Syrian dancer Ahmad Joudeh performs for Refugee Day at European Parliament
On June 20, 2018, Ahmad Joudeh, a 27-year-old dancer of Syrian-Palestinian descent, showcased his talent at the European Parliament in Brussels to commemorate World Refugee Day, an event organized by the S&D group amidst ongoing discussions on migration. He performed to the piece "Sacrifice" in Place du Parlement Européen. Born in 1990 in Damascus and raised in the Yarmouk camp, Joudeh pursued dance clandestinely despite facing discrimination and violence. He trained with Enana Dance Theatre from 2006 to 2015 and auditioned for the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in 2009. Following threats from ISIS, he inked "Dance or Die" on his neck. In 2014, he reached the semifinals of "So You Think You Can Dance." A documentary about him aired in 2016, and a book titled "Dance or Die" is anticipated in 2018.
Key facts
- Ahmad Joudeh performed at European Parliament in Brussels on June 20, 2018, World Refugee Day.
- Event organized by Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group.
- Joudeh danced in a white skirt to 'Sacrifice' by Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke.
- Similar performance took place in Paris in July 2017 at Place du Trocadéro.
- Joudeh was born in 1990 in Damascus and raised in Yarmouk refugee camp.
- He trained with Enana Dance Theatre from 2006 to 2015.
- He reached semifinals of Arab 'So You Think You Can Dance' in 2014.
- ISIS targeted him for dancing; he tattooed 'Dance or Die' on his neck.
Entities
Artists
- Ahmad Joudeh
- Roberto Bolle
- Sting
- Jérôme Fautré
- Lisa Gerrard
- Pieter Bourke
- Roozbeh Kaboly
Institutions
- European Parliament
- Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
- Enana Dance Theatre
- Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts
- Stichting Vrolijke Wetenschap
- Rai
- So You Think You Can Dance
Locations
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Paris
- France
- Place du Trocadéro
- Place du Parlement Européen
- Damascus
- Syria
- Yarmouk
- Palestine