Tanzfabrik
Berlin
School
School

27.12.2026—30.12.2026

Dabke: Folk Dance from the Levant

Workshop
with Fadi Waked
Registration
Venue:
Kreuzberg 1
Möckernstr. 68
10965 Berlin
Dates:
Info:
Level: open
in English, with translation in German and/or Arabic if needed
Price: 250/220€* 
*Early bird until 06.12.26
In the event of cancellation, the terms and conditions of our website apply. 

Description

This workshop introduces participants to Dabke, a traditional collective dance from the Levant, with a particular focus on Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese traditions. Through rhythm, footwork, body coordination and group movement, participants will learn the basic vocabulary and structures of Dabke while exploring its social, cultural and historical meaning. The workshop approaches Dabke as a living and evolving practice rather than a fixed folkloric form. Participants will explore how traditional steps, rhythms and collective patterns can become a starting point for contemporary movement and personal expression. Through repetition, improvisation, musicality and group exercises, they will gradually develop movement sequences together and experience the power of dancing as a collective practice. Starting from the traditional dance, the workshop will gradually open up into Fadi‘s practice, giving participants the possibility to experience Dabke both as cultural heritage and as a living, evolving movement language. Fadi will introduce his own unique artistic and choreographic approach, in which he engages with how traditional movement can be explored, transformed and developed through contemporary dance practices, improvisation, musicality and composition. The workshop is open to all levels and no previous dance experience is required. It is an invitation to move, listen, connect and discover the cultural richness of Levantine dance through the body. 
Accessibility, Content Note & Sensory Stimulations
The workshop is taught in English and uses demonstration, repetition and clear verbal explanations. Participants should be comfortable standing, walking and moving continuously for parts of the class. The workshop includes rhythmic footwork, repeated steps and group formations. Physical contact is not required, although participants may choose to hold hands or connect in a line during some Dabke exercises. Information about our location & studio access in Kreuzberg, which unfortunately are not wheelchair accessible, can be found on our website. We offer a solidarity discount (workshop spots at a reduced price) for people living in financially precarious situations, including people from crisis areas, BIPoC, trans*, queer and disabled people. For questions or further information, please contact Zoé Duflot at workshop@tanzfabrik-berlin.de. 
Biographies

Fadi Waked

Fadi Waked is a Palestinian-Syrian dancer, choreographer, dance educator and cultural practitioner based in Berlin. His artistic practice is rooted in Dabke and traditional dances from Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, while also engaging with contemporary dance, choreography and performance. Through his work, he explores the relationship between cultural heritage and contemporary artistic expression, with a particular interest in identity, migration, displacement, memory, belonging and collective movement. As a performer and choreographer, Fadi has developed and presented his own artistic works in different European contexts. His solo work “A Ticket to Another Migration” has been presented internationally and toured extensively across Europe between 2023 and 2026. Alongside his artistic practice, Fadi works extensively as a dance educator. He teaches Dabke from Palestine, Syria and Lebanon to people with different backgrounds and levels of experience, creating spaces where movement becomes a tool for cultural exchange, communication and collective learning. His current artistic interests include developing new choreographic works that examine Palestinian history, memory and identity through the body, while creating encounters between Levantine traditional dance and contemporary European dance practices.