about Yaraqa /

Yaraqa is a socio-cultural enterprise based in Lebanon. We bring together movement artists, designers and business experts to create impact in communities through movement & dance. 

We work with various professionals, businesses and organisations to reimagine the tangible and the intangible through our 3 chapters:

1/ creative production

Designing and producing solution-driven experiences based on dance & movement, which shift the way businesses and institutions work and learn, create and communicate their services & products.

2/ incubation labs

Accelerating innovative dance/movement applications, where professional dancers & movers meet with other industry experts to experiment and pilot new cultural products prior to their launch in the marketplace.

3/ movement artist development

Facilitating learning programs for professional dancers & movers to access the skills needed to adapt and identify new opportunities for growth and sustainability.

/ pillars of power

1/ The Intelligent Body

The body knows before the mind becomes aware – it knows how it feels, what it needs, where it wants to be, whom it is drawn to…and why it is alive. This powerhouse of individual and collective knowledge asks to be awakened, and set in motion.

2/ Motion as Catalyst

And the essence of all movement is change. But when we choose to move with awareness, we’re not only balancing and nurturing our body and mind; this momentous change within sets off positive ripple effects on every aspect of our life.

3/ The Power of Context 

Luckily our existence is not a solo act for we are intrinsically connected with one another, and with our environment. In fact, we experience the world through our body. And when we immerse ourselves in new spaces, when we activate new narratives, we are allowing ourselves to move, and to be moved in extraordinary ways.

4/ Designed for Impact  

Once in motion our intelligence has no bounds. From the simple pleasures to the lasting effects of conscious movement, our experiences become practices. They shift our grounds, change our tunes, and move us forward - personally, socially, culturally, and economically. We move because moving matters.

team /

Romy Assouad / founder & director

Having witnessed firsthand how much dance impacted her as an adult, and with her previous experience in conceiving and producing diverse projects in the creative and cultural industries  - tourism, fashion,  communication, audiovisual arts, multimedia and performing arts, Romy founded Yaraqa to facilitate cross-industry applications that contribute to better opportunities and recognition of dance & movement.

Celine Sursock / account & community lead

A psychologist by training and certified project manager with a background in communication arts, Celine’s experience in the civil society sector as well as Film and TV puts her at the forefront of Yaraqa’s productions with a focus on cross sector partnerships and sustainable development. As a former professional dancer, joining Yaraqa enabled her to merge her two biggest interests which are performing arts and creating positive impact in society.

Jadd Tank / product design lead

Having worked with and for creative companies throughout Europe, U.S.A and the Middle East, as a dancer, choreographer, dramaturgist and director, Jadd takes on a novel approach to business and the arts. Jadd’s passion for dance lies in the exploration of boundless possibilities in which objects, bodies and events relate to each other. He approaches his role at Yaraqa through both contemporary performance art and creative production.

Pia Bou Khater / distribution lead

With a focus on building bridges between the arts, culture and entertainment, Pia marketed and executed theatrical and home video releases of over 30 titles. Involved in the early and final stages of Yaraqa’s productions in distribution and content creation, Pia’s long stretches at the desk are balanced by her need for mindful movement.

Krystelle Karam / communication & marketing lead

A marketer with an affinity for arts & culture, Krystelle is deeply passionate about strategizing and building brands that help people in their day-to-day life. Strongly believing that movement is a catalyst of introspection and self-growth, and through her work with Yaraqa, she is committed to communicating the impact of dance and movement on dancers and non-dancers alike. 

board of advisors /

Andre Abi Awad

Since 2008, Andre Abi Awad has trained entrepreneurs and business owners from 53 countries on how to start a business, grow their ventures, and increase the value of their companies before getting investment or selling the business. He's the founder of Entreprenergy, one of the largest communities of Arab entrepreneurs, and the CEO of Digital Smarter, a customer acquisition digital marketing company.

• Creative curiosity 

• Openness to new ideas

• Collaboration as a way of working 

• Inclusivity and accessibility 

• Professionalism, reliability and sustainability 

• Creative and strategic entrepreneurship

• Artistic integrity

• Encourage a culture of movement by making the depth and value of dance visible and accessible

• Create job opportunities for movement & dance experts 

• Introduce and spread dance as a vital tool for personal and collective development

• Contribute to a better recognition of the dance sector as a creative sector that employs so many players and brings economical impacts on a local and national level.