Despite practising dance from a very young age, Salma always felt that it was something she had to keep as just a hobby. She remembers that contemporary dance wasn’t very popular in Palestine, and studied a BA in Journalism and Social Studies as it seemed like a more secure option. She later decided to pursue her passion and make dance her choice of study and career, which led to her graduating from UL with an MA in Dance Performance.

By Lauren Valentine

• Name: Salma Ataya

• From: Ramallah, Palestine

• Course studied: MA in Dance Performance

• Alumni of: University of Limerick

• Current role: Freelance contemporary dancer

Dance isn’t a subject you’d expect to find a textbook for, so what’s it like to study it?

“I was nervous beforehand because I’d always been focused on the physical aspect of dance, whereas the course contained lots of understanding about the body and the mind. I later realised that this was what I actually wanted to learn! I also found a really interesting link between Irish dance and Palestinian traditional dance: they’re both about movement, quality and telling stories. There are often links between Ireland and Palestine, so to see it in dance as well is cool.”

How did your time at UL prepare you for professional dancing?

“To be honest, the UL dance course taught me a lot about myself. You have to work for yourself and think of your own ideas, which made me more proactive. Not having routines or information handed to you certainly makes you think more about what you’re doing. I believe I’m stronger now because I had to plan for myself during the course. It’s also improved my English because we have to learn lots of technical vocabulary. It’s helped me a lot with my career but also mentally – I just wish it lasted longer!”

You’ve travelled to many countries through dance - what made you settle in Ireland?

“I’ve travelled around the world doing dance performances and workshops, but I’d never truly ‘learned’ it. I used to tour a lot of countries, which was important for my personal development. I feel like I’m a lot more accepting of anybody now, because I’ve seen so many cultures and met different people. I’d never had much stability in my life until I settled in Ireland. All countries are special and unique, but I’m comfortable here; the people are friendly and welcoming. I don’t feel like a stranger here in Ireland.”

In your opinion, why is dance so valuable?  

“For me, dance is about connecting with yourself and your body. Previously, I had always been concerned with my past or my future, whereas now I’m focussed on myself in the present. That was a big achievement for me, and I think others can learn from that too. I’m not a person who can express much with words – even in Arabic – so I rely more on movement. People are tired of words, but with movement they don’t need to listen, so it portrays messages in a lighter way. It’s also a mutual language, which means we can communicate about issues in Palestine or politics to those in Europe who we don’t share a language with.”

What kind of work has your course led to?

“After finishing my MA, everything seemed to move very quickly. I had to work with others for money and stability as this isn’t guaranteed as a freelancer. I’ve worked with Irish companies such as John Scott and Catherine Young, which was interesting because I tried new projects. As well as professional companies, I’ve worked with refugees and communities, doing things I’d never done before! Recently, lockdown has forced me to look back on my MA and try to plan for myself. I’m giving freelancing a go, so I’m trying to make my own work and choreograph my own performances. It’s given me the time I needed to focus on myself.”