dANCE tROUPE
Background
Following the founding of Ibdaa in 1994 a principal aim of the organization was to use innovative approaches to disseminate the message of the struggle and aspirations of Palestinian people. One means to accomplish this was through dance and music and therefore a dance troupe was formed. Initially it involved 22 children from Deheisheh and was soon established enough to accept an invitation to perform in France. All the music and choreography in an Ibdaa production are original material created by the group, often using real dialogue as a starting point. The music alone can convey the message of the show, which the dancing then reinforces and enhances. Aims The aim of the project is to present the Palestinian situation to a domestic and international audience through the medium of dance and music. It also provides the participants with the means to control their future and strengthen their character. |
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Productions
The dance troupe has three productions in its current repertoire and is finalizing a fourth.
The Tent: depicts life in Palestine before 1948. It shows the rural lifestyle and the traditions involved in courtship and marriage. The dénouement of the production is the invasion by Israeli soldiers.
The Will: covers the transference of responsibilities between generations, especially for caring for the land and the family.
The Political Prisoners: depicts the reality of life inside jail for Palestinians prisoners. It also illustrates some of the obstacles to peace, with a focus on individuals who are resistant to pursuing a peaceful resolution.
The fourth show, which is currently in production, covers the theme of life in a refugee camp and the desire of the inhabitants to return to their homelands.
The dance troupe is now introducing the fifth generation of children to their cultural and historical traditions. Many participants from previous generations are still involved with the group: teaching, dancing with a mixed-generation group or taking part in additional activities. The group has performed in more than 25 countries worldwide, some on several occasions. In addition it is regularly invited to perform within Palestine and always accepts such requests.
The dance troupe has three productions in its current repertoire and is finalizing a fourth.
The Tent: depicts life in Palestine before 1948. It shows the rural lifestyle and the traditions involved in courtship and marriage. The dénouement of the production is the invasion by Israeli soldiers.
The Will: covers the transference of responsibilities between generations, especially for caring for the land and the family.
The Political Prisoners: depicts the reality of life inside jail for Palestinians prisoners. It also illustrates some of the obstacles to peace, with a focus on individuals who are resistant to pursuing a peaceful resolution.
The fourth show, which is currently in production, covers the theme of life in a refugee camp and the desire of the inhabitants to return to their homelands.
The dance troupe is now introducing the fifth generation of children to their cultural and historical traditions. Many participants from previous generations are still involved with the group: teaching, dancing with a mixed-generation group or taking part in additional activities. The group has performed in more than 25 countries worldwide, some on several occasions. In addition it is regularly invited to perform within Palestine and always accepts such requests.
tHEATER gROUP
The project was formed in February 2014 by a group of children. 35 children between the ages of 8 and 15 years.
Our goal of this project is to give the children the opportunity to express their feelings and struggle through their performances. Theater will give them the chance to prove their childhood and identity as Palestinian children. The show talks about the Palestinian situation through special movement and words. The first performance of 45 minutes is called “Hathayan” which tells the story of the Palestinian reality. It is part of Mahmoud Darwish poem “ A’ad fi Kafan” which is about a Farwell between a mother and her son who gets martyred by Israeli soldiers. We are now working on improving the theater project.
Our goal of this project is to give the children the opportunity to express their feelings and struggle through their performances. Theater will give them the chance to prove their childhood and identity as Palestinian children. The show talks about the Palestinian situation through special movement and words. The first performance of 45 minutes is called “Hathayan” which tells the story of the Palestinian reality. It is part of Mahmoud Darwish poem “ A’ad fi Kafan” which is about a Farwell between a mother and her son who gets martyred by Israeli soldiers. We are now working on improving the theater project.
cHOIR tEAMFounded in 2013, the Choir Team is a new part of the Ibdaa activity program.
Consisting of 20 children in the age group of 8-16 year old, the choir, as first of it’s kind in a refugee camp in the West Bank, has received recognition and a big interest in Deheisheh and Bethlehem. The Choir, sings traditional Palestinian songs and has performed in local auditoriums. |
VIOLIN GroupIt’s one of newly established projects at ibdaa under the umbrella of the art committee of the organization, targeting 30 children between the age of 8-12 years old whom are refugees from both genders who are interested and have the well to learn how to play on the violin instrument
This idea was created through Edward Sa’ed institution for the southern of the west bank through establishing several groups contain 25-30 children from refugee camps in West Bank, Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. In addition, the children in the project where chosen through cooperation between Dheisheh boys and girls school and the involvement of social supervisors and the trainers. The children whom were chosen and due to economical difficulties their families are facing are unable to buy the instrument nor contribute to the costume cost. |