PHOTOS: Once-banned ballet group holds dance event in Kurdistan Region
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A local ballet group on Friday performed a number of dances at an event in the Kurdistan Region's town of Darbandikhan.
The Layzin ballet school holds classes for a variety of skill levels, with an important part of the training that students participate in live performances. Established in Sulaimani decades ago, it was only officially recognized as an educational institution in 2008. The word Layzin translates to "dance" in Kurdish.
Since then, they have organized and participated in several events to bring a new experience to audiences of the region. They have also partaken in events in European countries.
According to a 2016 report by Reuters, the group's official status was taken away by the region's Ministry of Education in 2014, and the school was closed down. This came after continued pressure and criticism of the art form from religious clerics.
Since then, the learning center has been operating as a private institution, depending on would-be ballerina's fees to stay afloat financially.
Editing by John J. Catherine