Taif: As the beat of the tar drum fills one of Taif's squares, two facing rows move in rhythm to alternating verses and melodies, their traditional attire adding to the scene. This is Al-Majroor, one of the governorate's oldest traditional performing arts, once rooted in weddings and social gatherings and now featured at festivals and cultural events for residents and visitors.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the art's distinctive character lies not in its melody alone, but in the interplay of poetry, rhythm, movement, and attire. The words guide the voices, the drums set the pace, and the rows give the performance its structure. A performance begins with participants forming two facing groups that alternate in delivering poetic verses and melodies, creating a synchronized display that changes with each verse and the rhythm of the drums. Drummers playing the duff and tabla stand at the center of the scene, while the performers gradually introduce movements according to a sequence familiar to practitioners.

Over time, this art has become part of Taif's local memory, reflecting how people celebrated, gathered, and shared poetry and song. Saeed bin Ali Al-Sufyani, an Al-Majroor enthusiast, told SPA that Al-Majroor remains deeply rooted in Taif's social memory. He said the art has historically been associated with celebrations and social gatherings, with generations passing down its melodies, movements, and performance techniques. This has preserved its place among the governorate's traditional forms of folk heritage. Mastering the art, he added, requires familiarity with its various elements, terminology, and transitions between its different sections.

Young people are helping carry this heritage forward through their participation in folk groups, learning from experienced performers and passing its traditions on to a new generation, Al-Sufyani said. Beyond its artistic value, Al-Majroor performances evoke images of Taif's traditional gatherings and reflect the bonds and social interaction that shaped community life in the past.