Monday, June 10, 2013

#OccupyMinCulture : Street Ballet #Updated

In case you do not know, I missed covering the Occupy Ministry of culture movement that started last week.
Ago of intellectuals, authors, artists and actors occupied the ministry of culture in Zamalek as an escalation for their demand to dismiss the minister of culture Alaa Abdel Aziz. Now every night at the HQ of the ministry in Zamalek artists present shows for the people in the small street. Of course these intellectuals and artists are being attacked day and night by MB’s supporters and allies.
Last night the artists presented parts of Ballet Zorba in the street.

Here is a video clip for the show from Ahram Online

 This is dedicated to the Salafist MPs who left everything in the country and wanted to ban Ballet.
Amazingly hundreds go and watch these daily shows in solidarity with the artists. I believe this is the richest culturally sit in we had since Tahrir sit in July 2011 when we used to have concerts , Tweet Nadwas and Tahrir Cinema.

4 comments:

  1. Boys ballet!
    That is the most awesome thing to do in Egypt! (Later you will be amazed why normal people will think these `culture`-people are gays!)

    Anyway, this is a desperate move to retaliate against the brave minister of culture; Who entered "the Hornet's nest" of suzan mubarak and farouk hosny!

    ReplyDelete
  2. (Corrected version of my comment)

    Salaam,

    This is wonderful, that Egyptian artists go to the streets and express their opinion against oppression and for the freedom of art and freedom of expression.

    Ballet has nothing to do with "being gay or lesbian".
    What are "normal" people?
    There are lots of prejudices in every society.
    What do "normal" people think about art, about ballet, how many people in Egypt know about Ballet, what are their experiences, when there's no education, or only for a special part of society, or if the education is determined by a dictatorship?

    What do religous leaders, politicians know about art, about human rights, about DIGNITY ?
    What do religous leaders, politicians know about the real needs of the people? And if so, do they respect the people, engage for the people's needs?

    What do those, who currently attack the Egypt Ballet and the ballet dancers know about art and artists?, what do they know about Ballet, about the work of a Ballet dancer, about the work of a ballet compagnie?
    It seems they are not interested to know about. They have their prejudices, their own extreme narrow view, that's all for to justify intolerance and to slander Ballet and the ballet dancers, to discredit them and in the end to criminalize them!

    Can someone of government, of a religious institution, who see only his own faith as the only true at all, be representative of an ethnic group, or even speak for all people of the country?
    Can humans who are extreme religious or fanatic religious, be representatives of people of a country, when the citizens of the country believe in different religions - or believe in none?

    In my opinion has nobody, no "leader", no government, the right to charge a religion as a state religion - this enables and supports intolerance and racism. No government and/or religious instituion has the right to judge about art and artists' work or to censor, to ban ...

    I remember how often I heard the word "Dignity" spoken out by Egyptians in the days of the downfall of dictator Mubarak.
    Dignity. Dignity of man.
    To dance, to express feelings, emotions, thoughts with the human body is not easy and needs a lot of courage, self-conscience, a strong character, self-discipline and very hard training etc. etc.
    I have very much respect for every dancer!!!
    They dance with their heartblood, so to speak. Their dance is at the same time respect of the human body, respect of the soul ... their dance has to do with dignity!

    The people are able to make their own experience, they need not to be teached by gov-members nor religious leaders.
    Go to the streets and join the ballet dancers protest, speak with the artists,
    and - I hope that you'll do - please, listen to your hearts!!! ...

    Artists are humans. We are nothing special - but at the same time we are special. We are as special as every human being!!!

    We defend the freedom of art, the freedom of ballet, the freedom to dance and the freedom of expression!

    My whole sympathy is with you, Egyptian ballet dancers!
    In deep appreciation of your art and of your protest,
    for the freedom of art and for the freedom of expression,
    for our all dignity!

    in solidarity

    Pit Becker paintmyblues
    Visual Artist, Painter
    www.pitbeckerartwork.de
    at twitter @paintmyblues

    ReplyDelete
  3. Infidel Greek plays? Naked women? Homosexuals dancing? You are trying to start problems? Some people are never satisfied.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Zeinobia: Islamists have a plan and it starts with banning alcohol (I'm not saying that alcohol is good or bad I'm speaking about free people should make their own choices) and then attack the minorities be it the Copts or the Shi3a or women and what is next? It is the arts!

    What a disaster even a kiss or a hug in a movie is frowned upon! It is a movie and it is art

    The Turks are smart enough to realize that if Erdogan is after alcohol then what would be next?

    Again welcome to religious fascism

    ReplyDelete

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