At the center of the program was Losing It, a solo performance by Palestinian choreographer and performer Samaa Wakim, presented twice over the two-day visit. Co-created with Samar Haddad King, the work examines how inherited trauma shapes identity through movement, voice, and sound. Drawing on original music and field recordings collected across Palestine since 2010, the performance weaves together fear and comfort, memory and presence, creating a deeply personal yet universal reflection on the enduring impact of conflict.

As one reviewer observed, “She keeps falling but never gives up… you could watch her for hours… the performance is a succession of states of tension.” — Jörg Worat, Neue Presse.

The performance resonated strongly with Sarajevo audiences. A city whose own history has been shaped by war, displacement, and recovery provided a meaningful setting for conversations about collective memory, reconciliation, and healing. Through movement, soundscapes, and artistic expression, Losing It invited audiences to reflect on how trauma is carried across generations and how creativity can help communities navigate difficult histories.

Reflecting on the role art can play in this kind of healing, Samar Haddad King shared a thought that stayed with many in the audience: “Art is either a door or a mirror” — a reminder that creative work can either open a way through difficult experience, or help us see ourselves and our histories more clearly. For Healing Balkans, this captures precisely why initiatives like this one matter.

“Art is either a door or a mirror” – Samar Haddad King

A Wider Program of Exchange

The visit extended beyond the stage. A press conference introduced the company and the program to local media, opening up public dialogue around the collaboration and its themes. The company also presented a screening of their film 3×13, offering Sarajevo audiences another window into their artistic practice and the realities they portray.

Alongside the public events, Healing Balkans hosted a more intimate gathering: a shared evening of cooking and connection, where guests came together to prepare maqluba, a traditional Palestinian dish, side by side. Moments like these — informal, communal, built around food and conversation — created space for genuine exchange beyond the formal program.

The visit also included a teen workshop on Activism and Art, giving young people in Sarajevo the chance to engage directly with the visiting artists and explore how creative expression can become a tool for voice, advocacy, and social change.

For Healing Balkans, supporting initiatives such as Losing It and the broader program around it reflects our commitment to creating spaces where artistic expression, community engagement, and peacebuilding intersect. Art has the power not only to remember the past but also to foster empathy, understanding, and hope for the future.

Artistic Team
Co-creators: Samaa Wakim and Samar Haddad King
Choreography & Performance: Samaa Wakim
Original Music & Performance: Samar Haddad King
Technical Manager: Mohammed Kablawi
Production: Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre, Khashabi Theatre, Theaterformen Festival

Healing Balkans is proud to have supported the Sarajevo presentation of these remarkable Palestinian artists and to have contributed to a cultural exchange that demonstrated the power of art to connect communities across borders and experiences.

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