Canadabkeh Dabkeh Dance Workshop

ABOUT

Join us for an open level 2-hour dabkeh workshop led by local group, Canadabkeh!

We will learn the fundamentals of dabkeh footwork and a short choreographic phrase.

This workshop is co-organized by a group of local dance artists in solidarity with Palestinian liberation and interested in learning more about Palestinian cultural resistance through dabkeh.

Canadabkeh was founded by Haytham and Zaid Alhamaydeh, two Palestinian brothers from Nablus. When they arrived in Vancouver, they found that dabke culture was not active here and so they decided “to look for passionate individuals who would share and pursue the vision of bringing joy to the community through zaffe chants and loud dabke footwork.”

The group is “passionate about spreading the Arabic culture and connecting people.”

Dabke is an ancient but still popular folk dance rooted in many of the cultures of the Levant region of the Middle East including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine. UNESCO describes dabke as “a means of expressing cultural identity, celebrating family occasions and increasing social ties.” For Palestinians in particular, it embodies a spirit of community, resilience, and cultural pride.

All in solidarity with the Palestinian cause are welcome!

Gratitude to community partners: Mardon + Mitsuhashifor supporting $0 community ticket fund and for donating studio space.

Workshop accessibility information:

This is a masked event and extra masks will be available on site should you need one. We ask that if you are sick, to please take care and refrain from coming to the workshop.

Dabke is a standing, footwork-focussed dance that includes stomping, jumping, close proximity and hand holding / arm contact.

Recommended to bring a full water bottle, bring comfortable and clean shoes (please not your street shoes) and clothes for sweating! Please arrive 5-10 mins before the workshop starts.

Children are welcome.

Venue accessibility information:

The studio is on the 2nd floor of the Dominion Building at Cambie and Hastings. The space is accessed via three stairs to the main entrance, and there is an elevator or stairs to the 2nd floor. There is one non-gendered washroom in the hallway close to the studio. The washroom is not wheelchair accessible.

Someone will be downstairs to meet you on the ground floor, to let you in and guide you to the studio.

For any other questions please email dancers4palestineYVR@gmail.com