Mohanned Hawaz in Vancouver
Ashley Rhianne is so excited to debut famed Iraqi artist and choreographer Mohanned Hawaz to Vancouver for the first time! In this exciting weekend, Mohanned will bring Iraqi dance styles to the classroom covering folkloric and contemporary dance technique through Iraqi dance combos & technique with a focus on understanding Iraqi music, dance stylizations, rhythms and moves all the while providing cultural education and context .
As part of our program, he will also provide education through a presentation style lecture about the history of Iraqi dance and the different styles of Iraqi dance across Iraq, from north to south. The lecture includes some short video clips, including an excerpt from a documentary project he created for the Ministry of Culture.
Limited Early bird spots will open Monday January 12, these are limited. Grab your spot here: https://forms.gle/CLJkQ3QHChyWuNDL8
Saturday July 18 2026
Location: TBC
10:00am – 12:00pm: Al-Khashaba Dance. From the city of Basra, Al-Khashaba is a traditional folk dance from Basra, characterized by strong rhythms and agile, dynamic movement. Historically, this dance has masculine origins and was, and still is, performed primarily by men in private male gatherings. Women also perform Al-Khashaba today, but with a more feminine movement quality, while the original roots of the dance remain male. A defining feature of Al-Khashaba is the live dialogue between the dancer and the Kasour drummer. The performance relies entirely on this interaction, as the rhythm, movement, and energy are created through the direct, moment-to-moment exchange between the dancer and the Kasour player.
12:45pm – 2:15pm: Choreography- “Al-Basrawiya”. This choreography reflects the cultural diversity of Basra through two different dances. The first is Al-Samri, a dance that originally comes from the Najd region of Saudi Arabia. It reached the town of Al-Zubair in southern Iraq through Najdi migrations hundreds of years ago and gradually became a shared cultural art form. Al-Samri also spread to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, with each country developing its own style and interpretation while preserving the core spirit of the dance. The second dance is Al-Hewa, an Iraqi dance with distinctive rhythms that reflect the historical connection between Basra and Africa. Basra was a major trading center at the head of the Arabian Gulf, where trade routes linking Africa and India converged for centuries. This history is clearly reflected in Al-Hewa, which, while Iraqi in origin, carries strong African influences in both rhythm and spirit.
7pm- 9pm: Join us for a Special Screening of the Ministry of Culture sponsored Documentary of Iraqi Dance curated by Mohanned. This lecture explores the different types of dance in Iraq, traditional music and rhythms, ethnic and cultural diversity, and how Iraq’s dances reflect the country’s multicultural identity.
Sunday July 19 2026
Location: TBC
10:00am – 12:30pm: Iraqi Kawliya Dance. Raqi Kawliya Dance is a traditional Iraqi folk dance historically associated with the Kawliya communities who lived in various regions of Iraq, particularly in Baghdad and southern Iraq. The dance is characterized by fast-paced movements, strong rhythms, and expressive body language, with a particular emphasis on shoulder movements, head motions, and footwork, as well as facial and bodily expressions.
Kawliya Dance reflects:
• Joy, energy, and vitality
• Direct interaction with music
• The festive and social spirit of Iraqi culture
It is traditionally performed to Iraqi folk music and is considered an important part of Iraq’s intangible cultural heritage, combining dance, music, and cultural expression.
In Mohanned’s teaching of this dance style, he focuses on:
• Proper technical foundations of the movements
• Understanding musical rhythm
• Preserving the authentic cultural identity while presenting it in a contemporary and respectful way suitable for international performances and festivals
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT for entire weekend $350 CDN including all 8 hours of workshops & documentary educational lecture. Payment plans available. ENDS April 15, 2026.
Classes are in CDN.
Register here! First come first served. Registration will be complete with payment only.
If payment is made using Paypal, it must be sent as FRIENDS & FAMILY (choice at checkout). If in Canada, etransfer can be sent. Please contact Ashley Rhianne for payment details.
Full weekend $400 CDN (after April 15)
Single workshops will only be made available after April 15 space permitting.
Don’t miss this opportunity to study with Mohanned Hawez!
Questions? Contact Ashley Rhianne here: ashley@ashleydance.com
** Privates may be available with Mohanned pending his schedule. All privates must be booked directly through Ashley Rhianne and are available only to registered participants of the weekend only. No external privates are available.
All About Mohanned Hawaz
An Iraqi–Swedish dance artist and choreographer bridging contemporary movement with traditional Iraqi forms. Trained by renowned folklorist Hanaa Abdullah, he is the founder of the Enkidu Folklore Arts Group, which has performed in over 30 countries worldwide. Commissioned by the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, he has represented Iraq at UNESCO headquarters in Paris and led nationwide field research documenting traditional dances across all Iraqi provinces. In 2025, he received official artistic recognition from the Ministry, affirming his role as a key cultural ambassador safeguarding and reimagining Iraq’s intangible dance heritage on a global stage.
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