"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
18
Years
51
Cities
17
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




Fall 2023
Dancewave Youth Company Sept 16 - Jan 27 on Saturdays @ 10:00-1:30pm ET Dancewave - Brooklyn, NY Register here Roundtable with Samar Haddad King September 17 @ 11-2pm GMT + 3 IDEA Festival - Amman, Jordan Register here Workshop with Samar Haddad King and Samaa Wakim September 19 @ 4-6pm GMT + 3 IDEA Festival - Amman, Jordan Register here Losing It September 21 @ 8pm GMT + 3 IDEA Festival - Amman, Jordan Tickets + more information Losing It September 24, 25, 26 and 27@ 8pm GMT + 1 Dream City - Théâtre El Hamra - Tunis, Tunisia More information Mohammed (excerpt, 3 x 13) September 27 - Oct 4 (online) September 30 @ 1pm ET (in-person) Toronto Palestine Film Festival - Toronto, Canada Buy Tickets Losing It October 8 @ 8pm GMT + 2 4 + 4 Days in Motion- Ponec Theatre - Prague, Czech Republic Tickets + more information When the children gather (new production) The Walk (with Little Amal) October 11 @ 6pm CTCity Walk Park - Birmingham, AL Tickets: Free and open to the publicMore information Losing It October 13 and 14 @ 7:30pm GMT + 2 FAB Festival Bordeaux- Globe Theatre - Bordeaux, France Tickets + more information Losing It October 17@ 8pm GMT + 2 Agora-Boulazac Theatre - Boulazac, France Tickets + more information Gathering: Workshop with Samar Haddad King and Samaa Wakim October 18 - 20 Ecole superieure de theatre de l/union - Limoges, France Losing It October 24, 25, and 26 @ 8pm GMT + 2 Sens Interdits Festival - Lyon, France Tickets + more information Losing It November 23 @ 8pm GMT + 2 Theatre Joliette - Marseille, France Tickets + more information Losing It November 26 @ 8pm GMT + 2 Theatre Alibi - Bastia, France Tickets + more information Losing It November 30 @ 8pm GMT + 2 L’Alibi - Amiens, France Tickets + more informationWinter 2023/24
Gathering: New York City (new creation) work in progress (showing) January 12, 2024 @ 5pm ET The Shed - New York, NY To register, please contact [email protected] Gathering: New York City (new creation) work in progress (showing) January 16, 2024 @ 1pm ET The Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU - New York, NY To register, please contact [email protected] When the children gather (new creation)performance by youth at Dancewave January 27, 2024 @ 1pm ET Dancewave - New York, NY More details coming soon Losing It February 27 and 28 @ 8PM GMT + 8 Hong Kong Arts Festival - Hong Kong Tickets Untitled (new creation) March 2 @ 8PM and March 3 @ 4PM GMT + 8 Hong Kong Arts Festival - Hong Kong 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
