Bobcats for Israel and The Movement Organization lead by example in religious tolerance by hosting a screening of a documentary.
In 2013 Pierre Dulaine, a four time ballroom dancing champion, traveled to his hometown Jaffa, Israel with an unconventional idea for a dancing program between the Jewish and Palestinian Israeli children of the city.
Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Bobcats for Israel and The Movement Organization are co-hosting a one-night showing of Dulaine’s experiences with the children through the award winning film Dancing in Jaffa at the Athena Grand, 1008 E. State St.
The city of Jaffa is a religious war zone between the two sides that lead a hostile battle in their differences. With one third of its population migrants from Palestine and the rest Jewish, children in this area grow up learning to live in hate.
Dance teacher Pierre Dulaine came with a 10 week mission to find common ground between the kids. Dulaine asked the children to “dance with the enemy.” He taught the kids to first respect themselves, then to respect other people.
“This documentary directly focuses on Israeli and Palestinian children and how art can bring peace to the world between Israel and Palestine,” said Becky Sebo, president of Bobcats for Israel. “It’s a lighthearted way to experience what's actually going on over there, as well as the educational reality, and not just from the media we see on TV.”
The film can also be enjoyed from a dance perspective, said Grace Nicklos, a junior dance major and president of The Movement Organization, a group dedicated bringing dance into Athens and Ohio University.
“Even those who are not familiar with dance should come,” Nicklos said. “It’s a really moving film, and gives people like us a point of view on how relationships can form while coming in contact with others through dancing. It has the ability to broaden social horizons.”
Tickets for the film can be purchased online for $12.50; none will be sold at the door. The film is also available on Netflix.
The film can transfer to other geographic and cultural boundaries even here locally, Sebo said. This is a different way to look at how we can create peace on campus again.
@mini_fezz
mf736213@ohio.edu
