The last weekend of July saw the end of the project called “The Beaming Project: A meeting of young Europeans and young Refugees, through art” , the finale was a dance show with the same title.

The choreographer Sophie Bulbulyan with the collaboration of Dimitra Svingou and the support of JRS organised the show. The french dance team DK-BEL in collaboration to “OXYGONO”-O2 NGO and the co-funding of the the European program Erasmus+, held dance workshops and a dance show. The show was the end product of the collaboration of young Europeans and young refugees working together at the workshops held in Greece from the 17th to the 31st of July 2017 in Greece. Their main aim has been to open a dialogue and exchange experiences through Art.

The show was held at the premises of JRS on Saturday 29th of July and two different venues in Athens one at the National Gardens and the other on Sunday 30th on Filopapou Hill.

These dance workshops provided the framework for teenagers from the ghetos of France and youngsters with special needs as well as teenagers from schools in Paris, France and Xanthi, Greece and teenage residents of two refugee shelters in Athens; one run by NOSTOS called XENIA TEENS and the other one run by PRAKSIS. The young people came close and worked together and really enjoyed it!

NOSTOS is happy to announce that three of our residents in XENIA TEENS a shelter for unaccompanied minor boys funded by UNHCR took part in all the activities of the project and another 7 participated in some workshops.

The participants enjoyed it very much and they were given the opportunity to socialise, dance, express themselves and get to know other youngsters of their age. They really bonded with the Greek dancer Eirini; she is a woman with a remarkable intent and drive. Eirini sitting on her wheelchair gave hope to both the participants and their escorts, she gave them strength to continue and to express themselves freely.

We hope to see more initiatives like this one in the future. Projects like this one shorten the distances between us, physical but social as well. They provide opportunities and build self esteem, participants have a chance to sharpen their skills and broaden their interests.

In the words of our teenage participants “dance is life” and ..”sometimes you can dance the meaning of life” but a point they all agree on is that “Dance is Dance ” and sometimes that is just enough!