For the first time ever, a group of Palestinian Christian dancers from Bethlehem have toured churches and cathedrals in Yorkshire for a series of performances at churches and cathedrals.
Baqoun, a dance troupe of young Palestinian Christians aged 16 to 24, from Beit Sahour, a small town close to Bethlehem,were invited to the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales for a ten day visit leading vibrant cultural evenings of dance and drama. The tour helped to spread understanding of the challenges facing Christians in Palestine and the Middle East while offering a taste of Palestinian culture with presentations, food and conversation.
After a series of difficulties 
which threatened the trip including visa problems and motorway breakdowns, Baqoun received a rapturous welcome for their opening night at Wakefield Cathedral (Friday June 17). An enthusiastic audience of more than 130 shared a simple Palestinian meal – flatbread, hummus, tahini,pomegranate juice and yoghurt – and even joined Baqoun in folk dancing at the end of the evening.
The group then continued with performances to packed congregations and audiences at Bradford Cathedral, Scargill House in the Yorkshire Dales, and churches in Brighouse, Leeds and Harrogate as well as church schools. They also performed at the prestigious Grassington Festival and in the inspirational surroundings of Beverley Minister, and St John's Church Waterloo in London.
Leader of the planning group, Canon Gordon Dey, said following the first evening at Wakefield, “Tonight has made it all worthwhile – to see people enthralled by the dance and drama, and captivated by the energy of this group of young Christians from Palestine, and to hear about life in Bethlehem.
“These exciting celebratory events have l enabled people to gain better understanding of life in Palestine - and empathise with the challenges and opportunities that exist for the Christian community.”
