Baghdad Ballet Academy keeping the art alive by holding public performance at main theatre
Description: (5 Oct 2026)
IRAQ BALLET SHOW
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
LENGTH: 2:07
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baghdad, Iraq – 25 September 2026
1. Wide of ballet show
2. Various of dancers performing on stage
3. Various of dancers during performance
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Maysara Salam, Head of the Baghdad Ballet Academy:
"Our message that we want to spread (through this show) is for our children. We don't want them to look at the television saying: 'Oh I wish I could be a ballet dancer.' Instead, we want them to realize and able to do fulfill their (ballet) ambitions inside Iraq, and (especially) in Baghdad."
5. Various of audience watching the show
6. Audience filming the show with their mobile phone
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ghusuq Basil, aunt of ballet student from Baghdad:
“We in Iraq were one the early adopters of ballet and music school (in the region), starting from the 1960s, around 1968. It makes me sad to see this art is in decline and didn’t get any support by the society. However, I am happy now to see academies that are working to revive this art back to the sphere and encourage students and young ages to practice their talents.”
8. Various of dancers performing ballets on stage
STORYLINE:
Baghdad's Ballet Academy has been dedicated to reviving the art form beyond classes and training sessions by holding students performances for the public.
Students from the academy last Friday performed a production titled “Mermaid” before an audience at Al-Sinbad Theater.
Wearing colorful costumes, dancers of different ages presented solo and ensemble routines.
They moved through choreographed formations, leaps and turns under blue and purple stage lights.
It was an opportunity for the students to showcase their training on a Baghdad stage.
The show drew a crowd of parents and other family members who eagerly watched the performance and filmed it with their phones.
Ghusuq Basil, an aunt of one of the students, said she's happy the academy held the public performance and is continuing to support the arts even with limited resources.
"It makes me sad to see this art is in decline and didn’t get any support by the society," she added.
Founded around 1969, the school thrived while the city's elite patronised art and culture.
But things began to rapidly worsen for the school starting with Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, then the U.S. invasion of Iraq which was followed by decades of turmoil engulfing the country.
AP video by Ali Jabar
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IRAQ BALLET SHOW
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
LENGTH: 2:07
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baghdad, Iraq – 25 September 2026
1. Wide of ballet show
2. Various of dancers performing on stage
3. Various of dancers during performance
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Maysara Salam, Head of the Baghdad Ballet Academy:
"Our message that we want to spread (through this show) is for our children. We don't want them to look at the television saying: 'Oh I wish I could be a ballet dancer.' Instead, we want them to realize and able to do fulfill their (ballet) ambitions inside Iraq, and (especially) in Baghdad."
5. Various of audience watching the show
6. Audience filming the show with their mobile phone
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ghusuq Basil, aunt of ballet student from Baghdad:
“We in Iraq were one the early adopters of ballet and music school (in the region), starting from the 1960s, around 1968. It makes me sad to see this art is in decline and didn’t get any support by the society. However, I am happy now to see academies that are working to revive this art back to the sphere and encourage students and young ages to practice their talents.”
8. Various of dancers performing ballets on stage
STORYLINE:
Baghdad's Ballet Academy has been dedicated to reviving the art form beyond classes and training sessions by holding students performances for the public.
Students from the academy last Friday performed a production titled “Mermaid” before an audience at Al-Sinbad Theater.
Wearing colorful costumes, dancers of different ages presented solo and ensemble routines.
They moved through choreographed formations, leaps and turns under blue and purple stage lights.
It was an opportunity for the students to showcase their training on a Baghdad stage.
The show drew a crowd of parents and other family members who eagerly watched the performance and filmed it with their phones.
Ghusuq Basil, an aunt of one of the students, said she's happy the academy held the public performance and is continuing to support the arts even with limited resources.
"It makes me sad to see this art is in decline and didn’t get any support by the society," she added.
Founded around 1969, the school thrived while the city's elite patronised art and culture.
But things began to rapidly worsen for the school starting with Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, then the U.S. invasion of Iraq which was followed by decades of turmoil engulfing the country.
AP video by Ali Jabar
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/379a7feb68cb472b941b39e8fe35204e Close description