Syrian Night of Revelry in Damascus - Capital Dances to Beats in Syria Evening
It's the wee hours in the heart of Syria's bustling capital, Damascus. The club vibes are pulsating: People are dancing in sync to the thumping techno beats, swaying in the flashing strobe light, and squeezing in close around the DJ booth. The event is Sold Out, every last ticket snapped up. Amidst the adrenaline-fueled atmosphere, everyone is waiting for one person - DJ Nuria, the celebrated spinner from Berlin.
Just past midnight, DJ Nuria steps onto the stage. Tears spring to her eyes as she shares, "It was truly a dream to spin a set in Syria - something I never would've imagined." She's been away since the brutal civil war began in 2011. Now, she's back as a celebrated DJ from Berlin, and the crowd's response is electric. "The energy was exceptional," she says, her music a potent mix of underground, hypnotic, driving techno, something tailored perfectly for her Syrian audience.
A decade of oppression under the cruel regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad has left its mark on the population. Hundreds of thousands have been killed, and millions have been forced to flee. On December 8, Assad was overthrown by a rebel alliance led by Islamists. Yet, here in Damascus, the people are dancing as if daring the chaos to retreat.
Keeping the Beat Alive Amidst Unrest
Syria's nightlife has seen its fair share of turbulence, with strict rules and frequent raids on dance clubs. The current leadership wields influence over the scene without outright banning parties or alcohol sales. Co-founder Philipe Zarif of the collective Kasata, who has DJed under the name Boshoco both in Syria and abroad, does not trust the new government. "They say yes, but act differently," he warns.
Recently, reports of armed raids and unexplained club closures have cultivated fear within the scene. Zarif remains determined, focusing on organizing parties because there's a scarcity of them. He and his team invite journalists or videographers to events, maintaining a semblance of safety.
The Need to Dance
The packed B Bar in the Bab Sharqi district witnesses around 300 guests go wild during DJ Nuria's performance. Mortada, a 24-year-old partygoer, shares, "Without music, life has no flavor - it feels like something is missing." Parties like these are necessary, he says, even with the ever-present fear that continues to abate the country.
Druze minority members and Alawites, a religious community to which Assad belongs, have suffered attacks at the hands of Islamist and pro-government fighters, sowing more confusion about Syria's future post-Assad. As Zarif puts it, the situation continues to change day by day.
Amidst all this, DJ Nuria's return to Damascus ignites a spark of hope. "I was honest, I came here with fear," she admits. Surprisingly, people flocked to her gig. She plans to return to Syria, aiming for the Day of Freedom on December 8th. "It's important that we keep going," Zarif insists, echoing the sentiments of the partygoers as they let loose amidst the chaos and dance their worries away.
Source: ntv.de, Amira Rajab, Weedah Hamzah, dpa
- Syria
- Damascus
- Music
- Bashar al-Assad
- Islamists
- HTS
Insights:
- In the past, raids and club closures have occurred, particularly in instances where alcohol was not served. This has led to a sense of uncertainty within the nightlife scene.
- Organizers like DJ Nuria and Philip Zarif aim to preserve the cultural landscape and provide spaces for people to express themselves, even amidst political upheaval.
- Partygoers view events like DJ Nuria's performance as essential emotional outlets that help them cope with the ongoing chaos in their lives.
In order to maintain the vibrancy of Syria's nightlife, particularly in Damascus, DJ Nuria, as well as organizers like Philip Zarif, have been pitching a proposal to the Commission for a regulation on social media, considering its significant impact on the entertainment scene in war-torn Syria. The proposed regulation would also address the concerns of unexplained club closures and armed raids that have instilled fear within the scene, as reported recently. This regulation, aimed at ensuring the safety and continuity of music events, would contribute not only to the entertainment industry but also to the psychological well-being of the Syrian people, who view parties as essential emotional outlets amidst the ongoing chaos and political upheaval, with the hope that they may dance their worries away.
