Dance or Die, Ahmad Joudeh
Dance or Die, Ahmad Joudeh
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Dance or Die
From Stateless Refugee to International Ballet Star A MEMOIR

Author: Ahmad Joudeh

Narrator: Neil Shah

Unabridged: 7 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/08/2022


Synopsis

A Syria-born dancer offers his deeply personal story of war, statelessness, and the pursuit of the art of dance in this inspirational memoir.

Dance or Die is an autobiographical coming-of-age account of Ahmad Joudeh, a young refugee who grows up in Damascus with dreams of becoming a dancer. When he is recruited by one of Syria's top dance companies, neither bombs nor family opposition can keep him from taking classes, practicing hard, and becoming a Middle Eastern celebrity on a Lebanese reality show. Despite death threats if Ahmad continues to dance, his father kicking him out of the house, and the war around him intensifying, he persists and even gets a tattoo on his neck right where the executioner's blade would fall that says, "Dance or Die."

A powerful look at refugee life in Syria, Dance or Die tells of the pursuit of personal expression in the most dangerous of circumstances and of the power of art to transcend war and suffering. It follows Ahmad from Damascus to Beirut to Amsterdam, where he finds a home with one of Europe's top ballet troupes, and from where he continues to fight for the human rights of refugees everywhere through his art, his activism, and his commitment to justice.

About Ahmad Joudeh

Dancer and choreographer Ahmad Joudeh was born in Syria in 1990 and grew up as a stateless refugee in the Al-Yarmouk camp on the outskirts of Damascus. Amid the violence of the Syrian civil war, he pursued his dream as a dancer and appeared on the Middle Eastern version of So You Think You Can Dance before moving to Europe in 2016 to dance with the Dutch National Ballet. He lives in Amsterdam and performs throughout the world.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rossella on September 12, 2019

Avrei preferito che il contesto politico della guerra in Siria fosse descritto con un po' più di precisione a cornice della testimonianza autobiografica, ma la storia di questo ballerino pieno di coraggio è comunque un simbolo di resistenza molto potente.......more

Goodreads review by Maureen on February 06, 2022

Being sheltered and fortunate, I can't even imagine Ahmad's life in Syria and life for all those trying to survive in war zones. Such an inspirational and heartbreaking story to keep losing your home and people you love and to keep living and dancing. To Follow your dream despite so many obstacles.......more

Goodreads review by Adrienn on October 26, 2021

Finished in one night. Captivating, heart wrenching… not just about a young man’s fight to realize his dreams (that would be interesting in itself) but for making you “feel” the war that goes on in Syria. Kudos to Ahmad’s mom too, finally a sung hero, she must be an extraordinary woman, her story de......more

Goodreads review by Chiara (insidefiction) on January 01, 2019

3 stelle e mezzo La prima volta che mi sono imbattuta nella storia di Ahmad è stato per caso. Ero sulla pagina del Circolo dei Lettori in cerca di un evento a cui partecipare e, tra tutti, mi ha colpito la sua presentazione. Non avevo mai sentito parlare nè di Ahmad nè del suo libro, non sapevo e non......more

Goodreads review by Doreen on September 30, 2021

3.5 stars. I love dance books, and often find them a source of luminous prose and inspiration. Couple this with the true story of a stateless ballet dancer who grew up and performed in war-torn Syria, and who is active in dancing and advocating for peace and for the rights of refugees worldwide, and......more