JEDDAH: The Ministry of Culture announced today the organization of the Asiri Step Festival, which will run from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 in the city of Abha as part of the Saudi Quality of Life Program. The traditional music and dance festival aims to shed light on the Asiri Step, widely known in the south as the “Southern Step,” an ancient war dance passed down from generation to generation. The three-day festival will be comprised of four main components, including an operetta area that will feature songs set to the Southern Step rhythm, and an area dedicated to poetry and lyricism, where poets will recite their works associated with the dance form. There will also be an exhibition focusing on the thousand-year history of the Asiri Step, showing how it evolved over the centuries, and its many variations across the Kingdom’s regions. The final area will be dedicated to music and food, where visitors will be able to dine at a range of restaurants and cafes while enjoying traditional music and watching groups perform the Asiri Step.   The festival will also provide a training and performance area that includes a stage ranging from 100-200 meters featuring an interactive floor that visitors can engage with and a screen showing dancers performing the Asiri Step. The event is one of many cultural activities organized by the Ministry of Culture in various regions of the Kingdom to promote the country’s rich cultural heritage. Such events also aim to highlight the traditional performing arts in the Kingdom and protect them from extinction by reminding Saudis of their significance.