Kristina lives in Neukirchen in the Ore Mountains. The former archivist and case manager has travelled to numerous events as a volunteer for Chemnitz 2025. She also loves writing, which is why she came up with the idea of collecting the volunteers' experiences - the starting signal for the volunteer editorial team.
Chemnitz, 5 September 2024, 9 a.m., Hartmannfabrik. Dance-loving women over 60 are waiting patiently for admission to the second intensive workshop of the "Dancing Neighbours" project. Around 40 women and one man had registered. They have already completed a total of 90 training hours spread over 15 days. Training takes place weekly in three groups. The premises are provided by the Chemnitz Opera House, Kraftwerk e.V. and Volkssolidarität, Clausstraße area. Ms Terry Pedersen Pfeiffer, an experienced dance teacher, will supervise all three groups until - according to the plan - the hobby dancers perform at the opening event of the Capital of Culture year on 18 January 2025. The project is supported by three Japanese dance teachers.
Together with the head of the Generations team at Kulturhauptstadt gGmbH, Dr Alexandra Takats, the Japanese women have already made all the preparations for this first day of the workshop. The chairs needed for the exercises and the sound system are ready. The workshop can begin. We, my "volunteer colleague" and I, put the attendance lists to one side and simply join in the training. Dr Takats translates the exercise instructions from professional dancers Nami Kaigaishi and Sonoko Hashimoto into German. Of course, she also moves with the dancers. The amateur dancers and us volunteers are eager to get down to business. We follow the instructions and interesting explanations of the two Japanese dancers. Nami Kaigaishi's assistant, Mrs Sonoko Hashimoto, patiently helps one or the other with the correct posture. Sometimes she comments with a "Yes, good!" or "That's right." Some exercises work for me, others don't. What the heck. At 78, you have to struggle with coordination and balance. Memorising the sequence of steps is another challenge. I'm quite happy with my fitness level so far. I orientate myself on Terry Pedersen Pfeiffer when I work in Clausstraße or in the workshop today. I also keep an eye on dancers who can do it better than me. That helps. The main thing is that I move. Terry Petersen Pfeiffer stands by her colleagues.
12.00 o'clock. Lunch break. Instead of continuing to train, the women get changed. In a good mood, they head to the Schmidtbank Passage for an information event. Michal Sandor, former dancer and developer of the "Dancing Neighbours" project, advises us to take a breather. We volunteers use the break to hand out flyers for the September 2024 programme.
Unfortunately, the information event begins with very dramatic news. "Mourning for an employee of the European Youth Capital Lviv 2025 who died in a Russian missile attack", can be read the next day on the website of the Capital of Culture gGmbH. A black and white photo shows Yaryna Bazylevych. She was a project manager at the European Youth Capital "Lviv - European Youth Capital 2025". Colleagues from the Generations team at Chemnitz 2025 have had the opportunity to meet Yaryna several times over the past two years, including in Lviv. After a minute's silence, Dr Takats gives those present an overview of the key points and projects of the Capital of Culture process and the Generations team.
Michal Sandor follows with explanations of the group's planned appearance at the opening ceremony of the Capital of Culture year on 18 January 2025. In his likeable, humorous manner, he takes away the women's "fear" of performing and encourages them.
The third workshop with Yoko Ando in January 2025 will give the amateur dancers even more confidence. Michal Sandor gives a brief outlook on other dance projects in the year of the Capital of Culture. For example, the ballet director of Chemnitz Municipal Theatre, Ms Sadowska, is planning a centre for generations beyond 2025 in the spirit of sustainability. The involvement of dance enthusiasts from the Czech Republic is also being considered.
Together with Michal Sandor, Dr Takats thanked the trainer of all three groups - affectionately known as "Terry" by the participants - for her work to date. One participant joins in the words of thanks. Terry accepts the group's applause modestly but proudly. The first day of the September workshop comes to a successful end with a question and answer session. Dr Takats and the professional dancers are happy to take on board the participants' comments and suggestions. The women, and possibly also male dancers, will get a first feel for public performances on 8 October 2024. On the "Day of the Elderly", organised
organised by Bürgerhaus City e.V., there will be a public rehearsal of the group at Tietz from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm. So "Toi, toi, toi!", dear women, and also "Toi, toi, toi!", Gerd!
