DabkeRoots: A Collective Centring Community, Palestinian Resistance, and Celebration

In a conversation with DabkeRoots founder Omar, contributing editor Mayra Nassef uncovers how teaching traditional Palestinian dance in London transformed into a powerful movement of cultural celebration and resistance. Through Dabke, the collective has created a vibrant space where Palestinian heritage and identity thrive in the heart of London.

In a city like London, sometimes finding community can be tough. This is even more prescient for those living in diaspora who often find themselves searching for a place to call home in a foreign city. While most classes and clubs can provide a sense of belonging, DabkeRoots has created something truly unique: a vibrant community that celebrates Palestinian culture while embodying resistance through its traditions.

DabkeRoots facilitates regular workshops teaching Dabke, a traditional dance from the Levant and Palestine. This is often followed by some tasty collective dinners for people to connect. Though most importantly, DabkeRoots acts as a tool for Palestinian resistance, weaving the community in its tapestry. I was more than pleased to chat a bit to Omar, the founder of DabkeRoots, about the collective and the impact that it’s had in London. DabkeRoots started in October 2024.

“ I would go to encampments after work and meet a lot of Arab friends, and we would start doing some basic Dabke,” Omar recalls. “It was about understanding the culture of Dabke.” However, a turning point instilled the realisation that something bigger was happening. “I taught a couple of people how to do Dabke, and then the next day, when I came down, I saw people teaching other people Dabke”.  

Image via: @DabkeRoots Instagram

A community was forming. This is the origin story of DabkeRoots, formed with community in mind and culture appreciation at heart. Omar explains that the name “DabkeRoots”, which he and a few friends came up with, is linked to a particular image of Palestine with “tree roots”, eliciting images of olive trees native to Palestine. “There was no place to teach Dabke in London, so it was a great opportunity for us. A lot of people wanted it but did not know where to go.” DabkeRoots started their first session in East London, which went fantastically. “I thought it was going to be a one-time thing, but then I booked another.. Ever since then we have had fully booked sessions!”

“Teaching the culture is the main goal.” He expands on how they’ve fostered not only a community but a family. This also spurred the formation of a professional team. “I want people to understand how professional Dabke looks.” Currently, there are 15 people on the team, and 30 in reserves. It keeps growing. He highlights the importance of the professional team being derived from the community: “It’s not just a dance. You have to understand the community”

For Omar, Dabke is personal. “I’m originally Palestinian but born here”, he starts. “I have a strong bond with Dabke.” Growing up, he lived in Lebanon for 5 years, where he started to connect with his culture. “The whole point of it was that you would have fun, eat, do something, then do Dabke.” That’s the standard fare. “When I came back to the UK, it wasn’t like that because no one understood the culture like that.” If something doesn’t exist, then “I had to create it.” That’s the origin of “Dine and Dabke”, an element of DabkeRoots where they dine post-workshops.

“I wanted to recreate a memory.”

Dabke is a tool for understanding not only the Palestinian lived experience, but also the adjacent Levantine issues. “A lot has happened. But we have to grow the culture in different ways.” Omar expands. “If Plan A doesn't work, Plan B and Plan C have to also be there.” He recalls how, oftentimes, protests could feel so heated, and how they felt as if they were at a standstill. “You have to resort to other things. Yes, keep going to protests, but also do something else.” He thought to himself: “What’s famous in Palestine? Food.” Sure. But also Dabke. “Everybody loves to move their body.”  It was a way to connect with the culture cerebrally. “Dabke resonates with Palestinians. It’s a part of the resistance, but it’s also celebratory.” Dabke is intrinsic to many celebratory events, such as weddings, and is pervasive in the region as a lively dance. Protests and discourse can be particularly heavy and highlight the full range of the Palestinian experience. 

“In protests, the focus was often on Palestinian suffering. I wanted to strengthen people’s hearts by showing them the beauty of our culture - to remind everyone that we are a people full of life, joy, and resilience.” 

Image via: City Dance Studios

“To understand how Dabke can connect people and understand Palestine, you have to do it.” Shoulder to shoulder. A sense of togetherness. This is something that Omar always elaborates on in class. “When one moves, the other person moves, but no one gets put back.” It’s a dance that’s full of meaning. “We are all in this together. And for us to look good, we have to be in sync and move together.” No one gets left behind. Understanding this is integral to understanding how such a dance can bring people together.  As DabkeRoots has experienced huge success since its inception, I also inquired about whether there are any expansion plans. Omar mulls this over. “Ideally, I’d focus on areas that are lacking, so mostly in the U.K. and Europe.” But not just any growth. “We are looking for the right growth, community is key, and some elements of DabkeRoots like ‘Dine and Dabke’ benefit from being more intimate and U.K-based”. However, when it comes to the performance team, international growth is a goal as well. “We have to be very patient and see where things take us.”

The story of DabkeRoots is one filled with hope and celebration -- connecting people through understanding, and through a dance that intrinsically centres unity. It is a collective that highlights the importance of culture, not only as a tool for resistance, but as a way to celebrate, bringing dimensionality to the Palestinian narrative. After a break during Ramadan, they are now back with regular workshops and events! Follow them on @dabkeroots on Instagram to keep up to date with this brilliant community!