Workshop – Introduction to Dabkeh – Wadee Alkhouri and Tatiana Calderón - the workshop for artists in exile

Found in the countries of the Levant, dabkeh is a group dance practiced at weddings, banquets and occasional parties.

Led by professional Syrian dancer Wadee Alkhouri and Colombian actress and Gaita player Tatiana Calderón, the workshop kicks off with a captivating musical immersion, followed by a dance demonstration to inspire and guide participants. A collective warm-up with "ice-breaker" exercises (communication and trust between participants) then sets the scene for learning the basic steps and movements characteristic of dabkeh. The dance is often accompanied by a small rosary (masbaḥa) or a small cloth; participants are free to bring their own symbolic object.  

The combination of lively music, energetic movement and cross-cultural interaction creates a dynamic and enriching atmosphere, where you'll discover the deep links between dance, music and culture.

Wadee Alkhouri

Born in Damascus, Syria, in 1992, Wadee Alkhouri is a dancer, rapper and slammer. He trained in contemporary dance and ballet at the Institut Supérieur d'Art Dramatique in Damascus. He teaches dance and theatrical movement. He has been a member of l'atelier des artistes en exil since June 2023, and performs as soon as he arrives at Mucem in concert and at Friche la Belle de Mai in dance as part of the Visions d'exil 2023 festival.  

Tatiana Calderon

Born in Colombia in 1987, Tatiana Calderón Ellis is a playwright, actress, writer and gaita player, and a graduate of Bogotá's Teatro Libre. Since 2014, she has been incorporating an environmental dimension into her work. In 2021, she began writing her novel The Happiest Village in the World. Following threats, her work was not published. She has been a member of the Artists in Exile Workshop since 2022. In 2023, she performed her play Felicidad at the Locombia Festival and the Vision d'exil Festival.

The studio of artists in exile

The mission of the atelier des artistes en exil (aa-e) is to identify artists in exile from all backgrounds and disciplines, support them according to their situation and needs, offer them working spaces and put them in touch with professional networks, so as to provide them with the means to test their practice and restructure themselves.