In December 2022, the Biosphere in Motion project was launched, a community project of artistic and environmental education aimed at bringing the community’s attention to the relationship with the environment, seen and told through the filter of a group of 15 children aged between 9 and 11, from primary classes of schools in Rasnov.
By discussing environmental issues from an artistic perspective, the children became aware of their role in imagining solutions to the climate crisis and could practice hope, responsibility, and solidarity.
Given that environmental education in schools was only taught within natural science classes and was often limited to explaining the greenhouse effect and the potentially disastrous consequences of global temperature rise, Biosphere in Motion created an artistic context for discussing environmental issues with children, which played an essential role in their involvement and in creating a new perspective on climate change.
The project engaged a group of children from the primary classes of Schools No. 2 and 3 in Râsnov to create a contemporary dance performance alongside three professional dancers and an environmental educator. Together with them, they collaborated to create the narrative and choreography of the show, and the set design was created by a visual artist from recycled materials.
The performance had three presentations in schools that involved the student spectators in a playful manner in dialogues about current challenges that directly affected them, such as the pollution of the Ghimbășel river, but also about the eco-responsibilities and eco-opportunities derived from the fact that Râșnov is located near protected areas.
Knowledge and introduction workshops into the world of dance and environmental education took place between December 5th and 16th at the Schubz Center in Râșnov, and the trainers were Anamaria Guguian, Oana Băluță, and Amar Romașcan (contemporary dance) and Luminița Tănăsie (environmental education), while rehearsals for the performance took place in January – February 2023.
Biosphere in Motion was created and implemented by the Biospheres initiative group, consisting of Anamaria Guguian, performer, choreographer, and founder of I Dance You, a movement education and dance therapy project, Luminița Tănăsie, environmental educator, communication, and education specialist, with 18 years of experience in nature conservation organizations and projects, and Oana Baluta, performer & artistic director for cultural associations, founder of Madira, a project supporting mother artists.
Media partners: Radio România Cultural, Kiss FM Brașov, IQads, Spotmedia, PRwave, Iqool, Happ.ro, clopotel.ro, suntparinte.ro, Biz Brașov, brasovstiri.ro, NewsBV, La pas prin Brașov, danielurda.ro, fwdBV, Qbebe.
The project is funded through the Fund for a Better Future in Communities, a program coordinated nationally by the Federation of Community Foundations in Romania – FFCR, funded by Lidl Romania and implemented locally by the Brasov Community Foundation.