" Life isn´t about waiting for the storm to pass, it´s about learning to dance in the rain....."

Today, it was pouring with rain in Bucharest as Royston entered the gym and saw the kids for the first time, but I am sure that none of them even took any notice of the weather. Their eyes and ears were concentrated on Royston´s welcome message for them.
Difficult for any of us to say anymore about the "quality" of today´s run through since it took place with just Royston, Josef and the 106 of them.
Only three more days to "clean" the piece before we are off to the National Theatre for the first rehearsal on a REAL stage! I wonder if they are starting to realize what it means to dance in such prestigious surroundings in front of 1200 spectators......

Monique

Arbeit, Arbeit, Arbeit...

... das ist es, was die Jugendlichen mit Josef während der Trainings machen. Und das ist, was darum herum geschieht - und noch geschehen muß.

Ich erwähnte in den ersten Tagen des Projekts, wie viele Leute wie eifrig an dessen Gelingen mitwirken. Das ist in jeder Hinsicht so geblieben. Viele fleißige Hände und helle Köpfe, viele eiserne Nervenbahnen und einfühlsame Herzen sind hier tätig bei der Sache des Feuervogels.

Je größer die Herausforderungen werden, je näher die Aufführung rückt, desto näher rücken alle zusammen. Lobend hervorzuheben ist hier Viv, die gewissermaßen an allen Ecken und Enden als Bindeglied und Kit fungiert.

Exzellent auch immer wieder Josef, der im Moment mit seinem Freund, dem Geiger Florian, "amazing grace", "unsere Hymne", auf zwei Geigen intoniert hat. Die Jugendlichen lauschen gebannt der klassischen Musik, sind vollkommen aufmerksam und rücken ihrem Lehrer (und Florian) noch näher. - Sie applaudieren begeistert aus erster Hand der gleichermaßen kultivierten und kultivierenden Darbietung. Wieder ist etwas näher zusammengerückt ...

...und das ist nötig und wird nötig bleiben!

Viel ist noch zu tun, manche Herausforderung zu bewältigen, manches Problem zu lösen, viel Unterstützung und Zusammenarbeit ist noch nötig. Wir haben den Gipfel noch nicht erreicht, auch wenn wir auf einem sehr guten Weg sind. Untersützung jeder Art und von überall ist dringend erwünscht!

Gestern z.B. waren wir netter Weise zum Geburtstag eines "Trainingsgastes" eingeladen. Das war eine tolle kurze Abwechslung. Vielen Dank!

Heute sind wir wieder "gestärkt" bei der Sache. Etwas richtig Gutes gelingt eben nur durch Arbeit, Arbeit, ZUSAMMENARBEIT.

Klaus

Yes, we can

Yes we can.
The production of the Firebird will be brilliant. I know that. We started with talented youngsters but the process has taught them focus. It is unbelievable to watch the group training. Those who seemed three weeks ago to have the concentration span of a gnat are now able to give their undivided attention and stand alone. I am glad for them for the future. They will all remember the production of the Firebird, but it is the very process here, which will stand them in good stead for life.

It has not happened by chance. The training has been cleverly conceived to develop such inner strength. But clearly it is not just the training. Only a person with a strong personality could achieve it. Josef has a rare talent to communicate with people, to bring together into one homogeneous group the most unlikely combination of people. To give them all confidence in themselves and the strength to give their very best, to ignore difference in others, to choose a partner without prejudice. Josef is someone for whom each and every young person has enormous respect. A brilliant dancer himself, he teaches dance so well and stretches these “difficult kids”. He gives generously of his energies and is totally wholehearted. It is not always the case that someone who has a skill can transmit it to others. Josef can.

And at the root of it all, Monique’s input, unquantifiable. Unquantifiable on a day-to-day practical basis. Endless time and energy over a long period of preparation. Such generosity. A deep empathy and understanding of the needs of other people generally and specifically of young people whatever their difficulties. A conviction and belief in these youngsters to know they would respond to the project and a courageous determination to make it happen. How grateful we are that she is the strong person she is. Her young people just love her. We all do.

Viv

Just Fire

When Royston asked me to co-choreograph the Firebird at the Stadttheater in Saarbrücken with him in March 2007, I did not have to think a single second. Although we had worked together already for more than 2 years in several projects, this was our first common Choreography. These years were a wonderful opportunity to learn through being Maldoom’s assistant to discover a different way of approaching dance. Even though my experience as a dancer, choreographer and workshop leader was already more than 15 years, Royston offered me the chance to learn so many new details about working in the dance field, especially with young people. I never did so much before. For the big honour of having the possibility to work with all those beautiful and talented young dancers here in Bucharest, I want to pay tribute to Royston who has given me such great trust, respect and support.

