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.
