Attan

Attan (Pashto: اتڼ‎) is a form of dance that originated in Afghanistan. The Attan began as a folk dance conducted by Pashtuns in times of war or during weddings or other celebrations (engagements, Nawroz, and informal gatherings). A long customary in the Pashtun culture, it is now considered the national dance of Afghanistan[1] and is popularly carried by all ethnic groups in Afghanistan.[2]

Men performing the attan, c. 1965

Attan is a special type of dance performed by a troupe of 50 to 100 dancers who wave scarves in the air while musicians beat drums. As time has passed, the special dance has changed from a dance done by troupe dancers only to anyone who wishes to perform this dance at any celebration.

Traditional circle dancing in the east of Iran performed by Khorasani and Sistani Persians

Origin

Attan is a traditional Pashtun dance. It is said to be one of the oldest forms of Pashtun pagan dance. Some identify attan as a religious ceremony of early Zoroastrians placing its origins as early as 2000 BCE, while others believe it is even older, going back to King Yama's celebration of Nowroz and warriors dancing and circling around the fire. It is usually performed with a Dohol, which is a double-headed barrel drum. The dance can be anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes long. There are many different regional variations of attan, the most famous being Mahsudi, Kabuli, Paktiyaya, Shenwari, Kandahari, Sistani, and Herati. During King Yama's time, attan was performed before going to war because it used to give the army the confidence that they could win the battle. As well as being the national dance of Afghanistan, attan is also a very popular part of festivals, weddings, and other forms of celebrations.

Movement

To the accompaniment of drums and pipes the dancers form a circle, taking each other by the hand or preparing to revolve in circles of their own. The dance starts with slow steps that gradually get faster and faster until it seems the performers must drop from exhaustion. However, the dance continues, sometimes for two or three hours at a stretch, with no breaks except a lowering of tempo or changes in the tunes and songs.[3]

What the Attan Dance consists of: The dancers gather in a circle, and then is followed by music which starts slow at first, and then gradually speeds up. There is a consistent beat and rhythm, and during that specific beat is when they clap inside the circle, so the movement of the hands is outside prior to the beat. It is then followed by the dancers bringing their hands out and then clapping inside the circle, and it is the same routine and pattern of movement, which then get faster. As the movements and routine get faster, the one clap turns into two claps, and the dancers who are more advanced, at times will add turns into the movements. All in all, they must keep the circular path with the clap on the beat, every other move added is up to the individuals who originate and add their own personal style to the dance. Common dance moves involve the extending of arms into air and the stretch and extension of legs. When extending arms into air, there are times when the hands are free or there is the waving of the regalia and extension of the attire to show the detail and color.

Instruments

Most essential instrument of course is the Dohol (Drum). But dohols vary by sizes, for some types the size is relatively small. The reason for that could be geographic but the distinction between dohols is apparent among the various types of Attans. The Dumbak is a single-headed hand-drum found in most Arab music ensembles. The goblet-shaped body (cylindrical with a slightly narrowed waist) was traditionally made out of fired clay, and the sounding head out of goat, calf, or fish skin, stretched and glued permanently on the body. The second most important instrument is the zurna surnay, although very common, the surna is not essential with every type.

Attire
Attan regalia for a woman, with mirrors on the front, sleeves, and the bottom of the dress.

Performers often wear traditional regalia when participating in the lively dance. Usually during the celebratory occasions, men can also be seen wearing suits and ties for a more formal look.[4] The women can be found wearing bright, colorful dresses. These dresses can be accompanied with tiny mirrors on them which are said to symbolize light. The tiny mirrors add great detail and shine under the lights as the women move and dance.

Styles and types

The Attan is performed differently in many of the different parts of Afghanistan. Some styles of Attan portray themes of war while others portray celebration, especially for events such as marriage, engagements, family gatherings and also as a prelude to the arrival of spring, and the celebration of Nowroz.

All different kinds of Attan are danced with the beats of the drums. However they all differ in style. The beater of the drum known as "Dum", who instantaneously change the rhythm, is circled by the performers. Below is a list of common Attan styles.

  • Kochai/ Kochyano - Pashtun nomadic style done in Afghanistan. Kochyano Attan literally means Attan of the Kuchi. Women usually perform this Attan during their own occasions, such as childbirth or new years (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 many spotting movements, with multiple twists and squatting. This dance can be up to ten 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 many other forms may have influenced it. This dance is performed with the musician tuning the beat to the technique of the performers.
  • Logarai - From the Afghan province of Logar Logari dancers have always been known for their shyness and also for their rhythmic interruptions and spins during their local dance. Their Attan also has the trademark spins of the Logari style, using 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 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 to the technique of the performers.
  • Paktiawal / Khostai - Notable Attan style originating from the provinces of Paktia and Khost, Afghanistan Paktia/Khosti is typically a 5-7 step and can be longer. Because of the head movements the head is snapped left and 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.
  • Shinwari - From the Afghan province of Nangarhar.
  • Wardag/Wardaki - Da Wardag Attan, another famous style of Attan. Wardaki consists of body movements no clapping and many 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 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. In some regions of Wardak within the wardaki (wardagi) attan the leading men followed by the rest will sing a song at the start of the attan, while they are still moving at a slow pace. Later on as the pace is picked up and the attan gets faster, then they stop singing and they focus all of their energy on the (movement) attan.
  • Kabuli Attan is a modified Attan with modern music. In this dance, the dancers perform to the beat of the musician. This dance typically performed by men and 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.[5]

Gender roles
Ghilji nomadic women performing the Attan

The women, colourfully clad in traditional (Firaq partug) dress, join in the dance.[3] Often, women change into an Attan dress while the men remain in their original clothes at a wedding or gathering. In the past, musicians and singers were mostly men. Dancing by men and women together increasingly gained momentum among the educated and upper- and middle-class urban families in the 1970s and afterward. The Daoud Khan, Zahir Shah and the Communist regimes encouraged young men and women to defy traditional values and participate in these public activities.[6]

References
  1. Rubin, D.; Pong, M. (2001). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Asia/Pacific. Routledge. p. 38. ISBN 9780415260879. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  2. "attan." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 13 Oct. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/42102/attan> Archived February 22, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. Wilber, Donald N., (1962) Afghanistan, Its People, Its Society Its Culture. New Haven: Hraf Press. OCLC 410960
  5. "For the Love of ATTAN | I Opyne". iopyne.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  6. Emadi, Hafizullah.(2005) Cultures and Customs of Afghanistan. Westport: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-33089-1.
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