“The YSDT dancers move like this often, tender yet aggressive; tenacious yet desperate. The body subverts itself, becoming both weapon and wound.”
Hyperallergic
“a layered story of trauma dislocation and resilience.”
The New York Times
Gathering unfolds in a fictional village under siege, where a woman struggles to reconcile fragmented memories of home through movement, ritual, and music. In this evocative work, hundreds of oranges spill across the stage—passed hand to hand, stacked on bodies, scattered and crushed underfoot—as dancers reshape the space in an ever-shifting meditation on loss, survival, and human connection. Conceived and directed by Samar Haddad King, Gathering blends dance, song, puppetry, and play with music from Max Richter’s Vivaldi alongside King’s original compositions. Both intimate and expansive, Gathering is a work of aching beauty that lingers long after the scent of citrus fills the air.
Founded by King and operated out of the United States, Palestine, and France, Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre creates multidisciplinary and cross-cultural performances that unite diverse groups through creative encounters. Returning to Duke after Last Ward in 2024, the company has developed more than 30 original works presented across the United States and internationally.
This show includes audience participation on stage.
Audiences are encouraged to remove their shoes prior to entering the performance space.
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