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Keeping the Tempo: IDDFL Defiantly Holds its 16th Edition

Everyone gathered in the middle of the Byblos campus to join hands in a traditional “dabke.”
The Oriental Dance class swaying to the melody of a Nancy Ajram song.
The Broadway Jazz class in full swing.
Instructors leading dancers through the steps of the Bachata.
Participants were invited to step-by-step demonstrations for a wide variety of dance styles.
Like any given weekend, Saturday, April 25, seemed to be a quiet day on the LAU Byblos campus—at least on the surface. But beneath the tranquil façade, the thumping of feet and hearts echoed in the Frem Multi-Purpose Room, the Selina Korban Theatre and the Student Lounge as 556 amateur and professional dancers congregated in over 20 workshops to celebrate the 2026 International Dance Day Festival in Lebanon (IDDFL) in raucous fashion.

A yearly tribute to what the French call “the sixth art,” IDDFL boasts a proud 16-year history and has become a highly anticipated fixture on the university’s calendar. It is a one-of-a-kind event not only in Lebanon, but across the region.

Dance is one of the oldest forms of expression, a way to stay connected to the fundamental rhythm of life. It’s no surprise, then, that every spring IDDFL brings hundreds of people together in a mosaic of moving bodies. Despite the recent turmoil, this year was no exception: An eclectic array of genres such as ballet, jazz, bachata and various traditional folk dances took center stage to provide participants with a much-needed outlet.

For Associate Professor Nadra Assaf, the driving force behind the initiative, “holding the event this year was more important than ever.” In the face of ongoing challenges, it provided students and the wider community with “a familiar moment of celebration in the middle of uncertainty.”

Having fought long and hard to get IDDFL off the ground and make it into what it is today, Dr. Assaf expressed pride in the unflagging spirit exhibited by both instructors and enthusiasts as they danced the day away. Even though this year’s edition had to be scaled down, it still marked “a beautiful moment of togetherness, resilience and national pride.”

Nowhere was that pride more evident than during the event’s closing ceremony. All the participants gathered at the heart of LAU Byblos to perform a traditional dabke, forming a human chain of solidarity as they circled a flowerbed hand in hand. Every step became a kinetic symbol of belonging and determination, the crowd stomping the ground as one, as if to say: “We are here to stay.” It was a powerful reminder of the things that unite us, even when circumstances threaten to pull us apart.

“I noticed much more love and thankfulness than in previous editions,” said Dr. Assaf, recalling how she saw people still dancing in the streets as she drove away from campus. “People just didn’t want to stop dancing,” she added, “it was an amazing time filled with love, sweat and gratitude.”

Once again, the festival reaffirmed the importance of dance as an art form that deserves its place in academia. The passion and sheer joy on display vindicated IDDFL’s role as a platform for artistic creativity and community engagement.