Taking steps to heal yourself in countries where dance is a necessity

Celebrated choreographer Nacera Belaza says a history of suffering in a culture can manifest itself in the way dancers approach their work, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

“In countries where people suffer and have a rough life, they dance as a necessity instead of as an option.” Choreographer and dancer Nacera Belaza was born in Algeria and raised in France from the age of five.

“When you have this kind of history, this very hard background, you don’t practice art for the same reasons,” she says.