Georgette Gebara

The top priority of artists is their art.  It is through their art that they are able to immortalize their country.

Certainly one of the hardest decisions of my life was NOT to leave during the 15-year war.  One does not leave one’s child when the child is very sick.  We call our country the “motherland”, but in times of tragedy, we become the parent.  I would travel 10 or 15 days in the rare moments of “truce”, but always returned.

I built my big dream school in 1985 (1240 sq m. !).  From its hilltop location, I could see ships carrying away my compatriots, while I was piling brick upon brick, to give dance and culture a powerful presence.

Having been named Secretary of the International Dance Committee (ITI) UNESCO, and member of the Executive Council of ITI,** I  had to travel extensively.  My colleagues had their expenses covered either by their ITI Centres or by their Governments.  In my case, I had to cover my own expenses.  I still made it a point to attend ALL the meetings organized in different countries, just because I felt it was absolutely necessary to transform the horrible images of Lebanon the war had left.