Community Dabke Group

Our Story

The Levant Community Dabke Group was founded in 2014 by Awatef al-Khadour, co-founder of Levant Canada, after seeing the importance of cultural tradition in newcomers’ healing and resettlement processes.

Since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, thousands of refugees affected by the conflict have been brought to safety in Canada by the Canadian government and private refugee sponsors like Levant. Seeing the increasing number of Syrian families in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, Levant saw a Dabke group as an opportunity to provide newcomers with a safe, familiar space to contribute to their settlement and integration process.

Despite low participation in the beginning weeks, Awatef devotedly attended practice sessions by herself and stayed to welcome anyone who showed up. This attitude summarizes the sentiment and dedication our group strives to provide to everyone. Today, the group has more than 30 dedicated members who volunteer their time to teach others, choreograph dances, and perform in shows and events.

What is Dabke?

Dabke is a native form of traditional dance in the Middle East. It combines circle dance and line dancing and consists of rhythmic stamping of the feet. One of the dominant theories for its origins suggests that it was a folk tradition practiced by Levantine civilizations to fix the roof of houses during bad weather. When the weather was cold, the mud on the roof would crack which required family and community members to come together to patch the roof by stamping the mud in a uniform way. Despite the different theories about the origins of Dabke, one thing remains true! Dabke represents solidarity, cooperation, and the importance of the community. That is why it is danced hand in hand.

What do we Offer?

Our group members are amateur dancers who share an aim to bring the community together through culture and art.

The Levant Community Dabke Group performs in multicultural shows and fundraisers. We DO NOT accept private events.

The group also performs every year at Levant’s two-day annual cultural night. The event includes a light-hearted folkloric story that is presented with cultural Dabke dances from the Levant region and a traditional wedding ceremony.

Our choreography includes Dabke moves from Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Kurdistan.

Dabke for Kids

Dabke for Kids is an extension of the Levant Community Dabke Group, focused entirely on kids. It was created to introduce our kids to their identity and familiarize them with Levantine cultures. All parents in the KW community are welcome to enroll their children, for an opportunity to learn Dabke in a fun, caring and nurturing environment.