at the end of the eigthies and beginning of the nineties i visited san fransisco and los angeles frequently. i saw a lot, i learnt a lot and i still enjoy what i was able to do there. it took time to develop and test ideas, to get projects realised and earn the confindence of many others to be bale to extend the scope of my work.
in the new performance gallery in san fransisco i attended a lecture by ann halprin, had a chance to talk to her and was influenced by her ideas. she told about her experiences attending an indian ceremony, where young members have to work very hard to secure the future of their tribe, each spring. young male members were connected by a ropes from the top of a tree to wooden pins in their breast muscles. by dancing they had to tighten the rope and pull as hard as they could, to break the top out of the tree. i had heard the story one day before ann halprins presentation from a good friend who had had the chance to attend a similar ceremony recently.
the ceremony was of great importance. failing to break the top out of the tree would mean a miserable year for the whole tribe. everyone being present was obliged to help and assist the dancers as much as they could and join in the rituals being performed at that moment. ann halprin showded the scar from the wound, inflicted begin hit with a piece of wood on her leg by an old indian woman, making very clear to her that those present had to help and assist the dancers and were not allowed to be simple visitors, watching some kind of amusement.
of course the work is accesible for those who are interested, for those who want to see and know what happened. but my projects are not about visitors, not about amusement, not about having a nice opening and a pleasant way to spend an evening. i am interested in active particpants, not in those who want to have their names mentioned, or those who think that being near the project is enough. being a participant means working, means acton, means cooperation, being a visitor is something else.
the fisherman in rotterdam has been realized in this way. the tulips will be realized in a similar way. the fisherman for istanbul will be a similar project. both these new projects, on which i am working 7 days a week, proceed well. both projects aim at involving many people, especially those learning and studying at professional schools. both projects aim, just like the existing fisherman, to show how talented young people can be, how they can inspire each other and wehat kind of results are possible. both projects are european projects, involving many countries.
for me dancing to break the top out of a tree is similar to allow young people to show their talents, to allow them to make clear what they can do and most of all to stimulate their selfconfidence. for me the situation in rotterdam, in holland and in the rest of europe is just as important. young people need good educations, need training in professional skills and urgently need occasions where they can show what they are able: that is good for them and that is good for society