A Journey to the Heart of Palestinian Dance.
Featuring Mohanad Smama (Gaza)
The Palestinian dabké is a traditional dance characterized by its vitality and power, inspired by the rhythms of feet stomping the ground during agricultural work. It symbolizes solidarity and the bonds between people through formations such as circles, straight lines, and semicircles. Traditionally performed at social gatherings, the dabké embodies the spirit of unity, collective expression, and cultural resistance. Over the generations, it has become a powerful symbol of Palestinian heritage.
This workshop offers an immersive experience that blends traditional Palestinian dabké with contemporary dance, transforming it into a new form of expression. It goes beyond simply learning the steps: it explores rhythm, formations, and spatial dynamics, and fosters a strong sense of collective energy and harmonious movement.
Mohanad Smama, dancer and choreographer
Mohanad Smama is a Palestinian dancer and choreographer from Gaza. He is one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in his city. With extensive experience in both contemporary and traditional dance, he established his own dance school and also founded Gaza’s first contemporary dance studio. He has produced numerous artistic performances addressing social issues, as well as ongoing projects that integrate various art forms into his works and performances.
Mohanad Smama has also produced dance films and participates in conferences on the role of art in Gaza and its use as a means of expression and therapy for all age groups, particularly in the context of war. He is currently in a one-year artist-in-residence program dedicated to research and creation. This residency is supported by Les Rencontres à l’échelle / Bancs Publics, the Shonen company, the National Ballet of Marseille, and the Friche la Belle de Mai. He is also a recipient of the PAUSE program at the Collège de France, which supports artists and researchers at risk due to the security situation in their home countries.
A Journey to the Heart of Palestinian Dance.
Featuring Mohanad Smama (Gaza)
The Palestinian dabké is a traditional dance characterized by its vitality and power, inspired by the rhythms of feet stomping the ground during agricultural work. It symbolizes solidarity and the bonds between people through formations such as circles, straight lines, and semicircles. Traditionally performed at social gatherings, the dabké embodies the spirit of unity, collective expression, and cultural resistance. Over the generations, it has become a powerful symbol of Palestinian heritage.
This workshop offers an immersive experience that blends traditional Palestinian dabké with contemporary dance, transforming it into a new form of expression. It goes beyond simply learning the steps: it explores rhythm, formations, and spatial dynamics, and fosters a strong sense of collective energy and harmonious movement.
Mohanad Smama, dancer and choreographer
Mohanad Smama is a Palestinian dancer and choreographer from Gaza. He is one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in his city. With extensive experience in both contemporary and traditional dance, he established his own dance school and also founded Gaza’s first contemporary dance studio. He has produced numerous artistic performances addressing social issues, as well as ongoing projects that integrate various art forms into his works and performances.
Mohanad Smama has also produced dance films and participates in conferences on the role of art in Gaza and its use as a means of expression and therapy for all age groups, particularly in the context of war. He is currently in a one-year artist-in-residence program dedicated to research and creation. This residency is supported by Les Rencontres à l’échelle / Bancs Publics, the Shonen company, the National Ballet of Marseille, and the Friche la Belle de Mai. He is also a recipient of the PAUSE program at the Collège de France, which supports artists and researchers at risk due to the security situation in their home countries.