The Firebird can take place because Royston has done community dance for more than 30 years all over the planet as a pioneer, as a man with a deep vision inside himself and as an extremely political and responsible artist. In Saarbrücken I could of course not know that I would in 2009 be here, redoing our piece, 'the Firebird' with a hundred young people from all over Romania. And sometimes it feels like I get much more back than I am ever able to give to them. I am looking forward to Royston seeing the wonderful work the dancers are doing.

Doing so many projects, all are wonderful in one way or another. But I must say that such a mixed group is simply a huge pleasure; it shows me a beauty within human beings, just so hungry, going with me through so many challenges, open minded and being so hungry for something to achieve in their lives. It almost feels like coming home to that part within myself, who always wanted to share the experience I was able to receive in my mid twenties. After looking around for so many years to find something that I could fulfill in life, I was lucky to meet the great dancer and choreographer, James Saunders, in Cologne. From the first moment I longed to become a professional dancer and at the same time have the chance to share all this wonderful experience with other people later on in my life. But this is my own story.

After three weeks of working really hard on intensive training and choreography, I feel I do the right thing at the right moment, surrounded by a wonderful team. The focus often just goes to the leader of a project, forgetting all those without whom it would never be possible to do such a big production. There are so many who make it happen and who are already mentioned in the blog. All are working really hard as a supporting team, always being around, and not always having an easy life with the group. Thank you all so much for making it happen.


And there is Monique, the wonderful Monique - who went to Luxemburg in Autumn 2007 to convince us to come to Romania. Royston and I worked on his new piece “Exile”, by music from John Adams, called “Harmonielehre”. Monique enormous vision, strength and belief in our work surely is the basis that makes it all happen, right now. And Alexandra is just amazing too. How to thank them both?

Sitting now by a campfire in the countryside with time to think, rest and enjoy being away from the noise of the city. Stars lighting the sky, the moon creates an almost fairy tale atmosphere, crickets are filling the peaceful silence with their ongoing singing and my thoughts just fall into the flames, around the image of the fire itself. Looking at it night after night the last few weeks in the yard of the children’s home on concrete and on the weekends in the countryside, it becomes more than just a practical thing to cook on. It feels more like a metaphor of the piece’s name, showing that nothing stays the same, speaking about the many different fires within ourselves. Like the dancers, starting to feel the fire within them, the flames as an image, reaching for something, maybe for a new step in life, for a new challenge, for love, maybe for stillness or just a home.

Our present society tries to overcome a deep longing for speed, senseless noise and commercial useless stuff, which dampens hearts like a wet towel. My fire burns for the fire inside, for what we really want to achieve, where our dreams lead us, to a place where we can just be ourselves and share our gifts with others. And being here, I really do hope I am able to convey all this to these marvellous young people. So the fire we do have; now, lets see where the bird is off to…

Josef

Inspiration

In den vergangenen Wochen, vor allem in der letzten, haben immer wieder Besucher die Arbeit des Feuervogel-Teams in Augenschein genommen. Das freut und ehrt uns am Rande ebenso wie die Jugendlichen. Diese haben eine ganz besondere Antenne für aufmerksame Zuschauer. Die Konzentration und die Qualität ihrer Arbeit werden spürbar inspiriert.

Für derartige Inspiration danken wir unseren Besuchern:

Ihrer königlichen Hoheit Elena und ihrem Gatten Alex Nixon, die den Jugendlichen gute Wünsche und Ratschläge mit auf den Weg gaben,
Herrn Werner Stein, der selber viel Erfahrung mit Jugendlichen hat und sein Staunen zum Ausdruck brachte,
Sandra Scarlat, von der Zeitung Adevarul, die bereits mehrere Tage bei den Proben verbracht hat, und vor der Premiere ausgiebig berichten und werben will,
Thomas Wagner, von Deutschland Radio, der extra aus Temeswar anreiste, um einen Tag mit den jungen Künstlern zu verbringen,
Horia Brenciu, berühmter Musiker und Fernsehstar, der mit grossem Applaus empfangen wurde,
Elena Vlad, Bildhauerin, die übrigens seit Beginn an des Projekts ein Motor und eine nicht versiegende Ideenquelle ist,
Stefania, aus dem Degenhauser Tal, 10 Km von Überlingen entfernt, die Josef am Wochenende in Viscri kennenlernte, und die nach ihrem Besuch in der Halle am liebsten ihren Rückflug storniert hätte,

Last but not least: Oana Davidescu, Cristina Serafim und Margareta Vlad, drei rührende rumänische Kolleginnen der Deutschen Botschaft, die seit dem Entstehen des Projekts dabei sind, in den Kulissen arbeiten, stets ihre Ohren spitzen, uns nötige Informationen liefern, nützliche Listen erstellen und bei jedem Hilferuf prompt reagieren.

