I arrived in Beirut in November 2009. It was my first time in Lebanon, and my first encounter with a Middle Eastern location. I spoke no Arabic and was naïve about the nuances of cultural practices. Little did I know how much would change over the next six years – that I would find myself spending more time between Aleppo and Marrakesh than at my home in Auckland, New Zealand; that I would be teaching dance in locations as diverse as the Cairo Opera House and Bourj Buragneh Palestinian Refugee Camp; or that I would be dodging Israeli security over and over again to visit Palestine, a place where I found great love and great hope.
I owe Associate Professor Nicholas Rowe a great deal; without his guidance, encouragement and sheer genius I would never have got on that plane to Beirut in 2009. It has been the immense courage, humility and intellect that Nicholas has shown as a doctoral supervisor, academic colleague and friend that has encouraged me to strive to become an adventurer, a risk-taker and someone who is working to leave the world a better place in some small way. Thank you.
Thanks must also go to the wonderful colleagues I have worked alongside throughout the process of researching and writing this book: Associate Professor Ralph Buck, Sarah Knox, Sarah Foster-Sproull, Dr Krystel Khoury, Gwenalle Chaboud, Dr Nadra Assaf, Noora Baker, Ata Khattab, Rebecca Camilleri, Diana Sabri and Leyya Tawil. I would also sincerely like to thank Professor Sherry Shapiro, Dr Joseph Gonzalez and Dr Toni-Shapiro-Phim for their mentorship. Also thanks for the lively and thought-provoking discussions with Dr Naomi Jackson, Dr Karen Barbour and Professor Eeva Antilla, at meetings, conferences, workshops and working group sessions around the world, and my students at the University of Auckland for listening to my stories along the way. Several organizations have assisted this project – the University of Auckland, Dancing on the Edge Festival, Lebanese American University, El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe and Freeway Dance Studio Amman. The generous funds from the University of Auckland FRDF award and a PBRF grant have allowed this research to come to fruition.
To the wonderful friends and family, at home and in the field – Pip, Uli, Sophie and Dani (for being the best); Amber and Cookie (for the fun, adventures and images); Sarah K (for unwavering support, love and for reading drafts); Sarah F, Georgia and Brige (for the wine, friendship and escapades); Noora, Nadra, Nadia, Hala, Dalia N, Dalia E, Mey and Rania (for generosity, trust and belief); Edmee and the Ramallah crew (for showing me another side to life in the West Bank); Azza, Rosie, Sarah H, Gina, Tanya and Maxeem (for being my Amman dance family) – thank you.
To my fiancé, Needham, thank you for your love, for providing words, and for persevering with me through the process of pulling the manuscript together. Chris/Dad, thank you for teaching me to dream big, seek change and challenges and, above all else, for never questioning my decisions and offering so much love. To Tim and Kate – you have provided me with so much fun on this journey, thank you. To little Sebastian Jo, I hope that one day I can tell you all of my adventures in the field, and may you have many, many adventures of your own.
Figure 1: Nadra Assaf performing I Matter (2010) Image by Marc Khoury