Articles: Baghdad Ballet School

[pavlova]

This article in the LA Times just stopped me in my tracks today and I wanted to share it with you all.

Baghdad Ballet Talk about courage!

I will say some extra prayers tonight for those brave teachers and students.

[wannabe]

Wow- Inspirational!

[diane]

Inspirational and humbling.

 

Thanks for posting this.

 

-d-

[Hollywood Ballet]

Inspirational, yes, but also very sad. And when the foreign armies eventually pull out of Iraq, if the country goes over completely to the fundamentalists, the situation for dance will only get worse. How tragic, that those innocent children should be denied something that gives them hope and a sense of accomplishment. This is certainly one case where I think if parents have the opportunity to safely send their young aspiring artist to a faraway residential dance academy (i.e. in another country), they should do it without hesitation.

[Dance_Scholar_London]

That's very brave.

[Clara 76]

I have goosebumps now......what courage. I wish them the best.

[Pasdetrois]

I'v seen a couple of segments on programs such as 20/20 regarding this school. One was at the beginning of the war and the other within the last year. Both segments brought me to tears. We really don't have any idea what idyllic and spolt rotten lives we live. Thank God for the brave woman who runs the school. Her bravery is multi faceted, the obvious elements are due to the ravages and dangers of war but also because of the fundamentalist fanatics. Those little Iraqi dancers are beautiful! Each child and each family show us what the word courage really means.

[CEO]

I'll pray too! Amazing teachers, parents and students there!

[citibob]

Yes, this school has been in the news from time to time; here's the article I saw in 2005:

 

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1399110

 

This is an excellent example of how ballet can be a force for social change through shared values.

[Treefrog]

And when the foreign armies eventually pull out of Iraq, if the country goes over completely to the fundamentalists, the situation for dance will only get worse. How tragic, that those innocent children should be denied something that gives them hope and a sense of accomplishment.

 

But let's not forget that the school -- and culture generally -- was thriving before the foreign armies arrived. Now it is threatened and barely hanging on. I feel terribly sad that we Americans have taken ballet away from these children.

[love_ballet]

Here is an update to the story: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7131011

[swanchat]

Thank you for posting this. Many of us in my neck of the woods donated gently used leotards, skirts, etc and new pointe shoes to this school along with ballet cds. It brought tears to my eyes! Generosity of spirit will save us all!