Berlin drag show ‘Together’ seeks to address Middle East grief
As the Israel-Hamas war grinds on, an Israeli drag queen and a Syrian belly dancer are using their platform in Berlin to encourage dialogue and share grief.
For seven years, an Israeli drag queen and Syrian belly dancer had hosted a joint monthly show at Berlin LGBTQ clubs, celebrating their coexistence in an extravagant party resembling a Middle Eastern wedding.
But when Hamas gunmen carried out a deadly attack on southern Israel in October, triggering an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip, their relationship was tested.
“We spent long days talking. I was really insecure about where our relationship was going,” said the Syrian belly dancer, who uses the stage name The Darvish.
The Darvish applies make-up prior to performing in the "Together" at the Tipsy Bear bar in Berlin on March 11, 2024. Omer Messinger / Reuters fie The artists also had to agree on the future of their show, “Yalla Hafla,” which means “Let’s Party” in Arabic — an approach that no longer seemed appropriate at a time of grief in Berlin’s Arab and Israeli communities.
Out of that grief, a new show, “Together,” was born.
Rating: 5