Al-Youla dances have been a long-standing tradition in UAE culture, but recently under the patronage of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, Al-Youla is being recognised as a major sporting event to a new generation of Emiratis as part of the Fazza Championships.
Here, Sport360 explores more about this increasingly popular competition.
WHAT IS AL YOULA?
Known as the ‘Soldier’s Dance’, Youla originated in the army as a celebratory jig. It evolved aesthetically to become a traditional dance and was eventually transformed into a sport that requires intensive training in order for the Yaweel (competitor) to become adept at handling the replica rifles that are central to the Youla routine.
Judges evaluate each contestant across a five-point criterion that includes footwork, rotation of the rifle, the throw, the catch and the overall fluidity of the movements, before awarding a score out of 50.
The dance involves the Yaweel spinning the rifle with the lightest of footwork, while his skill is also tested by how high he can toss the rifle and whether or not he can catch it.
The competition requires the Yaweel to throw the rifle 20m high (65ft) and be able to catch it as well.
A green laser beam scans the sky at the height of 17m to 20m mark that sets off a loud buzzer when the rifle is successfully flung that high.
The following video shows the performance of Saeed Bin Mussala, one of the contestant in this year’s Al-Youla Championship, during the first round of the 11th episode of the contest.
WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE…
The Fazza Championships offers up a mouthwatering Dh1 million prize fund to its winner, with two-time winner Rashid Al-Khasouni – nicknamed the ‘Youla Millionaire’ after winning the title twice – among the judges for this year’s competition.
Having been a successful competitor, Al-Khasouni has developed an instinct that helps him identify a gifted Yaweel.
“The moment a Yaweel enters the stage we can tell whether or not he is a good player with the way he holds the rifle,” Al-Khasouni tells Sport360. “A good Youla performance is determined by and judged across the yaweel’s footwork, rotation of the rifle, the height at which the rifle is thrown, the catch and the overall skill.”
The Yaweel is not allowed to carry any other prop to the stage besides their rifle with former participant Ahmed Mohammed Al-Habsi learning this lesson the hard way. Al-Habsi carried a sword in the second edition of the Fazza Championships and was subsequently awarded a zero for his misdemeanour!
FAMILY FORTUNES
Most of the competitors have been training for the Youla competition since they were young children, and their families treat it as a tradition that celebrates their heritage and culture.
One contestant, Hamdan Mohammed Al-Hayeri, first took up Youla at the age of six – along with his 15 siblings. He is following in the footsteps of his brother, Juma Al-Hayeri, who was runner-up in last year’s competition.
The Al-Hayeri clan is just one of the many families who are trying to keep the tradition alive and Youla is now slowly being taken as a symbol of pride for Emirati men. The lack of women’s participation in the sport is the result of Emirati cultural sensibility.
“It is a symbol of manhood and pride, so Youla is only done by men and women are not encouraged to participate in it,” Al-Khasouni explains.
Abdullah Bin Hamdan Al Dalmouk keeps up the enthusiasm in his performance despite a hand injury.
THE HISTORY BOYS
The Meydan – located in Dubai’s Global Village – is considered the most prestigious platform on which budding and established Yaweel can showcase their talent and it is helping to keep alive a variety of the UAE’s most traditional sports in its history.
With the Fazza Championships, sports such as falconry, shooting, diving, hunting and Youla will continue to stand the test of time and help the upcoming generations stay in touch with their roots.
“Youla is an important part of our culture and something I got from my father, who got it from his father and his gradfather,” says Musallam Al-Amri, the current presenter and a former judge at the Youla Championship.
“Being able to do Youla is part of a of a man’s honour. The sport is in our blood and our DNA and the competition shows how proud we are of our culture. Sheikh Zayed, peace be upon him, always said that he who doesn’t have a past has no future, so we are trying to protect our past and our future. ”
Participants Ahmed Mohammed Al-Habsi from Ras Al Khaima and Hamdan Mohammed Al-Hayeri pose with renowned Emirati singer Maedad Al-Kaabi.
The Youla Championships is currently in its 7th episode and is broadcast live on Sama Dubai from the Meydan in the UAE pavilion at Global Village every Friday at 21:00 GST.
