ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the complex nuances of sustaining dance education in light of the Syrian Civil War. Through investigating the stories of three Syrian dancers in exile in Europe, it contends that there is the possibility to contribute to a contemporary history of dance education both inside and outside of Syria. Through ethnographic enquiry, rich descriptive narratives emerge and stories are told, offering unique understandings of the relationship between dance, education, and hope. Through revealing, extending, and critiquing political and cultural narratives there is the potential to recognize the multifaceted layers of hope that exist within dance education. The three dancers’ experiences contribute to diversifying the understandings of personal, embodied, and physical experiences of war. This chapter intends to fill a void within current discourse, contributing to new knowledge of dance, culture, and education in a Syrian context.
