Salamaleque Comes to India

Salamaleque Comes to India

Don Bosco Balprafulta in collaboration with St. Dominic Savio High School Andheri & Salamaleque Dance Company Germany, organized a week long Dance therapy sessions with children from the Night School ,Boarding , Tribal children in Khopoli & Childrens' Home .

Mrs. Heidi Rehse (Director of Salamaleque) said "Salamaleque is known particularly for its high artistic standards as well as for its work in the field of Community dance, working with people in different situations: children and young people excluded from mainstream education, street kids, the displaced, people with disability, women and men in prisons, marginalized communities or divided by cultural, social or religious circumstances. A dance project is able to give the opportunity to transform, through the medium of dance and theatre, their view of themselves, their abilities and their potential. And to change where necessary the way in which others view and judge them. Salamaleque is convinced that dance and specially performance can transform the lives of people and communities: supporting and encouraging comprehension, cohesion, sympathy and dialogue. An important aim is to create a basis, on which the work can be continued and its positive effects established and developed as an important element of community life."

An Extensive workshop with 100 children from different projects included Children's Yoga, Dance Games, Movement Therapy, Expressive performances & Dance steps. A special performance on violence called Abaatoora was taught to express the feelings of violence & anger. A hip-hop session & Michael Jackson dance numbers left the children with joyful experiences. Followed by snacks a general discussion was done with the groups to understand their feelings about dance skills, chosen theme songs, yoga & what interests them the most.

Dance movement therapy classes will be conducted by trained teachers of Salamaleque in the evenings. Different methodologies & dance techniques will be chosen according to the need of the groups. Don Bosco Balprafulta & St. Dominic Savio High School's main aim is to help these vulnerable children express themselves through various art methods & strengthen academic study & help children pickup skills besides making learning fun.