Final Performance. Part I: Performance Rehearsals

One of the simultaneously most exciting and stressful times of our coaching in Za'atri camp was the practice period for the final performance.

We started intense preparations and rehearsing a week before the actual performance. With the older boys we managed to even do a little choreography. Our intro was dynamic acrobatics moves done by all the performers coming one by one from the left and right side of the “stage”. After that individual performances came in a certain order. The end was impressive too – a huge pyramid and loud, excited bows.

With the second group we aimed to show only individual performances because the younger boys were not so much into planning their tricks and the order of performance. Most of them had different tricks each practice time. It would probably take us whole coaching period to organise the boys for a properly choreographed performance (I am only partly writing that as a joke!)

The main complications were that you never know who will come next day and who will not and the language barrier is really important. Finally, do you want to try keeping young boys organised and disciplined? Good luck! :)

Diablo performance. Photo by Antti

On the final rehearsing day the older guys exploded the whole tent with their excitement! They were all around the place, singing loudly, clapping hands and bouncing. It was so loud that nearby neighbours came to complain about the noise. As our translator Anwar said: “It is too late to stop it”.

The rush of bursting feelings slowed only at the end of the class. I was asking myself if I had ever see such excitement, support and cheerfulness from the heart of such a group of students? To top it all, these students are refugees whose country is at war. It just makes me feel proud about how honestly and openly they can express joy no matter what. Amazing.

My little performance at the ancient city Petra. Photo by Silja