In the villa turned to children’s and ladies’ recreation club sits British-Lebanese Sophia Miran. “I have butterflies in my toes,” she says, and evidently, tears in her eyes. Today is a big day for Miran as for the first time in her Fig Club, and in Kurdistan, the Royal Academy of Dance in the UK reviewed the performance of a group of students in Erbil. In fact, this is the first location in Iraq to be recognised by the Royal Academy.
“The young children are amazing. I can’t believe how well done the syllabus is being taught to them by our teachers!” says Miran, the founder of the Fig Club.
The Fig Club, once known as the ‘Big Purple House’, is registered with the Royal Academy of Dance in the UK, allowing the Erbil-based holistic performing arts and dance center to have ballet teachers trained by the royal academy and up-to-date syllabus and children’s examinations.
Why is this an event worthy of butterflies and tears? Not only is the Royal Academy the most prominent ballet institute in the world, but this milestone puts the Kurdistan Region among the many other places in the world that are recognised by the London-based academy. Miran affirms that the process of having an accredited royal academy of dance syllabus in the Kurdistan region was not welcome at first by the Royal Academy, considering the context and the “unknown territory.”
To a nation famous for the Kurdish halparke and upbeat music, ballet is a new culture to the Region and has become a popular one, arguably among the elite of society.
The story of the Fig Club is one that reflects a woman’s determination, resilience, and passion. I knew of the Fig Club more than seven years ago when I first visited ‘The Big Purple House.’ At the time, it was Miran herself, who with her grace, calmness and soft presence, guided us through Mountain pose, bridge pose, downward-facing dog, and warrior II; candles lit in what was a ballet studio by day and a sanctuary of calmness in the evening for ladies after sunset. Eyes closed, instrumental yoga music with steady beat patterns and lots of breathing in and out. It was the calmest room in Erbil on any weeknight.
A group of 12 of us were standing on our purple yoga mats. Each with her own matching purple block, strap and blanket – saved for warmth before “Namaste.”
Married to a man of Kurdish origin and mother of three, Miran was part of the Royal Academy in the UK, doing ballet until the age of 16. Moving to Erbil in 2013, she laughs: “marriage pulled me in here.”
In Erbil, she began teaching ballet for children and yoga for adults in a hotel before founding her Fig Club, after realising there was a gap in the market for after-school children’s activities.
Through her initiative, Miran educated society about extra-curricula activities for young girls and women at a time and context when there were rarely any in the market. “I painted it [the center] purple and called it the Fig Club.” When asked why Fig, she replies: “It’s a healthy fruit, a national fruit, and my husband came up with the name. It was attractive for kids.” She laughs, adding, “the colour purple is always fun!”
As the Fig Club grew, Miran hired a Russian expert who took ballet in the Fig Club to “a whole different standard.” The Fig Club currently has American and Canadian teachers who continue to elevate the standards and performance of the students.
The center’s Facebook and Instagram pages have pictures of little girls in leotards and pink tutus. For Miran, this was a childhood dream, but little did she know it will be cultivated within a Kurdish community in the Middle East. “I always wanted a ballet school when I was young. I was theatrical, I said I will be a ballet teacher; I knew I would have my own ballet school one day,” she explains.
The center offers yoga, pilates, drama, hip-hop, martial arts and made available the first aerial yoga classes in Erbil. The center’s activities first drew the attention of the expat community in the city and are now popular among members of the local community, too. Over the seven years, with Miran’s dedication, efforts, and passion, the center evolved to today’s affiliation to an internationally renowned examining board in ballet and gymnastics.
“We want to take gymnastics in the Region to the next level,” explains Miran, now also looking to internationally accredit the center’s music classes such as piano and even incorporate acting classes.
“We also have a collective teenage class for editing, doing film, producing and directing. This age group needs something productive and enjoyable to do. The program is like a workshop, and they enjoy expressing creatively.”
The Fig Club also works with nurseries and schools to provide extra-curricula activities such as gymnastic and ballet classes after school, at the school, offering more convenience for parents.
In Erbil, Miran is also known for her annual extravagant shows conducted in the city’s biggest venues. Over the years, her Fig Club students have done the Frozen, Rapunzel, Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Lion King and Peter Pan shows. The center’s music, dance, ballet, and drama students all work together to put a show that is one of its kind in the Region. When watching the shows, a touch of London can be felt, the experience is like attending Theatreland in London’s West End, as enjoyable, heart-warming and an extravagant experience for the audience considering the available resources. The photos on the website reflect the professionalism and hard work dedicated to the shows.
“Initially, it was always me following my passion. I really wanted to push forward these activities in Erbil,” explains Miran, highlighting that it is not all an enjoyable journey of pink tutus and applauses. “ISIS and COVID affected our work. I was lucky my husband could support me. It would have been very different running this business if I was the sole supporter.”
However, some success stories from the Fig Club spark Meran’s motivation to grow further and give opportunities to children, mainly to discover talents. “We have had children who started in the Fig Club, and they have gone to great acting schools in the UAE and UK. We also have a dancer in hip-hop in New York who is doing amazing things. The Fig Club gives children and teenagers with passion and talent a jump start. “This proves to us that we have an impact, and it is this that pushes us to keep going,” she says.
I close the interview with Miran with a tour of her new location in one of Erbil’s higher-end Dream City suburbs, no longer in The Big Purple House; the Fig Club is in a new, large location. Despite the security challenges brought by ISIS previously, and more recently, the COVID-19 global pandemic, closing the doors would have been an easy decision for Miran. However, her inner passion, determination and belief in what she is doing have remained a key to keeping the doors of the Fig Club open. Miran’s eyes speak of a wonder of plans and projects for this center to become the Region’s (and Iraq’s) top internationally recognised dance, music, and performing arts jumping stone for young talents. It remains Miran’s sanctuary “for the arts, dance, and fitness in Erbil.”
Despite the hustle and bustle of the center with all the activities and children, there is always a calming yoga class on purple mats after sunset; with candles, a comforting ambience, and a ‘Namaste’ before the center’s door close for the day.
By: Sazan M. Mandalawi, a facilitator, a PhD candidate in the field of education, and a passionate blogger herself focusing on culture and the creative scene in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Copyright photos: Fig Club