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





14
Years
29
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
Touring works
Last Ward
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





Winter 2020/21
Online Technique/Improvisation Class (English/Arabic) The first in a series of FREE online classes with YSDT artists led by Artistic Director, Samar Haddad King.December 16 @ 11am EST/ 18:00 Palestine (GMT+2)Live on Zoom Online Technique/Improvisation Class (English) FREE online class with YSDT artists led by Associate Artistic Director and performer, Zoe Rabinowitz.January 6 @ 11:30am EST/ 18:30 Palestine (GMT+2)
Live on Zoom Online Technique/Improvisation Class (English) FREE online class with YSDT artists led by YSDT performer and teaching artist, Arzu Salman.January 20, 2021 @ 11am EST/ 18:00 Palestine (GMT+2)
Live on Zoom Online Technique/Improvisation Class (English/Arabic) FREE online class with YSDT artists led by YSDT performer and teaching artist, Samaa Wakeem.February 3, 2021 @ 11am EST/ 18:00 Palestine (GMT+2)
Live on Zoom YSDT Master Class: Against a Hard Surface (English) A FREE on-demand repertory master class led by founding company member Yukari Oskaka featuring choreography from Against a Hard Surface. YSDT Master Class: Against a Hard Surface (Japanese) A FREE on-demand repertory master class led by founding company member Yukari Oskaka featuring choreography from Against a Hard Surface. 3x13 In this new dance film project, 12 artists from around the world tell a story about a journey that shaped their life using narration, choreography, and a subjective camera aimed at providing an intimate experience of the performers’ inner and outer world. Created in collaboration between Samar Haddad King and award-winning Writer/Director Eimi Imanishi, this work in progress is currently in post-production and will be available online in early 2021.
“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









