In 2013, Luca Abdel-Nour, who was then 11, traveled from Cairo to Zurich to receive professional training in ballet dancing — an art he has continued to be passionate about despite being bullied and mocked by some Egyptians who don't believe men should participate in ballet dancing. Once in Switzerland, Abdel-Nour placed second at the prestigious ballet competition in Lausanne. Yet that was still not enough to stop the bullying.

While Egyptian and Arab newspapers highlighted the story of Abdel-Nour, who has been touring European theaters since March 2020 as part of international shows after winning international fame and the Prix de Lausanne on Feb. 8, some Egyptians continue to mock his accomplishments.

“It is a shame.” “He needs a reset.” “What depilatory cream do you use for the legs? I need it for my wife,” people commented sarcastically on social media.

In response to the online bullying, Abdel-Nour calmly replied in a March 8 interview on the Egyptian DMC channel, “There are certainly negative comments. But there are a lot of people who have been supportive. There are those who said I inspire them to do ballet in a not-so-encouraging society.” He said most of the votes that allowed him to win the audience prize at the Prix de Lausanne came from Egyptians.