Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre (YSDT) will premiere Last Ward at Gibney, May 5-12, 2022 with a livestream performance on May 6 increasing accessibility with a virtual option that will be promoted to community partners in Brooklyn. Last Ward is an evening-length dance theater work (in Arabic with English subtitles) that tackles the universal human experience of facing death - especially relevant in light of COVID-19 - by following one Arab man’s journey towards death in a hospital, inviting audiences to reflect on the humanity of a demographic not often seen in the media or on stage, as simply human. Leading up to and following the performances, YSDT will offer a series of community engagement programs for partners in Brooklyn: Fort Hamilton High School (Bay Ridge), Arab American Association (Bay Ridge), Arab American Family Support Center (Boerum Hill), and Recess - serving system-impacted young people (Clinton Hill). Programming will begin in April and include open classes-virtual, in-person, and outdoors, workshops, lectures, and an open dress rehearsal (in April/May) and may extend through the fall. YSDT will also offer monthly online classes, YSDT PLAY, targeted to Arab American Association of NY’s ‘women’s empowerment’ group and other non-vaccinated and Arabic speaking communities in Brooklyn.

Photo by Marif DeRuffi