On Saturday, October 19, AAFS is thrilled to host the premier Palestinian dance troupe El-Funoun, for a workshop promoting traditional dabke dance, as a form of cultural preservation and healing. Performed at weddings and other celebrations, dabke is vital to Palestinian identity. The interactive workshop will teach participants dance steps and sequences that comprise traditional Palestinian dabke such as dalouneh and tayara.
El-Funoun dancers will discuss the history of their Troupe, and the challenges their members face in representing the culture amidst the occupation. As part of AAFS’s mental health work, this workshop will highlight the importance of dance, and how artistic movement helps Palestinians survive the trauma they experience, while preserving culture, identity and wellness.
We hope you can join us on October 19, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the AAFS Office at 7000 W. 111th Suite #300, Worth, IL 60482 for a fun, and healing workshop.
Information about El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe: El Funoun is 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. Links about El- Funoun: YouTube, Instagram
