{"type":"link","asset_type":"article","version":"1.0","cache_age":3600,"provider_name":"CANVAS Arts","provider_url":"https:\/\/artscanvas.org","title":"Syrian dancer reflects on escaping ISIS and finding freedom through ballet","publication_date":"September 25, 2026","summary":"Ahmad Joudeh is a ballet dancer of unusual grace and grit. He was born stateless in a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, Syria. He has traveled far on the power of his dreams and the elegance of his dance. He survived a traumatic childhood, much of Syria's civil war and constant threats of execution by ISIS. We met Joudeh in his new home in San Diego.","author_name":"By Sonia Kopelev, Devin Pinckard","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/cdn.artscanvas.org\/static\/2026\/09\/594a43043ddfb05cb306daac30f4a382-dance-1024x576.jpeg","thumbnail_height":576,"thumbnail_width":1024}