72 VIRGINS

Being a Palestinian Muslim woman in Israel is a constant struggle, shaped by Islamophobia, racism, occupation, and patriarchy. Living amid war forces you to question the very essence of peace: What does it look like? How does it feel or smell? Peace, I believe, begins within each of us. To cultivate it, I must reconnect with my roots and reclaim my identity. Growing up between two worlds, two cultures, and two nations is both disorienting and deeply conflicting, a balancing act that demands constant negotiation of self.

Nur channels these complexities through dabke, the traditional Palestinian folk dance, which she reimagines with a contemporary perspective—uniting mind, body, and soul. In her practice, she investigates the ties between her homeland and its energy, between protest and revolution. Her work is a celebration of Arab-Palestinian femininity, forging a new language of movement and voice that speaks to her identity and resistance.

Can I shout Allahu Akbar without it being tied to terrorism in your mind? Why doesn’t saying “God is great” evoke the same response? These questions challenge the biases and connotations that obscure the essence of these words—an assertion of faith, joy, and gratitude.