Da muss doch kurz die Lösung unseres Fleisch-Problems in letzter Minute erwähnt werden:
Oana, die eine Woche Urlaub genommen hat, sitzt mit ihrer Schwester und ihrer Mutter Zuhause und trinkt Kaffee. Im Hintergrund läuft das Fernsehen. Plötzlich sagt ihre Mutter beim Anblick einer Fabrik auf dem Bildschirm: "So eine Fleischfabrik hat unser ehemaliger Nachbar und Freund, Herr Abigiu"...."aber doch nicht so groß" fragt Oana...."doch doch, so gross".
Oana springt von ihrem Stuhl hoch, greift zum Telefon und ruft mich gleich darauf begeistert an. Die Grosszügigkeit von Herrn und Frau Abigiu sowie Ihrer Tochter verschlägt mir die Sprache: eine Woche vor Beginn der Proben ist unsere letzte grösste Nahrungsmittellücke gestopft. Sie haben spontan zugestimmt, unsere hundertdreißig Mann starke Mannschaft 41 Tage lang mit Fleisch zu versorgen! - Begeisterter Dank den Firmen Jeras Prod und Carmistin!

Manches haben wir in den letzten drei Wochen vernommen von den Reizen und Qualitäten Rumäniens, manches von den Problemen hier und anderswo; Probleme von Individuen und Systemen.

Einigkeit herrscht bislang im Entzücken, das unsere "jungen Rumänen" wecken. Das ist es, was uns begeistert.


Sie beweisen dem "Publikum", uns und vor allen Dingen sich selbst, daß sie im Stande sind, etwas Großartiges zu verwirklichen. Alle arbeiten extrem hart und mit (allergrößtenteils) bewunderswerter Geduld an einer Aufführung, die wohl für die allermeisten überraschend sein wird...

Sie zeigen, was mit ihnen möglich ist: Sie halten zusammen und arbeiten auf ihr gemeinsames Ziel hin; völlig ohne Rücksicht auf ihre unterschiedlichen Hintergründe. Das beste ist: es sieht im Moment ganz so aus, als würden sie es auch mit Bravour erreichen können.


Das macht zuversichtlich!

Klaus & Monique

Quick these kids in every sense.

So now at the end of the third week the pattern is established. Josef and Marta are always in the "theatre" well before the hordes arrive, quietly practising their own personal routine. Setting an example and the tone. The young people arrive and know now to find their own space and to stand tall. The rigourous but enjoyable training session lasts some two hours, building first inner strength and awareness, followed by controlled physical movements, most times to really great music, at others to strange rhythmic sounds produced by Josef.


Then an explosion of energy. How they can jump! And run - and how fast - and stop! And the rhythm and passion with which they dance! And the increasing confidence with which they improvise, more able now to feel at ease in this safe space. More able too to change mood and activity in a second. After the exercise a return to inner calm and stillness.

A break and work on the 'Firebird' begins Some of what went on in the training session is incorporated into the piece, some new sequences learnt, involving a few, many or all, previous scenes tidied up or a run through of the whole.


Never boring, it would seem Josef is mindful not to over-rehearse to maintain a high level of energy and passion. The piece is just 40 minutes long and his aim is to achieve about 2 minutes new choreography a day, leaving adequate time for 'cleaning' as he calls it in the last week. I am very impressed how quickly these movements are assimilated. So it can be when youngsters give their full undivided attention.

Quick these 'kids' in every sense

Viv

So many helping hands

I am more and more impressed by the success of the project.. The young people have simply risen to the challenge to be the best they can possibly be. They are wonderful. Such a simple idea. Discovering the skills and excitement of dance and, perhaps, more importantly the joys of self confidence, trust in other people, tolerance and self discipline. Life skills.

Monique had the vision. Josef is realising it. Two strong role models whom the youngsters can relate to. I think it important for the boys and young men that they have strong men here. Monique recruited a dream team who complement each other magnificently, all unselfishly and passionately committed to the same end. Mihaela and Klaus parent the young people from outside Bucharest with a wonderful good humour and ideally. Marta, Oana, Irena and Iris support the children in dance movement. All superb dancers themselves and delightful personalities, they command respect. Tedi, Bogdan and the rest of the team are filming sensitively. Tedi, an adorable young man, who is himself a fine role model, dealing with physical difficulties with independence and without complaint. Educators accompanying young people from Bucharest are in the “theatre” to mop up any problems. Unusual, Josef says, to have such a large team in theatre and ever higher standards can be achieved in the dance. Alexandra and Ada calmly – or so it always seems - ensure everything runs without a hitch. This very generous adult presence at all times ensures the youngsters are - and feel - encadres.

Last but not least there is an army of organizers, drivers, helpers and volunteers without whose work in the background we could not cope and which goes unseen - but not unappreciated. Mircea and Virgil snaking through the streets of Bucharest to purchase the most unlikely shopping list - a hundred metres of elastic, 12 grapefruit, t-shirts in all shapes and sizes, shuttling backwards and forwards to the airport day and night to meet team members, carrying the full - and minutes later -empty food containers - the list is endless.

