The yowlah /ˈjaʊlə/ (Arabic: اليولة, al-yawlah, or العيالة, al-ʿayyalah or al-ʿiyyalah), is a weapon dance of the United Arab Emirates, traditionally performed during weddings, celebrations, and other events. The dance is accompanied by traditional music (drums and other instruments), and men and women are represented in separate groups of dancers. The yowlah originated as a Bedouin war dance where men would spin rifles after victory in a battle. There is also a variation from the standard yowlah known as the razfah (Arabic: الرزفة al-razfah, الرزفة العيالة al-razfat al-ʿayyalah, or العيالة أهل البحر al-ʿayyalat ʾahl al-baḥr); and the ardah is sometimes considered a form of the yowlah (as العرضة العيالة al-ʿarḍat al-ʿayyalah). From Wikipedia
