In the poetic memoir Dance or Die, Ahmad Joudeh recounts his journey from stateless refugee to Middle Eastern reality TV dancing star to international ballet dancer. With candor, he showcases how difficult his life was even before ISIS bombed out the homes of everyone he knew. Joudeh had always been a refugee; born in the Al-Yarmouk camp just outside of Damascus, Syria, he was the descendent of Palestinian refugees (and by Syrian law, unable to become a citizen).
His passion for dancing isolated him from friends and family--particularly his father--who wanted him to give it up. Then ISIS arrived, completely obliterating Al-Yarmouk. Joudeh danced on rubble-strewn streets after his dance academy was destroyed. He began receiving death threats because of his refusal to give up his dancing, so he tattooed "Dance or Die" on the back of his neck, right where an executioner's axe would land.
But although videos of his dancing earned him derision locally, they gained him accolades internationally. He was able to leave for Lebanon for a few months to appear on So You Think You Can Dance? and eventually he escaped Syria for the Netherlands, joining the Dutch National Ballet.
Ahmad's passion for dancing shines through the scary parts of his story, making him an encouraging example of how to persevere. In spite of unlikely beginnings and countless obstacles, he achieved his dream of becoming a world-renowned dancer, and he is an inspiration for many. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans, Flagstaff, Ariz.