TAWASOL - EL-FUNOUN DABKE 2026
Trainers from the premiere dance group in Palestine, El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe, will be offering a series of dabke workshops in the USA.
Dabke is the traditional Palestinian dance form, performed at weddings and other celebrations, in which El-Funoun’s innovative dance style is rooted. The dancers will discuss the work of this vital Palestinian cultural institution, and its resolve to remain steadfast in the face of a military occupation that aims to silence, suppress and erase Palestinian society and culture.
This event will highlight the role of dabke as a form of cultural preservation and resilience. Participants will learn traditional dances such as dalouneh, tayara. This will be an inspiring opportunity for participants to learn more about Palestinian culture, develop dabke skills, and connect with community members.
ABOUT EL-FUNOUN
Widely considered the lead Palestinian dance company in Palestine and the diaspora, El-Funoun was established in 1979 by a small group of enthusiastic, creative and committed artists. The Troupe has developed an innovative style of dance deeply-rooted in Palestinian and Arab folklore and informed by elements of contemporary dance movement. The Troupe’s repertoire includes 16 major dance productions and over 1,500 performances throughout historic Palestine, regionally, and internationally. In Palestine, El-Funoun has developed a school for contemporary Palestinian dance, training hundreds annually. It has carried out dabke workshops throughout the West Bank, in the Arab world and internationally.
Sustained almost entirely by volunteers for decades, El-Funoun is a non-profit dance company with close to 300 members. El-Funoun’s mission is to revive and innovate Palestinian music, song and dance. Recognizing culture as a tool of and for resistance, El-Funoun challenges the complicity of international aid agencies in the oppression of Palestinians by refusing politically conditioned funding from agencies that have failed to call for a ceasefire. The dance company is working toward becoming fully self-sufficient by raising funds through its dance productions and workshops.
-----------------------------------------
El-Funoun is a non-profit, almost fully volunteer based dance company with 267 members. Committed to its core principles of cultural resistance, El-Funoun has continuously refused to accept conditional funding from international aid agencies. During the current genocidal attack on Gaza, El-Funoun has refused funding from international aid agencies that have failed to call for a ceasefire. The dance company is working towards becoming fully self-sufficient by raising funds through its dance productions and dance training workshops.
-----------------------------------------
IMPORTANT NOTE: This link is for the performance on September 16th. Tickets for the 15th will be provided separately.
TAWASOL - EL-FUNOUN DABKE 2026
Trainers from the premiere dance group in Palestine, El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe, will be offering a series of dabke workshops in the USA.
Dabke is the traditional Palestinian dance form, performed at weddings and other celebrations, in which El-Funoun’s innovative dance style is rooted. The dancers will discuss the work of this vital Palestinian cultural institution, and its resolve to remain steadfast in the face of a military occupation that aims to silence, suppress and erase Palestinian society and culture.
This event will highlight the role of dabke as a form of cultural preservation and resilience. Participants will learn traditional dances such as dalouneh, tayara. This will be an inspiring opportunity for participants to learn more about Palestinian culture, develop dabke skills, and connect with community members.
ABOUT EL-FUNOUN
Widely considered the lead Palestinian dance company in Palestine and the diaspora, El-Funoun was established in 1979 by a small group of enthusiastic, creative and committed artists. The Troupe has developed an innovative style of dance deeply-rooted in Palestinian and Arab folklore and informed by elements of contemporary dance movement. The Troupe’s repertoire includes 16 major dance productions and over 1,500 performances throughout historic Palestine, regionally, and internationally. In Palestine, El-Funoun has developed a school for contemporary Palestinian dance, training hundreds annually. It has carried out dabke workshops throughout the West Bank, in the Arab world and internationally.
Sustained almost entirely by volunteers for decades, El-Funoun is a non-profit dance company with close to 300 members. El-Funoun’s mission is to revive and innovate Palestinian music, song and dance. Recognizing culture as a tool of and for resistance, El-Funoun challenges the complicity of international aid agencies in the oppression of Palestinians by refusing politically conditioned funding from agencies that have failed to call for a ceasefire. The dance company is working toward becoming fully self-sufficient by raising funds through its dance productions and workshops.
-----------------------------------------
El-Funoun is a non-profit, almost fully volunteer based dance company with 267 members. Committed to its core principles of cultural resistance, El-Funoun has continuously refused to accept conditional funding from international aid agencies. During the current genocidal attack on Gaza, El-Funoun has refused funding from international aid agencies that have failed to call for a ceasefire. The dance company is working towards becoming fully self-sufficient by raising funds through its dance productions and dance training workshops.
-----------------------------------------
IMPORTANT NOTE: This link is for the performance on September 16th. Tickets for the 15th will be provided separately.