Egyptian ballerina finds inspiration, not obstacle, in religion

Record ID: 877420

  • Title: Egyptian ballerina finds inspiration, not obstacle, in religion
  • Date: 31st May 2017
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (MAY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING AROUND OM KALTHOUM SQUARE IN CAIRO BALLERINA, ENGY EL SHAZLY, CROSSING STREET SHAZLY PUTTING BALLET SLIPPERS ON SHAZLY SITTING BY RIVER NILE BALLET SLIPPERS VARIOUS OF SHAZLY DANCING BY THE RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BALLERINA, ENGY EL SHAZLY, SAYING: "Of course I face criticism that people ask how a hijab and ballet work. There are people who support me but it is only natural that not everyone would accept what you do. There are people who will say it is not appropriate to wear a hijab but I will talk about something - I will not speak about the religious aspect but I am committed to my relationship with God and I also did what I love without losing either." SHAZLY PERFORMING BALLET MOVE VARIOUS OF SHAZLY'S FEET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BALLERINA, ENGY EL SHAZLY, SAYING: "When I went to this place I discovered that I could get on stage when I am wearing the hijab. I will wear the same clothes as the others. I will cover my hair with a black veil and the most important thing is that I do not look different from the rest of the team. I was committed to the hijab and I was wearing a long sleeved dress and at the same time I did what I liked and I was devoted to my hijab." VARIOUS OF SHAZLY DANCING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BALLERINA, ENGY EL SHAZLY, SAYING: "In the long run, not now because I want to enhance my performance first because I am still in the beginning, I would like to start a ballet school. I wish to become a professional ballerina who performs in any opera anywhere in the world. This is my dream. That's it." CAIRO, EGYPT (MAY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SHAZLY DANCING IN MOEZ STREET / AQMAR MOSQUE IN BACKGROUND EXTERIOR OF AQMAR MOSQUE SHAZLY WALKING THROUGH MARKET VARIOUS OF SHAZLY DANCING IN MARKET
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2017 13:42
  • Keywords: Egypt ballerina hijab Cairo Nile Islam
  • Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • City: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Art,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016J62EL1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:When Engy el Shazly was a child, she had a dream - she wanted to become a ballerina. At 27 years old, she finally took up ballet lessons.
    Three years on, Shazly is still dancing - all while wearing a hijab.
    Using a pair of worn-out ballet shoes and armed with a steely determination, Shazly is pirouetting her way in Egypt's cultural history as one of the few ballerinas around who wears the traditional "hijab" Muslim headscarf.
    "Of course I face criticism that people ask how a hijab and ballet work. There are people who support me but it is only natural that not everyone would accept what you do. There are people who will say it is not appropriate to wear a hijab but I will talk about something - I will not speak about the religious aspect but I am committed to my relationship with God and I also did what I love without losing either," said Shazly, who was dancing along Cairo's Nile River given the filming restrictions at the all-women studio she attends.
    At first, she had her reservations about performing on stage with her hijab on.
    But after performing as part of the corps de ballet in Cinderella and the Waltz of the Hours in 2016 at the Russian Cultural Centre, Shazly knew religion was not going to stop her from fulfilling a childhood dream.
    "When I went to this place I discovered that I could get on stage when I am wearing the hijab. I will wear the same clothes as the others. I will cover my hair with a black veil and the most important thing is that I do not look different from the rest of the team. I was committed to the hijab and I was wearing a long sleeved dress and at the same time I did what I liked and I was devoted to my hijab," she said.
    And she is not about to give up her dream job.
    She says age and religion are no barriers for her as she pursues her love for ballet.
    She is currently teaching at a ballet school in Cairo and another dream is to open her own academy in the future.
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