Komuna: Connecting young Israelis and olim through the power of Israeli folk dance

Hila Mukdasi's lifelong passion for Israeli folk dance evolved into Komuna, an organization bridging generational and cultural divides through movement.

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I started dancing thanks to my parents. I was six years old. My parents are still dancing. They took me once to their session because there was no babysitter. I was sitting there, and I was looking at the people. I was fascinated. I don’t remember exactly what I felt, but I wanted to go every week.

Mukdasi's fascination began at age six, watching her parents dance. This childhood interest grew into a passion, leading her to introduce Israeli folk dance to her peers at Hebrew University. She discovered a strong enthusiasm for traditional dances like 'Tsadik katamar' and various horas among young Israelis and olim (immigrants).

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We didn’t dance new songs. We danced old dances, such as ‘Tsadik katamar,’ different horas, and some line dances we used to do in kindergarten. And people were flying in the air. They were so enthusiastic about that. They loved it.

Inspired by this response, Mukdasi created Komuna, a unique space for young dancers. The name, a blend of "community" and "lanua" (movement), also echoes the Hebrew phrase "Kumu Lanua" (get up and dance). Komuna aims to provide a stress-relieving social environment where young people can connect with Israeli culture.

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I wanted to create something unique that would continue living without me. Something bigger than a regular dance session. You come to Komuna. You come to us. You come to what we create - together.

Komuna quickly gained national acclaim, earning Mukdasi the "Discovery of the Year" award from the Culture and Sport Ministry in 2018. She was later recognized with a "Contribution to Society" award in the presence of President Isaac Herzog in 2024. Mukdasi was also selected for Hebrew University's Influential Young Leaders Team, highlighting her impact on cultural engagement.

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They gave it to me because I founded a creative way to bring young people into Israeli folk dance culture. No one had succeeded in doing this before. It’s something new. Completely new. And it’s a contribution to culture because a new generation is joining.