yaa | ya (y+AH): to call or attract; often said before calling someone’s name to get their attention.
samar (‘sum’ + ‘are’): evening conversation, sleepless night, night of entertainment





15
Years
31
Cities
10
Countries
4
Continents
“Samar Haddad King deftly melds styles from hip-hop and ballet to social dance and acrobatics.”
- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times
























“The YSDT dancers move like this often, tender yet aggressive; tenacious yet desperate. The body subverts itself, becoming both weapon and wound.”
- Cleo Abramian, Hyperallergic
Current works
Last Ward
When the Waves Have Come and Gone
Losing It
3 x 13 Film
The Playground
Against a Hard Surface
bound
"Samar Haddad King’s propulsive choreography [is] equal parts rave stomping and sensuous writhing."
- Bob Verini, New York Stage Review
Programs
In-person
“The process the dancers went through creating Getting there, staying here was transforming. I watched Samar push the [Hubbard Street] second company both physically and emotionally. There was a visible growth of artistry.”
- Taryn Kaschock Russell, The Juilliard School





SPRING 2022
YSDT: Play A monthly series of online, open-level movement classes taught in Arabic and English taught by a rotating pair of YSDT Artists. Classes are free/by donation and take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 11am ET. RSVP required. More information and to register here. Recess Movement classes in collaboration with the Recess Assembly Program for system-impacted young people ages 18-26. Assembly is a youth-led artist-run program offering long-term paid training and pathways for reimagining new possibilities through art. Spring 2022 New York City/Online YSDT Lecture University of Virginia March 23, 2022 Charlottesville, VAYSDT Guest Teaching: Creative Process Middlebury College April 4, 2022 Middlebury, VT YSDT Master Class Ailey School April 19, 2022 New York, NY YSDT Master Class Gibney April 30 at 10am EDT New York City $25 Register here Gibney Presents: Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre Last Ward May 5-7 & 10-12 at 8pm EDT May 8 at 3pm EDT New York City $15-$20 Tickets Gibney Presents: Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre on Live Stream Last Ward May 6 at 8 PM EDTOnline $15-$20 Tickets Anniversary Gala Performance of Last Ward and Reception May 10, 2022 at 7pm More information
“King's choreography is dynamic and athletic"
- Nancy Grossman, Broadway World
“[YSDT] defines the space within which human relationships take place. They shape the landscape of expectation and hope.... What ensues is unique, free of easy classification, and beautiful."
- Sara J. Hart, Explore Dance


Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT (2019) Chaillot - théâtre national de la Danse, Paris, France (2018) Baryshnikov Arts Center, New York, NY (2018)Dance Initiative, Carbondale, CO (2018)Palestinian Museum, Bir Zeit, Palestine (2017) LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Queens, NY (2008/9 & 2010/11) Queens Museum, Queens, NY (2007) Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York, NY (2005/6)


“The combination of the dramatic subject matter and the technical ability and experience of [King's] dancers makes for an undeniable explosive combination.”
-Amanda Keller, idanz