• A Palestinian boy performs a breakdancing routine on the streets of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip. All photos: Reuters
    A Palestinian boy performs a breakdancing routine on the streets of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip. All photos: Reuters
  • Breakdancing was once condemned by some locals as immoral but is now seen as a way of helping youngsters handle years of war and trauma.
    Breakdancing was once condemned by some locals as immoral but is now seen as a way of helping youngsters handle years of war and trauma.
  • Gaza coach Ahmed Al Ghraiz uses dance as therapy to help children cope with fears and release tension.
    Gaza coach Ahmed Al Ghraiz uses dance as therapy to help children cope with fears and release tension.
  • People in the camp initially rejected the hip-hop dance style, until Mr Al Ghraiz showed how it could bring out some of the day-to-day problems experienced by their children and help them process their experiences.
    People in the camp initially rejected the hip-hop dance style, until Mr Al Ghraiz showed how it could bring out some of the day-to-day problems experienced by their children and help them process their experiences.
  • Dance is used around the world as therapy alongside traditional counselling and other rehabilitation efforts to ease anxiety, depression, anger and post-traumatic stress.
    Dance is used around the world as therapy alongside traditional counselling and other rehabilitation efforts to ease anxiety, depression, anger and post-traumatic stress.
  • "We get afraid, we stay at home and we fear the noises from the drones and wars," said Jana Al Shafe, 11. "Our mental health changed with breakdance. We get entertained when we come here and play with our friends and change our mood."
    "We get afraid, we stay at home and we fear the noises from the drones and wars," said Jana Al Shafe, 11. "Our mental health changed with breakdance. We get entertained when we come here and play with our friends and change our mood."
  • Unicef, the United Nations Children's Fund, says nearly 500,000 children in Gaza need psychological care.
    Unicef, the United Nations Children's Fund, says nearly 500,000 children in Gaza need psychological care.
  • Children make up about half of Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinian population.
    Children make up about half of Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinian population.
  • Breakdancing, generally believed to have emerged among black and Latino dancers in New York in the 1970s, became a worldwide phenomenon with the rise of hip-hop culture.
    Breakdancing, generally believed to have emerged among black and Latino dancers in New York in the 1970s, became a worldwide phenomenon with the rise of hip-hop culture.
  • The acrobatic dance style will be included for the first time as a sport in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
    The acrobatic dance style will be included for the first time as a sport in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
  • A Palestinian boy participates in a breakdance performance on a street in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
    A Palestinian boy participates in a breakdance performance on a street in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

MENA

Breakdancing helps children in Gaza overcome stress - in pictures

Dance being used by young people as a way to deal with years of war and trauma

The National

October 19, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic
Updated: October 19, 2022, 8:11 AM

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