You have performed internationally. How did that happen?
It’s very difficult to travel outside Palestine, especially for me because I don’t have a passport. Every trip requires extensive paperwork and multiple permissions.
I also have my dance school to consider. Many of our students are children in need, and I can’t simply disappear for long periods. At the moment, there’s no one who can take over the school’s work entirely, so I have to balance everything carefully.
Despite these challenges, I’ve been fortunate to perform in Kuwait, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, the United States, and Brazil. One of my proudest moments was bringing together 120 performers from around the world for our production “Salal.” It was a full-scale performance with musicians, dancers, choreographers, and teachers all collaborating.
I’m also invited to speak at festivals because of my research into Palestinian Folklore and because I’ve developed a unique dance style that fuses multiple traditions. I’ve worked to transform this from “text” into “action” turning research and history into living, moving art.
What are you looking to do in the future?
We’re developing a new production that tells the Palestinian story entirely from a woman’s perspective the central hero will be a woman. This will be an important and ambitious work, and we are determined to bring it to the stage.
We’re also working on transforming a historic building in Bethlehem, built in 1908, into a vibrant cultural center. This project will include:
- A professional dance hall the first of its kind in the West Bank alongside an arts studio, an eco-garden, and space for artist residencies.
- An integrated program combining education and dance, ensuring that participants deeply understand the cultural and historical meaning behind the art they create.
- This space will be everything in one place – A living centre of Palestinian heritage, art, and movement.
If you would like to see more of Hanna Tams’ work go to the links below
