By Rana Khaled In a close-minded society where dancing is not a preferred art form, a group of young people decided to challenge customs and traditions and launch the first ballet school in Upper Egypt. The Alwanat initiative was established in Minya to promote the belief that every person has the right to taste different types of art and engage in various cultural initiatives to build a more open and intellectual personality. “Alwanat is a non-governmental self-funded organization that is interested in leading artistic and cultural initiatives in Upper Egypt,” said Marco Adel, the main founder of the initiative. “It was founded by a group of young people with the aim of spreading different kinds of arts and raising awareness about the role of the arts in changing society. We wanted to overcome the centralization of all the artistic schools in Cairo and Alexandria and provide the residents of Minya and other governorates in Upper Egypt area with a chance to taste the arts and engage in cultural events,” he added. Supporting filmmakers in Upper Egypt and providing them with an opportunity to present their work to a large audience…
First Ballet School in Upper Egypt Breaks Into Society’s Conservatism
July 17, 2016
