BETHLEHEM, May 3, 2010 (WAFA)- The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem hosted Yaa Samar! Dance Theater, an American modern dance ensemble, for a one-day engagement at the Bethlehem Peace Center on May 2, 2010. 

Led by Palestinian-American choreographer Samar Haddad King, Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre is a New York City-based contemporary dance company.  Performing an original piece created specifically for the ensemble’s 2010 Middle East tour, Ms. King and seven other talented and versatile dance professionals captivated audiences with The Store, an athletic, dramatic and thought-provoking performance that incorporates both Arab and American themes.  This piece featured dance and video layered with original rap, rock, flamenco and Arabic music.

Committed to collaborating with artists across various disciplines around the world, Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre’s mission is to forge stimulating and transformative experiences through dance.   Ms. King has an established presence in New York City and for the past several years, her ensemble has toured in the Middle East.  Ms. King fulfills her goals of expanding access to contemporary dance by performing regularly in the United States and engaging amateur and professional dancers in the Middle East where she offers professional workshops and performance opportunities to dancers in the region. To that end, Ms. King and her ten-person company led an exclusive dance workshop on May 2 at Dar Al-Kalameh Studios in Bethlehem with Diar Dance Company.  They are also participating in the ongoing Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival.

Speaking at the opening of the performance of The Store, U.S. Cultural Affairs Officer Cynthia Harvey noted, “modern dance is a unique form of American artistic expression and we are pleased to see a growing interest in it among Palestinian dance professionals, amateurs, and the public.  The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem is pleased to be able to share this performance with you, as one of many cultural exchange events that we sponsor throughout the year, which serve to bring Americans and Palestinians closer together through the exchange of ideas and sharing of various art forms such as modern dance.”