Romania: updates on the Spreading Campaign for You-Dance Project!
Other promotional activities and meetings with target group in Türkiye
The 2nd “You-Dance” TPM has been organized in Turkey!
On the 26th and 27th August 2024, the 2nd TPM Meeting for the “You-Dance” Erasmus Project took place in Karadeniz Ereğli, in Turkey. This 2 days TPM important meeting was hosted by ECEM Ballet School.
During the meeting, the Romanian, Italian and Turkish partners (Ipazia Production Srl, Borderline Danza and ECEM Ballet School) aligned their actions and plans, and provided updates on their actions implemented and on their respective contributions to the project. The project’s activities discussed were the Project Management (A1), the Research and Development Training tools (A2), the Dance-based intervention, Data collection and Material production (A3) and the Dissemination & Campaign dedicated to youngsters from risk areas, to migrants and to refugees (A4).
About the phase of the Project Management (A1), contracts, timesheets and invoices for expenditures from each national partner budget were analyzed in details, a regular check has been carried out and the quality assurance plan was regularly updated. It was important to check how each partner is properly spending their budget, according to their implemented tasks until now. Regarding the financial and administrative aspects, procedures and documents were verified in their implementation so that everything is in order and in line with the project GANTT.
On the Research and Development Training Tools phase (A2), nationals’ surveys collection and final updates for the final report were reviewed. Methods and deadlines for producing tutorials and collecting testimonials and interviews were established. The further translation of the 90 surveys produced in each partner country from the national into English language was planned (so that Borderline Danza can prepare a dedicated report), and the current composition of the national target groups was analyzed by each partner organization according to their national situation. The appropriate timing for starting “in-person” activities was discussed, along with the potential involvement of other Non-Governmental Organizations, institutions, or migrant Civil Society Organization players active at the local level in each partner country.
For the Dance-based interventions, data collection and material production (A3) phase, the focus was on the structure of the dance-based lessons in each partner country, including timing, length, teacher profile, and the type of locations where the courses can be organized. A new version of the A3 “Vademecum” will be sent to all partners and some video tutorials will be prepared and sent to all for better understanding how to structure each lesson and the exercises to be proposed to youngsters in each class.
For the last phase, the Dissemination & Campaign dedicated to youngsters from risk areas and to Refugees (A4), the actions included the social media promotion, updating the international project’s website with new articles (required to all partners) and branding the project for local community and stakeholders. New posts and articles were planned in project’s editorial calendar, and the status of the social media pages and the international project website was reviewed.
For the general organization of the project and next month’s planning, it should be pointed out that:
- the project’s general GANTT was updated considering the actual situation of the implementation of the actions in each country. The “shared open excel file”, available on the common Google Drive, was modified;
- the Project Management plan and Editorial calendar were update for all the partners;
- all the marketing material produced and disseminated for the YOU DANCE project was verified. This English material has been translated also in Italian, Romanian, Turkish, Arabic and Ukrainian language;
- the communications actions carried out in each partner country until now were reviewed, with a focus on need of proofs (screenshots, photos) for the next reporting phase.
Project’s information and communication campaign in Romania by Ipazia Production
Dance, inclusion and diversity: how dance-based interventions can be useful for integration
Learning how to express feelings and thoughts is traditionally not a subject formally addressed in schools. Free expression can take form in multiple ways, and arts are known to be a great mean for achieving it. To facilitate the inclusion and integration in society of teenagers and young adults in vulnerable situations, it can be important to encourage self-expression and to stimulate the development of social skills by creating safe spaces and fostering a sense of belonging and community. Dance, as an art, can offer tools to recognize, regulate and communicate emotions, and to connect people.
Among all the forms of art, dance also encompasses certain qualities of sports: its significance lies not only in the individual healthy lifestyle that it promotes (regular physical activity, cognitive flexibility and stress management, as examples) but also in the collective experience it provides. In fact, dance and various group sports share elements such as teamwork (through relational skills and cooperation) and values like empathy, cooperation and discipline.
Furthermore, creativity and communication are indispensable during the digital era, given the strong connection between young generations and the digital world – a relationship that, if not carefully managed, could hinder genuine creative and communicative abilities. Moreover, dance creates opportunities for personal interaction, enhances self-confidence and encourage self-expression, which are fundamental to establish interpersonal connections and to facilitate integration between members of the community.
For creation and expression, an environment rich in cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity can offer different stimuli, perspectives and opportunities for inclusion. It can unlock innovation through a variety of expressions and cultural exchanges, while also strengthening community bonds and reinforcing values like respect and equitable access.
The well-being of individuals is directly related to the effectiveness of implementing their capacities for social inclusion and integration. Adapting to new environments can be challenging; it requires mental flexibility, changes in behaviour, listening skills, tolerance, and the ability to deal continually with stress, uncertainty and anxiety. From a continuous learning perspective, finding spaces and ways to practice these capacities is essential.
“You Dance” Presentation event held in Bitonto (Italy)!
On August 9th 2024, BorderlineDanza hosted a presentation event for the “You-Dance” project in Bitonto, Puglia, specifically at Masseria Lama Balice.
The initiative was enthusiastically embraced by local participants who attentively listened to our project overview, watched the dance live performance, actively completed the provided questionnaires (A2 surveys) and then joined a common dinner at the “Masseria”, that was an opportunity to talk with people and local youngsters from Puglia Region about the “You Dance” project.
This occasion also offered to BorderlineDanza ETS the real opportunity to showcase a choreographic intervention through a performance by two Italian dancers. This intervention is born from the activities and choreographic modules of You-Dance project on anatomy, expressiveness, emotionality, the same work that we will do with participants as soon as they will start the project.
We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who joined us and supported the YOU-DANCE project in Bitonto (Puglia)!
We can’t wait to start dance-based activities, which will be carried in a “face to face” modality (in presence) starting from September 2024. Stay tuned and follow us also on “You-Dance” official social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for latest news and for new events and dance inclusive initiatives!
