At six years old, Hila Mukdasi was captivated by her parents’ Israeli folk dance sessions. As she sat on the sidelines, the only child in the room, she was mesmerized by the movement and energy around her.
“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 told In Jerusalem.
What began as childhood fascination became a lifelong passion. Mukdasi learned the dances by watching others before eventually joining in. Over time, she noticed a gap: most Israeli folk dance groups were dominated by adults, with few young participants.
That realization planted the seed for something bigger.
While studying Sociology-Anthropology and Linguistics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mukdasi introduced Israeli folk dance to her peers. The response surprised her.
“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,” she said.
The birth of Komuna
Encouraged by this enthusiasm, Mukdasi created a dedicated space for young dancers - the first of its kind in Israel and abroad. While still a student, she began organizing weekly sessions, renting a venue and inviting friends. Her goal was simple: a place where young people could relieve stress, socialize, and connect to Israeli culture through dance.
The name Komuna - a blend of community and lanua (movement) - was coined in conversation with her mother. It also echoes the phrase Kumu Lanua (get up and dance), reflecting both action and collective spirit.
“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,” said Mukdasi.
Within a year, Komuna gained national attention. Mukdasi received the Taglit Hashana (Discovery of the Year) award from the Culture and Sport Ministry in 2018. She later appeared in media interviews, including Channel 12.
“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,” Mukdasi affirmed.
In 2024, she received the Contribution to Society award in the presence of President Isaac Herzog. She was also chosen from among thousands of alumni to join the Hebrew University’s Influential Young Leaders Team; the university personally called her to inform her.
From passion to profession
What began as a grassroots initiative quickly became a full-time endeavor as Komuna expanded and Mukdasi learned to manage logistics, branding, and community-building.
“No one teaches you how to do this. No one taught me logistics, music equipment, contracts, or how to build a brand and lead a community. It all appeared along the way. I learned a lot about people, culture, and myself.”
Today, Komuna operates in cities across Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, as well as in Hebrew classes for new immigrants. It offers weekly dance classes, social events, volunteering, and trips.
Participants include secular and religious Israelis, native-born citizens, and olim. For many newcomers, it combines language learning with cultural immersion through movement and music.
I met Hila at Ulpan Etzion in the capital, where I studied after making aliyah four years ago. It was there that I was first introduced to Israeli folk dance. Once a week, Hila ran classes at the ulpan, which I attended with friends.
Although I was (and still am) uncoordinated and found the dances challenging, I remember enjoying them very much. The atmosphere was always lively and fun, and the sessions were highly interactive. Hila was incredibly patient, often repeating the steps until we got them right.
I also appreciated that the class was mainly in Hebrew, which exposed me to the language in a natural setting and deepened my understanding of Israeli culture. I still remember many of the songs.
After leaving ulpan, I attended a few classes in Jerusalem, though I haven’t been in a while. Several friends still go regularly, and Komuna has become an important part of their life in Israel. They’ve built new friendships and a community of both Israelis and olim.
Chaim, 31, who made aliyah from Mexico six years ago, also discovered Israeli dancing while he was at Ulpan Etzion. Despite having never learned formal dance before, Komuna quickly became a central part of his life. At one point, he was dancing up to six times a week in various cities.
After moving to Tel Aviv, he became deeply involved in Komuna, attending regularly and later teaching in both its Tel Aviv and Jerusalem sessions.
Talking to In Jerusalem, he described dancing as “the biggest part of my life,” and said that the Komuna participants “became my friends… my whole community.” He added that “rikudei am (Israeli folk dancing) actually opened the doors for me to enter Israeli society,” helping him build a social circle of both olim and Israelis.
Deborah Brown, who made aliyah from the United States three and a half years ago, quickly found a sense of belonging at Komuna. She recalled arriving at her first session in Tel Aviv “with no idea what I was walking into,” staying until the very end, and that “I basically haven’t missed a week since.”
What began as a continuation of her love for Israeli dancing became central to her life, offering both joy and community.
She described Komuna as her “happy place.”
“It’s my comfort,” she said. “The people feel like a second family.” Through dancing, she has built deep connections with a diverse group, noting that “We form really meaningful connections just by dancing together before we’ve even said a few words [to each other].”
Dance, community, and social impact
For Mukdasi, Komuna is more than dance; it is a cultural education tool. Olim learn Hebrew through lyrics and instruction while engaging with Israeli traditions and shared cultural space.
She described Komuna as a space for growth, connection, and belonging.
“I believe in communities. It’s a place for people to grow, express themselves, feel belonging, and realize their potential.”
This philosophy extends into social action. Komuna members have organized volunteering initiatives during crises, including support for soldiers, NGOs, and bereaved families.
Mukdasi has also run events for mothers who lost sons in the IDF and workshops for cancer survivors.
Participants say these efforts deepen the emotional significance of the community, turning it into more than a social outlet. For many, it becomes a space of solidarity and mutual support in difficult times.
Beyond volunteering, Komuna has helped participants form lasting friendships and expand their social networks, strengthening the sense of belonging Mukdasi envisioned.
Expanding horizons
Komuna has grown internationally over the past nine years, and since the age of 21, Mukdasi has been invited to run Israeli folk dance workshops abroad - in Europe, the United States, Australia, and beyond.
She now also mentors organizations seeking to adopt her model.
Her long-term vision is to build a global network of independent Israeli folk dance communities led by trained instructors.
“I want to pass on my knowledge and experience to the next generation - to be an anchor for young people and give them confidence. We are here for something bigger than ourselves, and we want to keep it alive,” she said, adding that “our culture is beautiful and valuable. It’s really important to preserve it as part of our Israeli Identity, living here on this special land.”
Despite its success, she acknowledges the emotional weight of sustaining it: “It’s a baby. You can’t leave it.”
This Friday, Komuna will celebrate its ninth anniversary with a daytime summer celebration, bringing together members from across the country to mark nearly a decade of building community through Israeli folk dance.
A vision for the future
Mukdasi continues to expand Komuna and plans to train new instructors and document her methodology for international use.
She draws inspiration from participants themselves.
“I find strength in people who fulfill their dreams, and in Komuna members who share how much it means to them. It’s important for me to stay grounded and keep my inner peace, faith in the path, and optimism, despite the challenges,” she shared.
From a childhood fascination to a cultural movement, Mukdasi has helped transform Israeli folk dance into a living, evolving form of identity and community.