In two-toned blue, a a row of men and women dancing dabke, left foot raised about to stomp forward. Dabke Workshop Presentation Tour October 2025. at top, in Arabic and English El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe
 
 

Members of the premiere dance group in Palestine, El-Funoun Dance Troupe, are offering a series of dabke presentations and workshops in NYC October 9–12

Dabke is the traditional Palestinian dance form, performed at weddings and other celebrations, in which El-Funoun’s innovative dance style is rooted.

El-Funoun’s Tawasol, presented at NYC’s La MaMa Theater on October 10–12, merges dynamic dance, storytelling, and audience participation to offer an intimate window into the lives and legacies of El-Funoun’s dancers. Through the voices and movements of five performers, stories of long-time members unfold, tracing cultural roots across generations, from parent to child. More than a performance, this is a living archive of memory, identity, and the enduring spirit of dabke as both resistance and celebration.

Members of El-Funoun will also be holding dabke workshops for beginning and advanced dancers on October 9, hosted by Arab Socials; October 11, hosted by Movement Research; and October 13, hosted by Social Workers for Palestine (registration link coming soon!).

See below for more information for all NYC events (click the arrow to unfold details).

 

NYC events with members of El-Funoun

  • REGISTER FOR Dabke Workshop and Social with Members of El-Funoun

    Arab Socials
    Manousheh Grand(403 Grand Street, NYC)
    October 9, 2025
    7:30 – 10:00PM

    Get ready to stomp, clap, and dance the night away at our Dabke Workshop & Social with the talented El-Funoun dancers! Join us for a fun-filled evening of learning traditional Dabke steps and enjoying the company of fellow dance enthusiasts.

    Whether you're a seasoned pro or a complete beginner, this event is perfect for anyone looking to experience the joy of Dabke dancing. So grab your friends, put on your dancing shoes, and come join us at Manousheh Grand for an unforgettable night of music, movement, and Middle Eastern culture!

  • REGISTER FOR Tawasol: Dabke Presentation / Demonstration by Members of El-Funoun

    La Mama Experimental Theatre Club,
    The Downstairs (66 East 4th Street, NYC)

    October 10, 2025 8:00PM
    October 11, 2025 8:00PM
    October 12, 2025 4:00PM

    Experience the vibrant heritage of Palestinian dance in a powerful two-hour event with the renowned El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe. Merging dynamic dance, storytelling, and audience participation, this performance offers an intimate window into the lives and legacies of El-Funoun’s dancers. Through the voices and movements of five performers, stories of long-time members unfold, tracing cultural roots across generations, from parent to child. More than a performance, this is a living archive of memory, identity, and the enduring spirit of dabke as both resistance and celebration. Audiences are invited not only to witness but to share stories, ask questions, and join in the joy of dancing together.

    Running Time: 2 hrs

    This is a free La MaMa event. Reservations are required. Limit 2 reservations per person.

  • REGISTER HERE FOR Palestinian Dabke Dancing and Improvisation Workshop

    Movement Research, The Bob (previously known as 9th St. Studio, 150 First Ave., NYC)
    October 11, 2025
    12:00 - 2:00PM

    Interested in learning Palestinian dance – dabke? Join members from the premiere dance troupe in Palestine, El-Funoun. Watch demonstrations of El-Funoun’s contemporary dabke style and dance school of thought and learn steps to Palestinian dances.

    What to expect:The interactive training workshop will provide participants the opportunity to explore:

    • The role of dabke in shaping Palestinian identity and culture,

    • Advanced dance steps and sequences in Palestinian dabke,

    • Improvisation of the laweeh, the principle dancer who leads the dabke circle.

    For workshop-related questions, please email programs@movementresearch.org.

    Accessibility Notes

    • This workshop includes auditive guidance.

    To request ASL interpretation or Audio Description, please email accessibility@movementresearch.org, subject line “ASL/Audio Description Request, El-Funoun” at least 3 (three) weeks prior to the workshop date.

    For access-related questions and requests, please contact accessibility@movementresearch.org, subject line “El-Funoun.”

  • Registration link coming soon for Dabka and Dialogue: An Afternoon of Solidarity with Palestine

    Social Workers for Palestine
    October 13, 2025
    3:00PM - 6:00PM

    Community, dialogue and culture celebration in solidarity with Palestine.

 
 

About El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe

For over 45 years, El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe has been preserving, promoting, and reimagining Palestinian culture. Established in 1979 by a small group of artists, the Troupe today comprises close to 300 volunteer members. El-Funoun is committed to dance education, running its own dance school and youth troupe, Barem El-Funoun, in Palestine and conducting dabke training in Palestine and around the world. Through its work, El-Funoun aims to challenge oppression and resist Israel’s attempts at cultural erasure.

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.

Be sure to follow @friendsofelfunoun on Instagram