Move · Videos · Dance · 8 min

Learn Lebanese Dabke: Three Beginner Steps

Learn Lebanese Dabke: Three Beginner Steps — video by Dabke Love Play · 8:29

Video by Dabke Love on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Slow, counted lesson in three classic dabke steps popular across the Levant: the northern step with a kick and hit, a slower two-hit swing and a 'lame' step with a lean (the creator says the original Baalbek version differs). Ends with a run-through to Lebanese songs.

  • 8 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 7

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Set-up: hands on your waist, left knee bent and toe pointed, ready to cross towards the leader on your right. 0:41
  2. Northern step: four crossing steps from the left, lift the knee and kick on five, hit the floor on six. 1:28
  3. Do the northern step on the spot, stepping in front of the right foot, getting faster as you go. 2:14
  4. Baalbek step (two hits): slow swings, left then right, twice, then hit the floor with the left on five to eight. 2:41
  5. The 'lame' step: the same slow steps, then strike the left heel down, crossing in front, on five to eight. 3:58
  6. Lame step upper body: lean back to start, upright on one, forward on two, upright on three, back on four. 4:49
  7. Run-through: dance the dabke steps to Lebanese songs. 6:07

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Start with the left foot, knee bent and toe pointed, crossing towards the leader on your right
  • Count 1 to 6: four steps, then lift and kick on five and hit the floor on six
  • Hands on your waist for balance while you learn

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Lower back movesback leans forward and back in the lame step
  • Hips movescrossing steps, lifting the knee
  • Knees movesstepping, knee lift and kick, light foot hits
  • Ankles & feet movespointed toe, heel hit on the floor

Easier option from the coach: Hands on the waist for balance; steps can be done on the spot

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Dabke Love; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety