Breast cancer campaign with Marie Claire Arabia 2022
When was the last time you had a medical check-up? Are you still postponing this or that test due to daily pressures? Do you make your physical and mental health a priority? It’s wonderful to care for others and make them happy, but if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t have the energy to do so. Always remember: start with yourself first, just as the safety instructions on an airplane tell you to put on your oxygen mask before helping others. So, don’t hesitate to have the necessary check-ups and adopt a healthy, balanced lifestyle, one that also includes the art of movement, unleashing creativity and freedom.
How do you feel when you move your body? Did you know that you can take care of your body through movement? That exercise in general, and dance in particular, help you express what’s inside you freely, without the need to speak, while also improving your mental health? It’s true that art is not a direct treatment for a specific illness, but it can certainly be a remedy for the imagination, spirit, and heart… Movement can be an act of change, liberation, or even healing. In the October 2022 issue of Marie Claire Arabia, we combined the art of movement with awareness to invite you to "Move your soul and heal your body!" We collaborated with five professional dancers, all wearing pink dresses to raise awareness for early breast cancer detection through dance. Join us as we introduce you to the connection between movement, freedom, mental and physical health, and healing! This is our fifth interview with Dana Amer.
Photography: Maximilian Gower
Coordination: Jessica Bounni
Coordination: Jessica Bounni
Dana Amer comes from a mixed family, with a Syrian father and a Ukrainian mother. After the war in Syria, her family moved to Lebanon, where she had to adapt to the new situation. Amid all the changes she experienced in her life, she was still searching for something that reminded her of her homeland, and everything for her revolved around physical movement. While in Lebanon, a member of the Sima Dance Company in Beirut contacted her and offered her the chance to take dance lessons with them. This is how her journey with contemporary dance began. With the company’s victory in the Arab’s Got Talent competition in 2013, Dana was further encouraged to continue in this field, as the emotions she felt on stage were indescribable.
Dress by Reem Kachmar Couture
What does Dana feel when she moves her body and dances? She tells us: "For me, dance is a way to express myself without words. Since I’m not a very talkative person and prefer listening to others—because speaking drains my energy—I share my energy better through movement." She adds: "When I dance, I feel challenged, and when I reach a point where I feel that challenge is over, I enter a stage of contemplation, especially when I dance to music I love." As for the language of dance, she says: "Most communication in life is non-verbal, so there’s no doubt that you can convey a message easily through the body without words. That’s precisely why we have the stage, art, and visual communication. I really appreciate all of that."
Movement in All Its Forms is Healing
Does dance help us heal, and how? Dana tells us: "In dance, we detach from our surroundings while still being physically present in them. Through movement, you connect with your inner self, and you can listen to your feelings and your true needs. In my opinion, this is the best way to heal. Our illness is a manifestation of not listening to our body and soul, and their lack of healing. The body is the best indicator of unhappiness, while movement, in all its forms, is healing." She tells us about the movements she chose for this campaign: "The movements are elegant and unique in their own way, reflecting the diversity of women and the individuality of each woman on this earth."
She concludes with the following awareness message: "First and foremost, you should do this for yourself. The more you show self-love and inner peace while enjoying good health, the more you will make those around you happy. No one but a woman can share happiness. We live through our bodies and experience everything through them as well, so the body is the most important thing we can take care of."
