Life in an Iraqi Ballet School

March 20, 2007 — -- After a new ABC News poll found that 39 percent of Iraqi parents are too afraid to send their kids to school, "Good Morning America" revisited a Baghdad ballet school to see how things were going more than a year later.

In December 2005, children at the Baghdad Ballet School performed "The Nutcracker" to applause. In 2007, they perform in silence. That's because today they have to practice without music because both their piano players have fled the city, scared for their lives.

There are only eight children left at the ballet school.

When ABC News visited the school 15 months ago, they were practicing "The Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy" from "The Nutcracker" with musical accompaniment.

Now their teacher, Thikra, resorts to desperate measures.

"I used to bring one of my cell phones where a part of this music is being played and we used to rehearse," Thikra said.

"We miss the music of course," Rania, a 15-year-old student, said. "But we still remember the music in our minds."

The violence in Iraq touches everyone; children are particularly vulnerable.

When asked, all the children at the ballet school say that they have seen dead bodies.

Belsam, who is 11, saw a man who was beheaded.

Sometimes the children can only laugh to cover up the horror.

"We are used to it," 13 year-old Salam said. "It's a part of our life now."

That is the tragedy of a childhood in Iraq. At least for these children, ballet is a temporary escape.

"When I come here I live in a different world," said Safa, a 12 year-old student. "I forget everything, I only think of ballet."