Taha

Yeocheva for What Dance Can Do: Hi Taha, can you please introduce yourself?

Taha: Hi! My name is Taha, I’m 24 years old, and in the breaking world, I go by the name Bboy Shibl. I’m originally from Libya, but I was born and raised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Yeocheva: When and how did you start dancing?

Taha: I was five years old the first time I saw someone dance — and it was my older brother. I actually have two older brothers, and both of them are bboys. They used to invite other dancers to our home to practice, exchange ideas, and share techniques.
(Bboy stands for break-boy or Bronx-boy, a term that originated in the Bronx, New York. It refers to dancers who move to the breaks in the music.)

My first real dance memory was a competition I entered in 2012. I stepped on stage, looked out at the crowd, and immediately felt how much it all meant to me. Being able to share my talent, doing something that made me truly happy—it gave me this incredible feeling I still carry every time I perform.

To me, hip-hop is not just a dance style. It’s a lifestyle. It shapes the way I dress, how I think about fashion, how I express myself, the music I listen to, and even the work I do. It’s how I live my life.

Yeocheva: How do you feel when you dance?

Taha: When I dance, I feel like I’m in my own world. It’s a pure expression of who I am. Dancing brings me joy, and it feeds my soul. It’s not just something I do — it’s an essential part of my life.

Yeocheva: What do you think is your responsibility as an artist toward society — especially here?

Taha: I believe my responsibility is to share knowledge. To educate people about hip-hop culture and help shift their perception of it. There’s so much you can learn through hip-hop — it offers people a powerful way to express their emotions and connect with one another.

Yeocheva: What could dance — and hip-hop in particular — bring to the society of the United Arab Emirates?

Taha: Dance is a universal language. It doesn’t need words. It brings together people from different cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities. It unites us.

Yeocheva: What’s the opposite of dancing? (You can answer in just one word.)

Taha: Fighting.

Yeocheva: “What dance can do…” — how does this statement resonate with your own life and experience?

Taha: Dance has completely transformed me. On bad days, it calms my soul. It has shaped my character, helped me express myself, and allowed me to grow. Through dance, I’ve become a better version of myself.

I’ve also been able to connect with many artists, expand my world, and find happiness. Whenever I feel down or lose focus, dancing helps me regain my confidence and clarity.

You know how a child runs to their parents when they’re scared, because they’re the only ones who make them feel safe and loved? That’s what dance is to me.

Yeocheva: How was your dancing received — both within your family and in society?

Taha: At first, my family wasn’t supportive. They didn’t see how dancing could offer me a future. My father, in particular, thought it would distract me from school and wouldn’t provide an income. He wanted me to become an engineer, a doctor, a journalist — something “respectable.”

He also worried about the injuries. Every time I came home with back or knee pain, he’d get upset, thinking dance was ruining my health. But for me, those injuries meant I was achieving something. They were proof that I was doing something difficult and meaningful. Good things never come easy.

Society here hasn’t always embraced hip-hop. Many still see it as a Western influence, something they can’t relate to — or worse, something dangerous. Back in 2010, we’d even get arrested for practicing in the streets. And even today, hip-hop doesn’t get the support it deserves. A lot of people still associate it with gangs and rebellion, not with art and community.

But the truth is, dance can change lives. It can give you a sense of identity and purpose. Sometimes I ask myself, “What would I be doing if I didn’t dance?” Without it, I would’ve never met the people I’ve met, or gained the cultural understanding I now have. Dance has made me open to the world.

A conversation recorded in Dubai in 2019

Published in: https://thewhatdancecandoproject.com/portfolio/taha/