Also in theatre are the photographers, Daniel Angelescu and the lovely Alisa Tarciniu who discreetly capture the moment. The youngsters are now oblivious to their presence thanks to their tact. I find their photos both arresting and natural. In fact all the photos on our Dance-with-us blog since the rehearsals began are Daniel's and we are grateful for their professional skills.
Viv

Apologies for temporary suspension of the blog...

In the last few days followers of the blog have been complaining and wondering why it has dried up lately. The reason is quite simple: with the performance approaching, the budget not quite met, invitations to be sent, press conferences to be prepared, costumes to be bought and dyed -and the list could go on - hands are getting short!

Due to their multiple competences, their engagement, their sensitive way of dealing with arising problems and their wholeheartedness, Viv, Klaus, our "in house" reporters, and Mihaela are becoming more indispensable every day and are being solicited for other tasks, thus missing for the blog.

Viv is now in charge of running the music all through the rehearsals, again and again, back and forward, following Josef´s instructions (most of the time...) 6 hours a day, thereby missing the opportunity to comment the rehearsals´progress from the "visitors´bench".
In the meantime, Klaus and Mihaela (who both renounced their summer vacation!) are standing around the youngsters to make sure that they are behaving, concentrating and keeping quiet while other groups are rehearsing. Besides, they are around the kids at the Neghinita centre until late at night -and throughout it- keeping an eye on them and organizing games for the small ones, basket ball outing and creative activities for all until they are "willing" to drop dead into bed.......

(Sh)..It happens...

Diese Woche, die dritte Woche mit intensivem Tanztraining für die Feuervogel-Aufführung hat bislang mehr Probleme gebracht, als die vorhergehenden.

Wir haben den Verlust eines Portmonnaies in den Straßen von Bukarest, von ein paar Mobiltelefonen sowie einiger Teilnehmer zu beklagen. Etliche fot selbst verschuldete Wehwehchen und leichte Verletzungen setzen der Tanzgruppe und dem Leitungsteam zu.

Organisatorisch und logistisch gibt es einige Klippen zu umschiffen.

Bei alledem rückt die ganze Gruppe jedoch immer näher zusammen.

Die "Kleingruppen nach Herkunft" verlieren an Bedeutung: Feuervogel Anna-Maria schwimmt rührend bekümmert stundenlang mit unseren Nesthäkchen, Marianna aus Sibiu und Christina aus Bukarest, mit Gabi (10 Jahre), der die 3 Stunden Anreise aus seinem Heimatort allein im Bus bewältigt hat. Der Tänzer, Sänger, Musiker, Basketballer und und und ... George kümmert sich immer um die anderen, denen es schlecht geht, oder denen die Zeit lang wird.


Die Jugendlichen verlieren beim Tanzen die Hemmungen voreinander. Offensichtlich fühlen sie sich in ihren Körpern wohl, wenn sie tanzen. Bewegungen, die ihnen anfangs noch peinlich schienen, vollziehen sie jetzt mit Anmut und Vergnügen.

Immer häufiger bilden sich in den Pausen gemischte Gruppen und wir bekommen nach dem Training Besuch aus Bukarest.

Hier wächst, um die Widerstände herum, richtig etwas zusammen. Das ist schön. Das sollte man unterstützen!

Klaus

Only potential here

How talented they are - arresting singing voices; an impressive ability to pick up a guitar and transport us; gifted actors who move us to tears and adopt the role so completely they move themselves to tears that continue after the role play; excellent volley ball players; fine swimmers. Many are gifted with an empathy and insight beyond their years no doubt born out of adversity. One of the girls knows she wants to study psychology.

But it is not what they do but who they are that shines through. I see resilient and courageous personalities amongst them who have confronted unimaginable problems and won through. I see a combination of vulnerability and spirit such as you find in young people anywhere. I see an ability to party second to none.

There is a marked lack of cynicism and absence of boredom The youngsters seem uncomplaining and undemanding and accepting of whatever happens. They have an ability to enjoy simple things and to appreciate what they have. They are cheerful and affectionate. Maybe these are exceptional and stimulating circumstances for them but nevertheless I feel it could be true anyway. Monique may have a view about that

I simply don't find the "difficult children" I was expecting to meet. Could it be that the Firebird has such an impact on them after only two weeks of training?

Viv

Viv & Klaus, our most assiduous observers and bloggers

Amazing Grace

I love this song anyway but today it has a special resonance. Georgiu and Nico were singing it together - they have beautiful voices - and playing the guitar last night in the centre. Josef heard them and this morning played an amazingly moving version during the training session - without comment. Such is the nature of the rapport that has been established with these - others might call "difficult" -youngsters.

It is by the "amazing grace" of Monique's vision that these young people by participating in the project have suddenly become the privileged ones. Sadly one of the company has left the project unable to resist to what he calls his "freedom". He is back on the streets. Before he went, half a dozen or so of his friends came to see what the project was all about, ready, I suspect, to disrupt the process. But instead they were asking to join in. Sadly too late for it be possible.

