"Rotation" - International Youth Exchange 11 - 22 July 2007, Poland, Warsaw

The international Youth Exchange "Rotation" was a meeting of young artists based on dance and theatre activities. 11 days of integration and learning process through different kinds of workshops, group work, discussions and reflection meetings led to the final performance open to public. The main objective of the exchange was to get to know other people, other cultures and other artistic styles through the process of preparation to the show. The main idea was to provide the space for learning from each other and combining different techniques through dance and theatre workshops.

All participants worked on mutual performance, which was presented in a natural environment - the bank of the Vistula river. Nature and public was playing a huge role in the spectacle. They were becoming part of the stage design of the performance. That's why first part of the exchange was held at the lake near Warsaw, where part of the activities took place in nature. In Warsaw we opened workshops for public so that we were able to chose people who could play certain roles as a kind of stage design of the performance.

The participants were young people between 18-25 who dance contemporary dance as well as other styles. There were groups from Poland, Great Britain, Spain and Greece.

One piece has been prepared before the exchange as a process of preparation and integration.It was led by the leaders. I was made to one piece of music. The aim of this was to show different interpretation of the same music, discuss and reflect on the "lost in translation" topic.

There had been open workshops after which participants have chosen people who took part in the final performance. By that we wanted to create space for intercultural dialoognue between the group and public and involve the public into the process of intercultural learning. After open workshop public has been invited for the intercultural evening where we createed space also for their reflections, comments and ideas about working in European team.

Working on a European project which lead to mutual performance is a great opportunity to reflect on Europeanness and helps to understand how much depend on us and our attitude in the process of creating future Europe. Every European project provide the space for understanding better the idea of integration and European citizenship. But working and performing on one show strengthens the relationship among participants so that they feel more like one group not individuals. Mutual aim get people closer and make them feel as equal partners within the process of gaining common goal. The performance itself is a kind of metaphor of integration and gives the feeling of being one group of people - of Europeans - instead of representatives of European countries.

20 July 2007 at 20.30 - performance at the left bank of the river

The project was financed by the City of Warsaw and Youth in Action - Programme of European Commission. It had patronage of British Council and Greek Embassy.

Organizers: Agnieszka Wlazeł, Sylwia Kujawska