Louise Jardine - July to August 2009

Louise Jardine: louise_jardine@yahoo.co.uk

I worked with Ballet de Santa Teresa. My placement was funded by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust because it was the main part of a research project I’ve been working on. The research project was closely linked to my job in London – I’m Projects Manager for Laban, a dance training institution offering degrees in dance. I also work with community groups and primary/secondary schools delivering dance and combined arts projects and I teach dance.

I taught contemporary dance classes to students at BST. I also taught some choreography classes and supported outings to places of cultural significance so the children and young people learnt more about the city they live in and their history. I supported Vania’s ballet classes and some of the techniques, styles and phrases the children learnt and created with me will be used in the school’s end of year show.

Please ensure volunteers on this placement speak Portuguese at elementary+ level. It would be very hard to contribute meaningfully to the work of the school without any Portuguese language skills.

Iko Poran had my CV and knew of my interest in working with a dance organization before I arrived in Brazil. This, combined with my own initiative (I prepared lessons, resources, researched dance education and community arts in Brazil etc before I left the UK) enabled me to contribute to the work of the school. I really feel that organizations hosting volunteers aren’t always getting the support they deserve due to a lack of preparation.

4 or 5 weeks is a very short time and I think it’s unrealistic to think a volunteer can contribute without better preparation before arriving in Brazil. Schedules could often be arranged via email so that work can begin straight away. I feel that with a few days to acclimatize to a new place, it would be far more beneficial to everyone if volunteer’s skills were put to better use quicker.

I had the most incredible time with BST and really hope that I helped and supported BST as much as they inspired me. I tried hard to contribute and fit into the schools ways and structures and would advise any future volunteer to do the same. My advice would be to listen a lot and to remember that we are there for them, not the other way around.

My experience has encouraged me in my own work and was certainly a challenge! I would volunteer again but I think I would only do so for a longer time period (6 months minimum).

I would also add that the best volunteers I met in Brazil were self motivated, resourceful, creative and independent. The experience would not suit someone who needs to be looked after.

I hope this is constructive and thank you for everything you did to help me work with BST.