Viv

Korrespondenz

Der Choreograph, Josef, und seine Assistenten haben mittlerweile eine eigenartige, teilweise unglaubliche Verbindung zur Gruppe und umgekehrt. Gestern war es so deutlich zu sehen, wie bisher noch nicht:

Josef "bastelte" zur Musik vor der Gruppe an einem neuen Bewegungsablauf. Schließlich improvisierte er ihn vor der Hälfte der Gruppe zur Musik. - Und wie von Geisterhand geführt, bewegten sich 50 Kinder synchron mit ihrem Lehrer, ohne es je zuvor geübt oder auch nur gesehen zu haben. Ganz erstaunlich!

Heute fand die Korresdondenz eine sehr schöne Fortsetzung: Nachdem die Jugendlichen an den Abenden öfters "amazing grace" begleitet von der Gitarre musiziert haben, hat Josef das aufgegriffen und heute in die Aufwärm- und Sammlungsphase integriert. "I love this song!"

It´s just great!!!

Klaus

Gleichgewicht

Die Jugendlichen lernen hier tänzerisch viel über ihren Körper und wie sie ihn im Gleichgewicht halten können. Aber sie lernen viel mehr über Gleichgewicht und Balance:

Oft sind die Dinge erst über ihr Gegenteil erfahr- und begreifbar. - Es ist schwer zu sagen, was "gesund" ist, wenn man "krank" nicht kennt.

Diesen Zusammenhang der Gegensätze bringen Josef, Martha und Irina den Kindern (unter der Hand) bei. Sie erfahren, was Ruhe und Unruhe, was Sammlung und Zerstreuung, was "sich-gehen-lassen" und innehalten ist, indem sie diese unmittlebar nebeneinander praktizieren. In einer rhythmischen Sequenz schneidet das Gesicht Fratzen, in der nächsten ist es reglos...

So lernen die Jugendlichen nicht nur die gegensätzlichen Verhaltensweisen besser kennen, sonder erfahren sich darüber hinaus als deren Ursache: Sie sind willentlich und bewußt Täter des TUNS UND des LASSENS.

Gleichgewicht ist eben die Ausgewogenheit von zwei entgegengesetzten Seiten um das richtige Zentrum.


Leider ist einer unsere jugen Menschen nicht mehr dabei. Er hat auch im zweiten Anlauf den Gegengewichten zum Tanzen, die ihn sonstwohin ziehen, nicht standhalten können. Hoffentlich findet er eines Tages irgendwie sein Gleichgewicht!

Klaus

Respect and patience

Respect for the creative process. The ability to change in a second from one mood to another - from rigourous, concentrated training to relaxation, fun and laughter and - back again to focus; respect for the energy of sound and rhythm; respect for the space around you not only to find your own space on the dance floor but also to value the space around you in nature- not to leave litter in beautiful places-or anywhere. (Inside and outside the sports hall. Now the black bags are full and there is no litter to be seen anywhere!) One person can influence those around by example. Respect the planet - treat it as your best friend. Respect your peers- don't turn up your nose and consider yourself superior if the luck of the draw partners you with someone slow. Each and everyone has something to teach the others but to learn that lesson, you have to be strong in yourself. The challenge is always to be strong enough: on the stage to be strong in movement, to be strong enough to behave well, to be strong enough to stand alone.

Josef seems to welcome the not-so-good moments as an opportunity to explore such issues. Respect, of course, too for the choreographer, whose energies create the whole. It is disrespectful to him to arrive late and to seek to control the space in the theatre by bad behaviour.

It is hard to be on the side and just watch when others are rehearsing. But there is a way of waiting that does not allow your energy to drop and keeps you engaged with the process and development of the whole. From the wings you then still participate, seeing how the choreographer works, getting to know the music, learning from the work of your peers. A disengaged spectator makes life harder for everyone.

Every day, aware of your own mistakes, be looking to improve your performance so that every day a higher standard overall is achieved. The quality of your work comes from inside you and your ability to feel. Now half-way through the process, everyone realises what hard work is expected - on the one hand physically and on the other thinking, remembering, concentrating...

In life there is always a choice in what one does and what one does not do.

Viv

Inner strength

Every day the youngsters are learning to bring themselves to inner stillness and focus more quickly. Whoever had not seen this would not think it possible to see this colourful mass of beings - all ages, sizes and abilities - standing stock still on command, eager, so eager. You can hear a needle drop. Straining to grow in height and in character, finding out what they can achieve physically, who they are. Learning not to look around, not to be conscious of the others around them but to stay within themselves, to be alone. To be strong alone. Yet to support each other to concentrate. To play their part in the group. Each member of the group has a unique and vital energy to give. No-one should feel they are better or worse than anyone else. Focus, energy, effort.
A privilege to witness.

