happens."
Soon, the ballerinas were the ones pushing to take photos in more crowded spaces and in the middle of the week instead of on weekends. One of those ballerinas is Mireille Azer, the 21-year-old, third year medical student.
“I do it because I love ballet. It didn’t make a difference for me that people were looking at me. I wanted them to look at us and see what girls can do and how impressive we are,” Mireille said, "Whenever someone calls something out, I shout back. I will not allow them to force me to follow their stereotype. I will not let society decide how I live my life.”
For the first two years in the Faculty of Medicine, Mireille did follow the stereotype. She tamed her big curly hair and avoided makeup and dresses. She was afraid of the unwelcome looks, words or touches on her way to and from campus.
“But then I realized that this is patriarchy trying to control me and I could no longer stand for it,” Mireille said emphatically, “I made a decision and now I dress in a way that makes me happy. I do my hair in the styles I feel comfortable with. I wear makeup if I want to. And if someone says something, I speak up. We women should always speak up and defend what is ours or they will take our silence for consent.”
Like Mireille, almost a dozen more ballerinas are determined to do what they love. In doing so, they are showing us a new face of beauty in Cairo and carving out more space for women.
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Ballerina Passant Abo-basha. Photo: Ballerinas of Cairo/Mida Fathy
Ballerina Veronica. Photo: Ballerinas of Cairo/Mohamed Taher
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