RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is a big country and it’s full of people who look, dress and act the same, right? Well, not really. A country of this size is bound to have regions and cultural variations, and anyone who spends time here will begin to see the differences in dress and customs. And what better time to experience the regional esprit than during the country’s National Day? “I never knew that there are special dances for each part of the Kingdom,” said Sara, a New Zealander who attended a folkloric dance event in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. Sara also said some of the performances reminded her of South African traditional dance numbers. The event, which highlighted dances and songs from Jazan, Wadi Al-Dawasser and Bisha, dazzled local expats with a different take on what it means to be Saudi.