A dream team of choreographers Josef the master of charm - patient and passionate. Martha, Irina, Oana and Iris correcting the movements, supporting the children, giving them confidence - beautiful and fabulous role models:
Oana and Irina taking turns to translate Josef's English into Romanian; signing happening too simultaneously for our hearing impaired youngsters.
Viv
Animated half hour chat between hearing and hearing impaired artists during a break

By the way, Alexandra, Ana, Cristina, Madalina and Ana-Maria form Sf Maria school for hearing impaired are among our most attentive and concentrated participants. Two of them do not hear at all, the three others have a device and hear a liitle bit. After the second day of rehearsal they disclosed their first impressions to me:
"this kind of dance is new to us. We had already done pop, modern dance, gym, but this is different... a kind of mixture of all and....quite tiring. We follow Josef´s indications by looking at our teachers who translate them for us. The rest we do by imitation watching carefully what the others do."
Their concentration, their rapidity to adapt and execute new movements, their grace and against all expectations their boldness and confidence in others struck me when from the very first day when Josef was looking for volunteers to be heaved up by their peers above their own heads: Madalina and Ana-Maria seized the occasion and proved to be much more relaxed and confident than the three other "lying statues". They certainly do have this inner strength which Josef is trying to develop in all of them!

Monique

Hungry to learn......ready to rest!

I was amazed to learn how some youngsters had made heroic efforts to be included in the project:

Marian, 13 years old, walked 30 kilometres with his mother to get here.
Gabi, 10 years old, alone, travelled for 4 hours by bus, leaving home at 5 am in order to meet the deadline of a 9.30 start.
Ana, 31, a "semi-resident" at House Sfintul Lazar, had in April expressed to Monique her wish of participating in the project.
Hearing that one of the conditions was to be a "permanent" resident at Concordia, she has remained off the street since then. She is now among the lucky ones and seems to be a different person altogether since the project started two weeks ago.

The value of punctuality appears another lesson learnt as no-one malingers after a break. Whereas at the beginning aches and pains were used to take time out, now there is only heart-rending disappointment if a genuine injury occurs. I am amazed how keen the very small children are, coping very well with the rigours of the 6 hour training and how much energy they have left at the end of the day!
well deserved rest for the prince

Let's not forget the heroic efforts behind the scenes. Monique , Alexandra and Ada are working tirelessly to organise that 114 children and youngsters are fed, watered, washed, transported, have clean clothes and so much more besides. The unbelievable amount of organisation means they -and many more around them, like Mircea, Virgil, Marian and our countless volunteers- work 24/7. Unbelievable.





Alexandra and Son Ltd





Viv

WAS geht...?!

Ihr wißt, welch bunt gemischten Haufen Jugendlicher wir hier haben. Josef weiß das ganz genau und sagt darum: "Konzentriert Euch auf das, was Euch verbindet, nicht auf das, was Euch unterscheidet!" Und unsere Jugendlichen sind wie alle Jugendlichen: Energisch, dynamisch, eitel, stolz, verletzlich - und unterschiedlich. Außerhalb des Trainings "quatschen" sie in Grüppchen, sie ziehen sich gegenseitig auf, sie machen Flick-Flack, spielen Basket- und Fußball, glotzen und hören auf die allgegenwärtigen Mobiltelefone.

Aus diesem Trubel holt Josef sie (trainigs-)täglich heraus: 10 -20 Minuten läßt er sie zur Ruhe kommen, indem er sie in die Stille einübt. Füße bar am Boden, stehen, atmen, schweigen. Sie sammeln sich auf ihr Inneres und ihren Körper; sie spüren, wie er sich mit ein oder zwei Füßen am Boden ausbalanciert. Völlige Stille!

Die gesammlte Energie lockert er dann mit tänzerisch-rhythmischer Dehnung, motorischer und muskulärer Stärkung. Über den Vormittag läßt er einfache und komplexere, immer rhythmische, motorische Übungen folgen, die in Richtung Choreographie deuten. Später folgen choreographische Elemente, die in der Gruppe oder mit Teilen erarbeitet werden. Am Ende steht das Ganze des Tages, als vorläufiges Resultat der Verbesserung der Individuen als Gruppe.

Dies alles dokumentiert Teddy mit seinem Team. Er hat die Individuen getroffen und begleitet nun, wie sie ihren Ort im Ganzen finden.


So wird das ganz und gar Erstaunliche (ich schrieb: wunderbar), das wir hier erleben dürfen, hoffentlich ein möglichst großes Publikum erreichen. Wir können für alle Bereiche viel von der Sammlung und Konzentration und dem, was sie ermöglichen lernen.
Es sieht gut aus! DAS geht!!! Klaus

Getting acquainted

A troupe is born

August 5th
One youngster, when asked how are you, replied „Good – no, not good great!“ Positive energy! Today the main roles are allocated, thrilling those chosen. Many criteria, other than aesthetic, enter into these artistic decisions, an unenviable task for Josef and Marta.

