| On
April 13th Downside Up organized a performance of the Larondina Dance
Company from the UK and a pair of Russian dancers with Down syndrome
from Voronezh. |
| The
audience of 500 people including parents and relatives of the children
with Down syndrome, employees of the social, medical and pedagogical
institutions who work with children with special needs, staff, trustees
and friends of Downside Up cheered enthusiastically a group of young
British dancers aged 14-25 with Down syndrome and Nastya and Andrei
from Voronezh.
|
| Ten
young dancers from the Larondina Dance company came to perform in
Moscow to proof by example that people with Down syndrome possess
potential to develop, thrive and lead fulfilling and interesting
lives and thus break the stereotypes surrounding people with special
needs in Russia.
The
Russian audience was especially moved by the performance of Russian
dancers who impressed by their elegance and grace.
|
| Looking
at the gracious moves of the dancers it was hard to imagine that
such easiness require years of diligent training and discipline.
The company's secret lies in the combination of the dancers' talents
and lack of any element of posturing. The unselfconscious dancers
won the most exhilarating applause from the audience.. |
| 
|
|
| We
believe the atendees could see with their own eyes that despite widespread
stereotyping children with Down syndrome can develop, learn, have
artistic talents, creativity and all the abilities to become a contributing
member of the society. 
|
| The
dancers were very impressed with the greeting they received from
the Moscow audience. We were especially happy to see our children
dancing at the stage together with the artists. We hope that they
will have an opportunity to learn to dance as well.
Downside
Up expresses its sincerest gratitude to the Moscow State Social
Univeristy for opening its Cultural Centre to our guests.
 .
|
