Dance For Resistance - Mohanad Smama

Saturday 06/09, at Drama : Dance for Resistance 🇵🇸 ✊ This Saturday, we gather not only to dance, but to connect, to share, and to stand in solidarity. 
Palestinian dancer and choreographer Mohanad Smama, a pioneer of contemporary dance in Gaza, founder of the Hayy Contemporary Arts Group, but also filmmaker, will be with us in Lisbon for the first time this weekend, coming specially from Marseille, where after surviving the genocide alone, he found an artistic residency dedicated to research and creation, supported by the Ballet National de Marseille among many other French institutions. A unique opportunity to discover and experience his art, his story, and the powerful tradition of Dabkeh, in community. A day full of movement, films, conversations, art and music, where we can come together to celebrate resilience and strengthen our connection to the Palestinian cause. More important : this event is most and foremost a crowdfunding action to support Mohanad’s family’s survival in Gaza. Alll of the ticketsales are gonna reversed to them, so your participation in any form is essential. :) Program highlights – 2:30 – 4:30 PM · Talk, film screenings & Q&A with Mohanad, hosted by Saleem Haddad – 5:00 – 6:30 PM · Dabkeh workshop #1 with a warm-up by Renato Duran with the Free Movement Club method
 – 8:00 – 9:30 PM · Dabkeh workshop #2, a second session for the latecomers
 – From 10:00 PM · Music & open dance floor If you’ve ever asked yourself what you coulld do to help, this is it. Come dance, learn, and share with us. :) And if you can’t attend, you can still take part by buying a contributor ticket via the Shotgun link, or donating directly to Mohanad’s GoFundMe. - About Mohanad Smama - Mohanad Smama is a Palestinian dancer and choreographer from Gaza, and one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in his city. He founded the Hayy Contemporary Arts Group in Gaza. With extensive experience in contemporary dance and Palestinian folklore, he works on developing training methodologies related to movement and has established his own dance school, which he uses to enrich the cultural and artistic scene in Gaza. He also founded the first contemporary dance studio in Gaza and has produced many artistic performances that address social issues, as well as ongoing projects that integrate various art forms into his performances and works. Mohanad is also a filmmaker, having produced dance films and participated in conferences about the role of art in Gaza and how it can be used as a method of expression and therapy for all age groups, especially in the context of the war in Gaza. Having survived the genocide alone, Mohanad is now focused on continuing his work in dance and sharing his voice and art with the world through his body, words, and performances that reflect Palestinian culture and the impact of war. He is currently in a one-year artistic residency dedicated to research and creation. This residency is supported by Les Rencontres à l’échelle / Bancs Publics, the Shonen company, the Ballet National de Marseille, and Friche la Belle de Mai. He is also a beneficiary of the PAUSE program at the Collège de France, which supports artists and researchers at risk due to the security situation in their home countries. His work has been supported by institutions such as the French Institute in Jerusalem, the Contemporary Dance Festival in Ramallah, the Arab American National Museum, the A. M. Qattan Foundation, the Contemporary Dance Company of the Cairo Opera House, the Goethe-Institut in Egypt, Ettijahat - Independent Culture, and Action for Hope. - About the Dance workshops - Mohanad Smama invites you on a journey into Dabke and Palestinian dance.
Beyond being a traditional dance, Palestinian Dabke is a true collective vibration. Born from the rhythm of feet striking the ground—once in harmony with agricultural labor—this dance has carried the weight of heritage, passed down from generation to generation. It has become a powerful symbol of unity, cultural resistance, and shared identity within social gatherings. This workshop offers an immersion into the heart of Dabke, weaving a dialogue between tradition and contemporary creation. It is not merely about learning steps, but about exploring rhythm and group energy. By blending the codes of Dabke with the dynamics of contemporary dance, the workshop opens a new space for expression—collective, engaged, and where shared momentum becomes a language.