The lesson of self discipline is being assimilated. The value of silence, being able to choose whether you are silent or not - self containment and self control. The cast in the wings must remain engaged, watch and learn. Each must learn for himself, listen to the music, remember what he has been told and not wait to be told. To take responsibility for himself and for those those who find it more difficult. The baton of responsibility is passing from Josef to the youngsters. He directs. They must deliver. There is to be no compromise on inattention.

Thurs 6th
Incredible magical transformation. The professional troupe is born. Each giving individually of his best, silent when waiting, extended when dancing. Everyone feels the buzz. Viv

Wunder... gibt es immer wieder! by volunteer Klaus Gruber

Nun sind wir schon ein paar Tage in Bukarest - und erleben unsere blauen Wunder... Was Monique und "IF Magic" hier auf die Beine stellen und bereits gestellt haben, grenzt an ein Wunder. Die vielen (ehrenamtlichen) Helfer, hauptsächlich Rumänen, die unermüdlich logistische Meisterleistungen vollbringen, sind - wunder-bar; und das sind auch die Kinder und Jugendlichen!
Da arbeiten ungefähr 100 Kinder und Jugendliche zwischen 8 (der jüngste hatte gestern Geburtsatg und wurde entsprechend gefeiert) und 31Jahren zusammen. Einige aus Deutschland, einige aus Sibiu, einige aus Brasov, der Rest aus Bukarest; einige mit Down-Syndrom, einige taubstumm, einige anders behindert, der Rest gesund; ein paar von Gymnasien, ein paar von anderen Schulen, der Rest aus Heimen oder ähnlichen Einrichtungen. Eine sehr heterogene Gruppe, aus der heraus mir so gut wie nur positiv entgegengetreten wird - wunder-bar!

Die Choreographen, die diese Gruppe führen: Josef, mit (auch) bayerischem Charme, Geduld und Leidenschaft choreographiert; Martha, die mit ihren anmutig sprechenden Händen dirigiert, Irina, die unermüdlich verbessert und korrigiert; Oana, Prinzessin der Herzen, die die jungen Menschen wundersam wohlwollend unterstützt und dabei das Englische ins Rumänische parliert; das ist ein wunder-bares Team!

Und heute: Nachdem es an den letzten beiden Tagen immer auch mal ordentlich geholpert hatte, nach einigen deutlichen Worten auch, war die Gruppe heute gigantisch:
Extrem konzentriert, aufmerksam und voller gesammelter Energie praktizierten sie das Aufwärmen und die choreografischen Elemente. Sie sind unglaublich voran gekommen. Das war großartig.


Das eigentliche Wunder in meinen Augen war jedoch eine Stille.
Josef bat die Gruppe, jeder möge sich klarmachen ob er wirklich mitziehen wolle. Er tat das nach drei Stunden sehr anstrengendem und vor allem hochkonzentrierten und -diszipliniertem Training. Dann verließ er die Halle und meinte, sie sollen darüber ein paar Minuten mit geschlossenen Augen meditieren. Und da standen sie dann: 100 Jugendliche und Kinder (zum Großteil wohl "schwierig") standen nach diesem Morgen (es war inzwischen 14.00 Uhr) dort völlig gesammelt und still - wohl drei Minuten, in denen man eine Stecknadel hätte fallen hören.

Wer's nicht gesehen hat, wird es kaum glauben; wer's aber gesehen hat, der kann es als wunder-sam empfinden.
Wieviel Choreografie sie dann noch erarbeitet haben, schien bei aller Begeisterung beinahe folgerichtig zu sein.
Wie gesagt - es ist wunderbar!

Wer kann, sollte sich davon überzeugen, oder - auch gut - uns unterstützen. und helfen, die Budgetlücke zu schliessen. Vielleicht geschehen ja auch da noch Wunder?

Heroic efforts

Today the scale of the challenge becomes truly apparent. Some 120 bodies to train – small children and young adults; experienced dancers and the rhythmically challenged; many lithe bodies with natural grace and others having it all to learn and others again with physical difficulties to overcome. Some being deaf working through the medium of sign language. Each indistinguishable from the other in performance at the end of the day. The primordial lesson, as important as any dance movement, is hammered home-respect for others and for yourself. A requirement to concentrate fully in order to experience the joy of achieving your best. For this motley group to perform as one troupe, the prerequisite is a quasi professional commitment and dedication, which Josef and his team uncompromisingly demand and start to achieve. Viv

First impressions of Bucharest by volunteer Viv Trinder

The fast and furious pace of the traffic belting along the dual carriageway into the centre. There the surprisingly green avenues, the stray dogs, oblivious to the danger, venturing on to the streets. The beautiful grandeur of some of the old houses, quite reminiscent of Paris – as, too, the central avenues and the Arc de Triumf. The Soviet style Ceaucescu built Palace of Parliament. A tourist’s impressions. But I will have the privilege of not being a tourist, of glimpsing the real Romania, as a volunteer in this exciting project.

