The sounds of drums, Arabic lyrics and quick feet tapping and shuffling filled the room on the third floor of Ackerman Union as third-year political science student Rayan Naouchi led the members of the Lebanese Social Club during a rehearsal of a traditional dabke dance.
This dance is just one component of the club’s eighth annual culture show, which will take place in Kerckhoff Grand Salon on Saturday evening.
The culture show is the Lebanese Social Club’s quarterly event this spring, and is a chance for guests to learn more about another culture and for members of the club to show their families and friends what they have been working on over the last few months. The show was canceled last quarter because of unexpected circumstances, and group members said that they are looking forward to showcasing Lebanese culture after rescheduling the event.
Dalia Wahab, a fourth-year political science student and president of the club, said that she became part of the organization after finding out about it at the activities fair during her first year at UCLA.
“There were not that many Lebanese or Arab people in my high school at all, so I went looking for the club at UCLA,” Wahab said. “The main reason why I stuck around is because you forge friendships in the club, and it is a great way to meet people, especially in a community that is so large.”
Patrick Malkoun, a second-year economics student and social event coordinator of the Lebanese Social Club, said that he also likes the fact that this organization has no religious or political affiliation and focuses on representing the Lebanese culture and presence on campus through events such as the culture show.
The program will include one dabke performance by the members of the social club and another by a group from a local church, a belly dancing number, an Arabic poetry reading and authentic Lebanese food catered by Sunnin Lebanese Café.
First-year ethnomusicology student Ziyad Markus will also be playing the derbake, a type of Middle Eastern drum that often accompanies dabke and belly dancing.
In addition to the dancing, music and food, Malkoun said that he has also written and directed five short, comedic skits featuring members of the social club.
“The skits delve into the humor of being a first-generation Lebanese American,” Malkoun said. “Our families have come from Lebanon, and the club is really about unifying your present with your past.”
Naouchi, who choreographed the group’s dabke performance and has also helped put on these events with some of the other Arab student groups on campus, said that she hopes to have a wide variety of people attend this culture show.
“It is a really cool way to see friends dancing and showing off their talents,” Naouchi said. “It is both a fun and interesting way to spend a Saturday night.”
Wahab also said that this show is for anyone who wants to get to know more about Lebanese culture and tradition.
“Our target audience is not Lebanese people. We want to reach out to the UCLA community, and that is our main goal this year,” Wahab said.
For members such as Malkoun, this club has become a home away from home that will be celebrated on Saturday evening.
“In the midst of turmoil in the Middle East, it is nice to dispel any stereotypes that people might have,” Malkoun said. “This is a way for us to show our appreciation of who we are.”