Breakdancing Helps Young People in Gaza

In the Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, young people perform dance moves that were once criticized by some as immoral¹. This kind of dance, known as breakdancing, is now seen as a way of helping² young people deal with years of war in the Palestinian territory.

The moves - with names like top rock and down rock - are part of a training program by Gaza instructor³ Ahmed Al-Ghraiz. He says he uses dance as a way to help children get over fears and release tension.

The 32-year-old Ghraiz has studied how to deal with trauma⁴. He spent seven years in Europe, where he and some friends put on breakdancing shows to support the Palestinian cause, including Gaza.

In the beginning, people in the camp rejected breakdancing and its hip-hop culture. But Ghraiz showed how dance could bring out some of the day-to-day problems experienced by their children and help them deal with their experiences.

"Some children come to me and say they are tired, they look withered⁶, which means they neither rest enough nor have a deep sleep. I found that some used to cut themselves, and others avoid social activities," Ghraiz told Reuters.

He added that "such sport and such moves" support mental and emotional health.

Dance is used around the world as a helpful activity alongside traditional support, such as counseling, to ease anxiety, depression, anger and post-trauma difficulty.

In 2022, UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, said nearly 500,000 children in Gaza needed mental health support. Children make up about half of Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinian population.

"We get afraid, we stay at home, and we fear the noises, from the drones and wars," said 11-year-old Jana Al-Shafe. "Our mental health changed with breakdance. We get entertained when we come here and play with our friends and change our mood," she told Reuters.

Breakdancing is generally believed to have been developed among Black and Latino dancers in New York in the 1970s. It became popular worldwide with the rise of hip-hop culture. The dance will be included for the first time as a sport in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Words in This Story

trauma – n. a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time

wither⁵ – v. to become dry and weak — often used figuratively

anxiety -- n. fear or nervousness about what might happen

drone -- n. a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot

mood -- n. the way someone feels : a person's emotional state

1 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

4 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

5 wither   

vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡

参考例句：

• She grows as a flower does-she will wither without sun.她象鲜花一样成长--没有太阳就会凋谢。
• In autumn the leaves wither and fall off the trees.秋天，树叶枯萎并从树上落下来。

6 withered   

adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。
• The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。