TCDC has travelled to Bosnia to meet with dance activist Ashley Fargnoli and shoot film with dancers from the Genesis Sarajevo dance program. Our first day was spent with a class of ballet trained Bosnian girls (ages 11-13).  We filmed them in front of the central mosque, fine arts theater, cathedral and children’s memorial, performing beautiful movement that they choreographed based on their ideas of Sarajevo’s past present and future.  They did synchronized movement and partnering in duets and trios.  The girls were very excited to be filmed and were incredibly focused throughout the 4 hours of filming in the hot afternoon.  Then we all got lunch and icecream.  Later that day Robin, Ashley, Jake (our videographer) and I took the bus along the Neretva river to Mostar where Ashley lives.  We will be working with dancers in Mostar over the next few days.

Ashley Fargnoli is a dance instructor, choreographer and activist spreading dance as a means of reconciliation and rehabilitation in post-conflict countries.  She has worked in Kolkata, India with survivors of trafficking, with the Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and currently works with several groups of dancers in Mostar and Sarajevo leading local workshops, classes and performances.

More at: http://ashleyfargnoli.com