the raised hand twists inward back and forth in time to the music then both hands are raised by the leader, followed by the group. Then the group claps with hands above the head. Music for this would be played on dutar and doira or even dhol and sorna in 4/4 pattern. After the mauzun qadam which ends in a brief halt, comes the official national 7/8 beat attan which is a circle dance referred to as dauregi in Herat. This begins with a slow stepping to the beat and progresses with dancers making 1/4 and then 1/2 turns, stamping the foot and clapping hands (chak) once, twice or three times, at the appropriate places in the music. Small hand scarves can be used in the village rendition of the dance and can be in the colors of red and green or sometimes white, carried either by the leader or by all of the dancers. The leader gives the command to clap twice by saying "du" meaning two, or "se" meaning three. The dancers move together and apart in a circle like a flower opening and closing. The traditional attan tune, known as Shah Mast, speeds to a frenzy before the leader might call out to the musicians "bezan aushari!" meaning play aushari.

Khattak Attan

Khattak - Khattak style is deeply routed during the Moghul period where men performed this dance with their weapons in their hands.  Most Khattak Pashtuns live in Peshawar, Kohat, and Mardan in Pukhtunkhwa, with small pockets also living in Kandahar, and Khost.  A Khattak dancer performs with the zeal of a hero, displaying his physical fitness through body movements, while holding one, two or even three swords at a time. Each sword weighs about one-and-a-half kilos. The dance is a 5 step routine involving spins, with the swords crossed over their backs and elbows outward, or it can be performed with the swords out to the sides and typical attan half spin in place leading to a full spin. Depending on the rythm of the beat, this spin can be completely reversed in full synchrocity. This dance is performed with the musician tuning the beat to the technique of the performers. 

The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
~ Khushal Khan Khattak
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  Quote Zagros Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-Feb-2006 at 15:54

From pictures they are really hard to imagine, but the one I have seen is the Khattan one.

Thanks for the pics and information.

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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13-Feb-2006 at 18:59

Maybe this will spark your imagination:

Afghan Attan Medley Video

It consists of:

1. Melli 5 Step Attan
2. Suleimonkhel Attan
3. Paktia Attan
4. Akakhel/Jalalabad/Kochi Attan
5. Khattak Attan

CLICK HERE --> http://media.putfile.com/Afghan-Attan-Medley

The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
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  Quote Mila Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-Feb-2006 at 10:34
I like the photographs of the Logari and Herati
attans, especially the one from Herat.

The costumes are very beautiful! And I know Herat
was one of the most significant cities in that part of
the world in its time.

Anyhow, lovely thread!
[IMG]http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/9259/1xw2.jpg">
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  Quote Zagros Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-Feb-2006 at 10:36
Yes, thanks, that was interesting.  It was a little bit different to what I thought it would be.
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  Quote malizai_ Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-Feb-2006 at 22:45
nice, any more?
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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-Feb-2006 at 18:16
 
Children's Attan



This is a video of a Childrens Attan in Afghanistan. Probably one of the cutest things I've seen. Check it out:

Click Here to View and Download - Childrens Attan Video
 
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3-5 Step Simple Attan
 
Click below to watch and learn a 3-step simple Attan technique performed by the Malmo Attan Group, who are members of the Swedish Afghan Cultural Society:



Click Here to View Swedish Afghan Cultural Center Attan Performance

----------------

To visit the Swedish Afghan Cultural Society Web Page, click below:

Swedish-Afghan Cultural Society
 
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Here is a folk song from Eastern Afghanistan played with Dhol and Surnai Flute and very similar to Attan songs. These folk songs were typically played during weddings. When news came that a family was having a wedding. The friends and close relatives of the family would come with a band and close relatives. They would play the Dhol (double-barrelled drum and Surnai Flute) the whole way by foot until they reached the home of family who was having a wedding. This music isn't there to be very pleasing to the western ear, its just simple folk songs played by proud Afghan men. Enjoy!

Click Here to Download Dohl o Sundrai Folk Song
 
----------------------------------------------
 
Qader Eshpari - Paktia pa Daag Ke
 
 
Qader Eshpari is a young Afghan Musician of Tajik descent who currently lives in California. 

To visit Qader Eshpari's Official Home Page Click Here
 
-------------------------------------------------------
 
US Afghan Basketball League
 
Halftime Attan
 


Afghan Basketball has gone pretty far since 20 years ago. Now over 1,000 people are going to the Afghan Basketball tournaments in the US. Last year during the Halftime show 4 young men performed the Attan Take a look here:

Click Here for High Resolution Video

Click Here for Average Quality Video (downloads faster)


To View Videos of the Afghan Basketball Touraments and other Videos visit their website:

Afghan Basketball Official Home Page
 
------------------------------------------------------------ ----
 
Malmo Attan Group

 


Click Below to View a Girls and Boys 3-step and 5-step Attan by the Swedish Afghan Cultural Society

Boys and Girls Attan

To visit the Home Page of the Swedish Afghan Cultural Society Click Below:

Swedish Afghan Cultural Society
 
------------------------------------------------------------ -
 


Click Here to Download our STL Attan Troop Song

Click On the file on the bottom titled: Attan Presentation Song


Last year I performed the Attan with a couple other folks that I am training for an Attan troop. We've been practicing for a while, and although I'm comfortable with it, the people I'm teaching still need more practice, including myself.
 