In Centrul Neghinita, a boarding school where the youngsters from Sibiu and the German party are staying, the friendliness and excitement, positive energy and lack of cynicism are to be wondered at after 6 hours of the first day’s rehearsal. The enthusiasm with which they told me about the first day in almost accentless English. A spontaneous display of break dance shows their limitless energy. Will they ever want to go to bed?

First rehearsal day successfully completed!

The last few days were loaded with unexpected and enormous obstacles, which one can hardly imagine and enough already to write a novel, but thanks to the extreme engagement of our team, we are overcoming most of them.

I have always thought that ADAPTABILITY and FLEXIBILITY are the two main qualities parents should provide with:well, I am happy to say that this has just proved to be true. Each and every member of the Firebird organizing team has undoubtedly received these precious qualities from home!

But the members of our team were lucky enough to have parents behind them and caring for them, although even so, it is not given to everybody to have these qualities; but what is much more astonishing and made us most happy on this first day was the adaptability of all our young artists, who for the most part have not had this chance in the first and most important part of their young life:

Imagine over a hundred youngsters between 8 and 31 from all different backgrounds, used to being overflown with music and noise but certainly not to remaining concentrated for more than a few minutes, suddenly being able to "focus" for more than 4 hours in a row with just half an hour of break. This is how it was on this first day thanks to the excellent start given by Josef with the magnificent support of Martha Hincapié, Irina Roncea and Oana Rotariu.


What a pleasure to witness the change on these kids´faces within a few hours. They arrived doubtful and sceptical at 9.30 and left happy and relaxed at 16.30. And that this change after just one single day of rehearsals was not just an impression proved itself after dinner. Suddenly the youngsters from Sibiu and Brasov living in the Neghinita Children´s centre hosting them were ONE single group: the atmosphere became much more relaxed, they did not stick to their friends any more, expressed their impressions at our evening gathering, joked, laughed and......guess what: dancing break!

A day like this is enough to make you feel that two years of work and preparations were worth it; and if you add to it that in the last three days we have been able to trace 5 of my "initial protégés" in the various children´s homes of Bucharest to give them the chance to join the "Firebird", to spend six weeks together with their former "brothers and sisters" and above all their "mother" Mihaela, who volunteered to run the actual home where we are staying thus renouncing to her only month of holiday,
then, what else do you want to be happy?

Monique

Getting acquainted with other Firebird artists

D-DAY!

Our "Firebird Artists" from Sibiu and Brasov heading for Bucharest!

Team is growing daily...

When I started the project 18 months ago, I was naive enough to think I could organize it by myself, without a coordinator!
Last August, Alexandra joined me to coordinate it in Bucharest. In the meantime we have entered the implementing phase of the firebird project and there are some twenty of us, part time or working round the clock, volunteers for the most part, involved in the organization.

Irina Roncea, Romanian choreographer and assistant to Josef for this project with our girls

I have to add that each day preceding the first rehearsal day brought its load of catastrophies, enough to make you despair to a point where you could only laugh. It started on Wednesday with the company supposed to deliver the food to our centre twice a day: they suddenly could not provide us with a car anymore. The food being prepared twenty kms away from Bucharest, it meant finding an immediate alternative.

On Thursday Alexandra had the brilliant idea (or was it a premonition?) of inquiring about the date of delivery of the water supposed to be supplied by another sponsoring company: the lady in charge had simply gone on holiday forgetting to leave instructions to anyone and to this day nobody seems to have been able to do anything about it. As a result, we are still waiting and had to buy "some": considering that Bucharest is an inferno at the moment and that 120 sweating kids are drinking some 4 liters of water a day, you can measure the dimension of our disarray.
But they have now promised to deliver it tomorrow.

On Friday it went on with the parket of the gym. Having a closer look at it we discovered that it had been fixed with some thousands of nails popping their heads out of it and promising us a lot of fun bandaging bleeding feet (rehearsals being bare foot). Dancing carpets for the entire gym -for some thousands of euros- would soon have been pierced through anyway; so, there was just one solution left: get all the rusted nails out and replace them ......with as many new screws. Two carpenters did a wonderful job in a 48 hours marathon. So we thought! But Josef did not quite share our opinion when entering the gym on Monday morning. So, off he went hammering and taping the floor until he had gotten rid of his anger and considered that he could start with the first rehearsal.

I sometimes wonder where Alexandra gets all her connections, volunteers and helpers from. No wonder she called her company "If Magic"!

After all this, how could we have been surprised when on Saturday we were told that BMW, our generous transportation sponsor had a technical problem with one of the busses supposed to fetch the kids from Sibiu and Brasov. But BMW is BMW and the busses started as scheduled!

"Mais à part ca - as the french song has it- tout va très bien, Madame la Marquise...tout va très bien, tout va très bien".......and anyway, we are now immune and happy to see the kids happy!

one by one, our volunteers and assistants are arriving in Bucharest