10 weeks already since our last performance!

"We", the organizers and volunteers of the Firebird, are regularly in contact with one another and with some of our artists, who occasionally send us a mail to give us the latest news. They seem to keep contact with other participants and are longing to see the "Firebird family" as they call it, again soon. They are looking forward to this opportunity when the premiere of the film takes place.
Unfortunately, we are still waiting for an answer from the Schott Edition, who deals with Srtrawinskij´s rights and is supposed to settle the price of the author´s rights to be paid for using Strawinskij´s music in the film. We presented the project to them six weeks ago but when we called them to inquire they answered us that they are overworked and that it might still last some time before we get an answer.

The future of the project, that is, the spreading of community dance in Romania partly depends on this decision: if the rights are very high, we will have to give up the publishing of the film, which we intended to use as pedagogical material to be shown in schools and institutions as incentive to make further projects in the spirit of the Firebird.
Besides, we count on the proceeds from the film´s sales to organize some workshops aiming at training dance teachers in community dance so that the concept can spread in various regions of Romania. Several institutions and schools have already shown their interest in similar projects.
At present time Tedy has already finished editing the movie about the performance and is working hard editing the "making of". We are all anxious to see the result!

In the meantime, here are a few more comments from our artists:

Ana wrote: "This project has changed my life. I have gained so much self confidence.....I don´t know how to express what I feel in my heart, but I am sure you can imagine....."


Gabi´s words: "It is only the third day, but I have already made many good friends. Sometimes I help them, and sometimes they help me. Dancing is not that difficult, but I am happy because we have a talented team and excellent teachers. Even when we make mistakes they help us to succeed. I am very impatient to get done with the rehearsals and to head for the theatre for the performance"

Gabi Draguti was not even 11 years old when he came to the project.
He is the little guy whom Klaus had already mentionned earlier in the blog, and whose parents had insisted for weeks to have him participate in the project and had asked to put him on the waiting list. When we called them to say that a participant had not shown up, they booked Gaby for a coach headinf for Bucharest at 5 o clock the next morning, without even knowing any of us or who would pick him up at the station after his four hour trip. He arrived at 9.30 a.m. and was brought straight to the gym. Gaby had had ballet for 3 years. He stepped in, four days after the beginning of the training, and adapted instantly, a charming little guy, very talented and friendly.

Unfortunately, 2 weeks later, all of a sudden and with no apparent reason, his parents decided that he was not happy, turned up in Bucharest and took him home, depriving him of a unique experience which he seemed to enjoy thoroughly.....

We experienced the same thing on three occasions during the project. Happy children, but dominant and sceptical parents, afraid that their children mix up with others whom they do not consider as reaching the standards they wish for them.
Their decision, but sad for the kids.........