--
 


Here is a nice folk song sung by Daud Haneef called "Maste Qalandar"

Click Here to Download The Song

Note: The Link to download is on the bottom of the page.

The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-Feb-2006 at 18:42

Attan by other Ethnic Groups:

 

Balochi Attan - Do-Chapi/Chap

Video

user posted image



There are few traces of weather, harvest or thanksgiving dances among the Baloch. Dances are always collective and associated with groups. The main dance is the Do-Chapi. Men gather and dance, clapping their hands and moving the feet, neck and head to the rhythmical beat of the dhol (drum). This dance is performed mainly for the enjoyment of the dancers; it is not a spectator dance. Balochi women also dance on many occasions. They move in a circle, clapping their hands, but without any body movements such as those in the Do-Chapi.

http://www.radiobalochi.org/August05/BARAN-2Chaapi-e1.rm

----------------------

user posted image

Click Here to View and Download Nooristani Attan

 

----------------------------

 

Pashai Attan


user posted image

Pashai are a small ethnic group within Afghanistan who speak a Dardic language related to Indo-Aryan languages of the Hindu Kush. They are also known as "Kohistani" people.

They perform their own Attan typical of the Afghan style, with 4 step routines and spins. I dont have any videos of their Attans, but I believe they do exist in archives of Afghanistan. They perform their attan with the Dhol and Soorna (flute like instrument).

Click Here to Download Attan e Pashai

 

----------------------------------------------

 


 


The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
~ Khushal Khan Khattak
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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-Mar-2006 at 13:46

Women's Attan Dance as well as other Central Asian Dances

Ballet Afsaneh Performance Samples...... DSL 22mb File

Ballet Afsaneh Performance Samples...... DSL 3.5mb File

Ballet Afsaneh Performance Samples...... Dial up 1.3mb File

 



Edited by Afghanan
The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
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  Quote Gharanai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-Mar-2006 at 07:30

Mind blowing thread.
Thanks alot for the effort dear brother Afghanan, those are some really nice collection, thanks alot for sharing them.



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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Mar-2006 at 20:49

Gharanai,

 

Anytime man.  I got lots more I havent even posted yet.  I'm thinking of making another Attan Mix with my new material.

 

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~ Khushal Khan Khattak
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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Mar-2006 at 20:58

Originally posted by Zagros

Yes, thanks, that was interesting.  It was a little bit different to what I thought it would be.

Dont worry man, I got a special Khattak Attan that I know you will enjoy, you have to skip to about halfway through to get to the good stuff enjoy:

This is a Khattak Attan performed by the Khyber Scouts Attan Group in Dubai during a Pashto Cultural Day for Pashtun ex-pats called "Khyber Nights"'

Enjoy:

Khattak Attan - Khyber Scouts

http://khyber.org/v/scouts.wmv

The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
~ Khushal Khan Khattak
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  Quote Suren Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01-Apr-2006 at 17:36
Cool topic. thanks for sharing.
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  Quote Gharanai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11-Apr-2006 at 14:41
Originally posted by Afghanan

Anytime man.  I got lots more I havent even posted yet.  I'm thinking of making another Attan Mix with my new material.

Regards dear Afghanan wror,
I thaught you were going to add some more of those fantastic Attan videos, so I am still looking forward toward it...



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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-Apr-2006 at 00:42

Originally posted by sirius99

Cool topic. thanks for sharing.

 

Anytime. 

The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
~ Khushal Khan Khattak
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  Quote Afghanan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-Apr-2006 at 00:46

Originally posted by Mila

I like the photographs of the Logari and Herati
attans, especially the one from Herat.

The costumes are very beautiful! And I know Herat
was one of the most significant cities in that part of
the world in its time.

Anyhow, lovely thread!

Thanks for the comments.  Herat remains a very important city in terms of location, as well as commerce.   Herati Attan is unique in that unlike other Attans, this one is converted into Persian, rather than Pashto.  Nomadic Afghans have settled Herat since the 18th century and possibly even earlier than that and many of them have become Persianized.

 

The perceptive man is he who knows about himself, for in self-knowledge and insight lays knowledge of the holiest.
~ Khushal Khan Khattak
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