Syrian ministry of culture opens first ballet school ?

Ballet performance takes place at Damar Cultural ?Centre Damascus – George Al Shami Syrian Minister of Culture Dr Lebana Mshawah inaugurated a ballet school in the Damar Cultural ?Centre in a step to refine and sponsor emerging talents.? The minister said in a press statement that a decision was taken to open the ballet school which is ?under the directorate of the ministry of culture's musical institutions.
Dr Lebana Mshawah said: “A while ago it, the headquarters of the ballet school branch in the governorate of Tartus, situated in western Syria, began in a building near the culture directorate. The ministry ?will now continue its current interest and support this school by all available means."
She thanked everyone ?who participated in the opening, giving their time, effort and artistic expertise, as well as the high speed in preparing the ?place. Dr Mshawah hopes that this will be a good start for ballet in Syria.
The minister of culture said: "Ballet is a very fine and popular art in its origins, and ?not aristocratic as some might think. It was a poplar kind of art in the West, and then transferred ?to be a means of expression to which symphonies and classic music are written. We want ?our society to hold on to the idea of fine arts in addition to our traditional arts."
Heba al Beiruti, director of the ballet school said: “Our celebration today is about two things. ?The first is the decision of establishing the ballet school, the new headquarters and the ?independence of the place, the staff and the students. The second is the inauguration of the school. ?This means that we are officially under the name of Ballet School."
Heba added: “The art of ballet entered Syria in the late 80s. Foreign experts ?such as the Russians brought this form along. Currently, training ?is held by our national expertise who teach and train our students, making use of their own experience ?gained from Russia."