Mei is a 15-year-old blind Shih Tzu who found her way into Gabriel Semerene's apartment in Brasília. He takes care of her; she teaches him how to be present and less anxious. Between them, a quiet proof of what love and care can do, even when the world outside is loud and merciless.

Mei was named after May Ziadeh, a Maronite Levantine writer and translator and a key figure of the Nahda movement (Renaissance) in the early 20th-century Levantine literary scene — at the time when the Levantine, once a borderless land, was becoming bordered, and when the odd question of "identity" began to emerge. Like May, Gabriel is a translator and writer, born in Brazil to Lebanese Maronite parents, with so much love for Palestine.

Mei, now, bumps into things and carries on, knowing full well she is safe, loved, and taken care of. I write these words while Israeli bombs pound Beirut, ten minutes from my desk, and a buzzing surveillance drone peers at me through the window. I think to myself: Mei may be a dog, but she is also me, and maybe you. Fearless, loved, loving, in spite of it all.

Some of the editorial work behind the two recent issues was done under similar circumstances, while communicating with a board of editors spread across our vast, shared earth. I carry a deep longing for a borderless Gaia, a land we all belong to, roam freely in, meet and share, love and dance, without ever being made to feel like strangers to one another. That has always been the main motivation behind A Dance Mag.

When he's not translating between Portuguese, Arabic, here's what's keeping him company:

📖 On his nightstand: The books he recently translated—Rifqa by Mohammed El-Kurd and The Palace on the Higher Hill by Karim Kattan. "Both from incredible young Palestinian authors whose voices are essential, especially right now."

📺 On his screen: Tajwal by Alexandre Paulikevitch, a Lebanese artist and belly dancers known for his thought provoking work.

👤 Accounts he follows: He's been off social media for a while, but sometimes downloads Instagram just to watch Vinny Thomas's videos. "He's so funny."

🎧 Listening to: Issy Wood. "I've been obsessed for the past three years." The British artist and musician whose paintings and music both carry a melancholy that doesn't ask for comfort.

📍 Place: Basically anywhere in Beirut, especially T-Marbouta, a popular café bar in Hamra, Beirut, known for its cozy ambiance, mezza, and cultural events.

🍲 Dish: He's been missing dosa lately. "There was a nice dosa place I used to go to in Berlin, but it's hard to find good Indian food in Brasília." Also sahlab, it’s hard to find around here.

🎟️ Activity: Translating a poetry book. "The most intense experience I've had in a while."

Gabriel and I spoke about translation, queer Palestine, the exhaustion of academia, and of course, Mei. Here, you can find our conversation about dance floors lost and found, languages that carry worlds and worldviews, and what happens when love becomes the work that matters most.

He is an editorial board member at A Dance Mag, Issues 04 and 05, and a contributor to the magazine since 2018. Read his piece in the Transcendence issue, below.

Until next time.

With love, 
Jana Al Ob.
Founding Editor