About us
Honoring our past.
inspiring our future.
Canaan Wellspring is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Louis, Missouri, dedicated to preserving and sharing Palestinian culture and folklore through dance, storytelling, and community engagement.
OUR STORY
Founded by Hanan Hamed in 2024, Canaan Wellspring began as a small Dabke troupe performing at the Festival of Nations. Driven by a vision to bring a piece of home to St. Louis, Hanan created a space where Palestinian youth in the diaspora can connect to their roots, take pride in their identity, and express their culture through music, dance, storytelling, art, and food.
What started as a cultural initiative quickly grew into a professional troupe presenting theater productions and supporting charitable causes. Today, Canaan Wellspring continues to expand its impact through performances, workshops, and community programs, sharing Palestinian heritage across schools, universities, institutions, and public events.
Canaan Wellspring became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2026. What started with just 10 dancers has now grown into a troupe of 26 members who are eager to learn about Palestinian culture, preserve our heritage, and share it with our communities while representing Palestine proudly and beautifully.
Before receiving its 501(c)(3) status, Canaan Wellspring worked with fiscal sponsors, including St. Louis Friends of Bethlehem, to support its cultural and community work. Canaan Wellspring also received a RAC grant from the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis to help fund the production of Jafra, bringing Palestinian folklore, Dabke, music, and storytelling to the stage.