Dabke Dance Workshop with Mary Mulcahey

Adult Group Class

From the Mediterranean coasts to the Mountains of Lebanon and banks of the Euphrates River, Dabke is the traditional Folk dance known for its high energy and spirit. Danced in a group, Dabke is colorfully choreographed to dramatic folk music and rhythmic variations.

Dabke is the traditional folk dance of the Greater Syria region, danced in a variety of forms throughout Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. The energy of dancing as a group is a core expression/spirit of the dance. Highly choreographed to dramatic folk music and rhythmic colors from the region.

Mary Mulcahey is a Chicago-based Dabke instructor, choreographer, and performer specializing in traditional and modern Lebanese dance. She teaches at cultural events and leads masterclasses at the University of Chicago. Since 2013, she has performed with the Our Lady of Lebanon Dabke Troupe and, since 2021, has trained 20+ students while coordinating performances, fundraising, and costuming. She is pursuing an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago, with research on women’s spaces in Dabke, and holds a B.A. in Advocacy and Social Change Communications and an A.A. in French from Loyola University Chicago.