Among the many different folk dance troupes who took part in the 18th annual Ismailia International Festival for Folk Arts, Al-Falouga troupe from Palestine stands out.

The festival, which took place from 20 to 25 August, featured troupes from 23 countries.

Al-Falouga, however, tells the story of Palestine; with every drum beat, a memory of a martyr is revived. Their mantra is:

“Dance is resistance, and heritage is life’s beat, and the act of remembrance is the only means to revive Palestinian and Arab memory against the catastrophic crimes of Israel.”

First created in 1983, the troupe fights back through dancing and singing.