There are very few Palestinian cities where this renowned dance group has not performed over the past twenty years since its establishment. Set up in 1979 at the initiative of a group of young men and women (lit- erally teenagers at the time), El Funoon has developed to be the most prominent Palestinian dance group not only in Palestine but also amongst Palestinian communities in the Diaspora. Inspiring Palestinians ev- erywhere they go, the young danc- ers of El Funoon combine a unique physical stamina and lightness on stage, characteristics that quickly transform the regular heavy steps of traditional "debka" into a fascinating dance experience. Over the years, El-Funoon played a leading role in developing folkloric Palestinian dance and music into a more contemporary mould. Moving from "Wadi at Tuffah" through "Mish'al" and "Marj Bin Amer", their latest production, "Zaghareed" or ulu- lation, portrays the Palestinian wed- ding, one of the most important oc- casions for Palestinians to dance and sing, into a modern day experience. Despite the traditional ceremony, the young woman flirts with her husband to be and together they perform a se- ductive duet that engulfs the specta- tor with their innocent joy at the up- coming betrothal. Such a represen- tation of the contemporary Palestin- ian woman has been predominant in the work of El Funoon for the past ten years, and continues to be a spe- cial contribution by this dance group not just to the dance scene but also the social development of the Pales- tinian society.