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Letters & Comments Listening to the political developments of the war in Iraq, suddenly there’s no country where you can work as an artist without being affected by politics. Companies like Les Ballets Persans can became, as was recently the case, a victim of political dispute. Theatres and venues can be invaded by a group of separatists, like in Moscow, which happened two weeks after the political sabotage of the new department of Ballets Persans. Cultural terrorism is, in my opinion, a new phenomenon of our time, and is a direct result of what is happening in the world. Now artists and art itself can be targeted by those who want to launch a political message. What is happening in Iraq is very sad. The people of the Middle East have had to suffer so much either by totalitarian regimes or by the warring parties and the effects of the uprising. I cannot see any solution but I would prefer to see much more attention paid to culture. It could be used as an important element in order to make a true and genuine conversation or dialogue between civilisations. Culture could be used as an important element to invigorate and strengthen the ties of co-operation and understanding between peoples of different countries and origins. I was born in Tehran and I started to dance very late not until I came to Sweden-because it was not allowed in Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979 because of the religious Muslim beliefs. Before the Revolution, dance was a respected art form in Iran and was sponsored, like in any other country, by the government. The Iranian Ballet was an important cultural institution, and I have recreated it now in Sweden as Les Ballets Persans.
Nima Kiann
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