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Redefining and Reclaiming Space in Conflict Zones

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REDEFINING AND RECLAIMING SPACE IN CONFLICT ZONES

Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre gave a lecture and visual presentation on arts and education programming to unite Palestinian youth communities. 

In 2014, Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre (YSDT) launched a first-of-its-kind arts and education initiative for young Palestinian dancers living within Israel entitled non/static aesthetics. The project was born out of the need to create a unifying space both in practice and performance, in a place fractured by occupation and division.  It culminated in a series of site specific performances in 2015 on both sides of the infamous wall separating the West Bank and Israel. Our presentation -- featuring photos and performance footage -- reflects on the obstacles, successes, and impact of this yearlong youth project, and presents a possible model for art practitioners in subjugated populations seeking to reclaim public space for their communities in the face of collective oppression.

 

COSPONSORS

Department of Dance at Barnard

Featured
Zoe Rabinowitz
Zoe Rabinowitz

Zoe Rabinowitz is an independent dance artist and educator based in Brooklyn, NY. Her choreography has been presented at the Detroit Dance City Film Festival, Fleet Moves Dance Festival in Cape Cod, and Harrisburg Dance Festival; throughout New York City at venues such as Lincoln Center, New York Theatre Workshop, and West End Theatre; and abroad at the New Dance Festival in Daejeon, South Korea. Zoe is the Associate Artistic Director and dancer with Yaa Samar! 

Samar Haddad King
Samar Haddad King

Samar Haddad King, Artistic/Founding Director of Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre and co-director of min tala, a pan-Arab dance company, graduated cum laude with honors in choreography from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program in New York City under the tutelage of Kazuko Hirabayashi.