Comments on: Palestine: Dance Prodigy Hopes to Make it Big

By: Lisa Goldman

Lisa Goldman — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:30:21 +0000

Hi Maya,

Maariv newspaper, Israel’s second-biggest mass-circulation daily, published a four-page cover story about Ayman Saifa in its magazine section on November 7, 2007. That is how CNN’s correspondent in Israel learned about this talented young man – who, by the way, speaks Hebrew and Arabic with equal fluency.

Maariv’s focus was on the potential difficulties faced by a young Muslim man, from a conservative village in the Galilee, who wished to be a dancer. Would his family object? Would his friends ostracize him? These are the issues that interest an Israeli readership.

For non-Israelis, the issue is Ayman’s Palestinian ethnicity. That is because few non-Israelis are aware of the fact that Palestinian-Israelis are very prominent in the Israeli arts.

By: Maya Norton

Maya Norton — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:05:59 +0000

Most welcome, Ben.

Maya

By: Ben Heine

Ben Heine — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:26:28 +0000

Wonderful article dear Maya.
Thanks a lot for spreading this amazing story and using my drawing.

By: Maya Norton

Maya Norton — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:03:53 +0000

Dear Juliana and Jillian,

Thanks so much for your kind and encouraging words! That means a lot coming from you.

I’ll certainly be following Ayman Safieh in the future and can’t wait to hear great things about him. If you haven’t gotten a chance, please check out CNN’s video of him, which truly shows how amazing his story is.

Warm wishes,

Maya

By: Jillian York

Jillian York — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:42:40 +0000

Another incredible post, Maya! GV is lucky to have you.

And best wishes to Safieh, whose story is an inspiration.

By: Juliana Rincón Parra

Juliana Rincón Parra — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:54:50 +0000

I hope his dreams come true, I think it´s wonderful he can dance to his heart´s content and his friends and family support him!