"an uncommonly deft combination of dance and verbal theater."
- Brian Seibert, The New York Times

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



Tohfe Beidas
Kristine Covillo (President)
Samar Haddad King
Ryan King (Treasurer)
Jessie Mandel (Secretary)
Sana Odeh
Zoe Rabinowitz
Nathan Trice
Dave Welty
17
Years
39
Cities
15
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
"Samar Haddad King’s propulsive choreography [is] equal parts rave stomping and sensuous writhing."
- Bob Verini, New York Stage Review
“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 2023
Gathering: New York City (new creation) Open Call Residency The Shed April 17-21, 2023 New York, NY More information Losing It May 31 @ 8:15pm GMT + 1 June 1 @ 7:30pm GMT+1 Potsdamer Tanztage Potsdam, Germany Tickets 3 x 13 film screening May 31 @ 9:45pm GMT + 1 Potsdamer Tanztage Potsdam, Germany Tickets Noah June 3 @ 7pm ET The Jamaica Dance Festival 150-29 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica, NY FREE An evening with Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre June 19 @ 6-9pm ET 873 Broadway (at 18th St) Studio 3 - #401, New York, NY More information + RSVPSUMMER 2023
Losing It July 6 & 7 @ 8pm GMT The Yard Theatre London, UK Tickets + more information“King's choreography is dynamic and athletic"
- Nancy Grossman, Broadway World
Gallery













“[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
