Breakdance Fans in Iraq Encounter Social Difficulties

Following is a report on breakdancing in Iraq, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on February 28, 2009:

Reporter: Haircuts, earphones, strangely-designed belts, unique outfits, and even cell phones with foreign songs characterize these youngsters, who are known as the breakiyya - a term derived from the Western breakdance. They have many hobbies, like dancing, roller skating, and acrobatics. They gather in Al-Zawraa Park, because they do not have their own clubs.

Breakdancing enthusiast: First of all, we hope there will be [breakdancing] schools, and that we will appear on TV, for the whole world to see. This way, everybody will view us more favorably.

Reporter: When they talk to one another, they mix foreign words into their speech, because they listen to Western music, from which they never part. Some of them speak English fluently.

Another breakdancing enthusiast: I love the rap and the breakdance. My friends and I are professional dancers. We listen to these songs on TV, CDs, and cell phones.

Reporter: Their unorthodox dress code, hairstyle, and conduct have exposed them to harassment both on the street and at home. This young man hides his face with a handkerchief so that his relatives will not recognize him. The father of another young man has forbidden him to go to Al-Zawraa Park, so he decided to lie, telling his father: I am making a pilgrimage to one of the holy places. Some are hoping that there will be a power outage when our report goes on air.

Breakdancing enthusiast: We are constantly being harassed: Why do you do this? Why do you do that? A young man has the right to do whatever he likes.

Other breakdancing enthusiast: This is the only place we can play. We are harassed by the police in Al-Zawraa Park. We are merely enjoying our hobby, and they say: Don't play here. Where can we go? This is the only place.

Reporter: They face many difficulties, considering the conservative nature of Iraqi society. The only place they can hang out is Al-Zawraa Park, among families. All they wish for is a club of their own, which would support their hobby.

Majed Abd Al-Qader, Al-Arabiya TV, Baghdad.