BRIDGES - Dances and shows from around the world
The party in Florence, sponsored by the EU Project Bridges, was superbly organized and brought together more than 250 people in the parish of San Donato in Polverosa on January 18th. The event, entitled "Dances and Shows from around the World", was prepared and co-designed by the Italian association AICS in collaboration with 20 other associations for over a month.
Peruvian dancers in their colourful dresses moved to the rhythm of the spectators as well as Asian dancers from Sri Lanka, who made their costumes with rattles jingle. In addition, Senegalese percussion, typical Florentine songs and Italian dances from the Renaissance period animated the entire audience to dance. And finally, interactive games with the spectators, which showed that there are no limits to curiosity and that ethnic origin is not an obstacle but useful for getting to know each other.
The event has become a real celebration of cultures. Volunteers and organisers presented the objectives of the project to the audience: Reduce xenophobia, cultural barriers and social divisions and promote community cohesion. The focus was on the audience, who took part in the dances, applauded and clapped rhythmically, and accompanied the colourful parade in their typical dresses.
Among the visitors was Cristiano Balli, the Mayor of the 5th district of Florence, and Fabio Fanfani, the Philippine Consul and Dean of the Consulate in Florence. Both attested the event an extremely high and positive value, which aims to promote the encounter between people from different countries in a close living together.
The 20 associations that organized the festival with AICS were "Piazza San Donato", "Teatro del Legame", "Colombia ES", "SMS Rifredi", "Insieme per Brozzi", "Laboratorio Permanente per la Pace di Rifredi", "SMS Peretola", "Viva El Perù", "Associazione dei Senegalesi di Firenze e Circondario", "Confederazione Regionale della Comunità Filippina", "'Confederazione Regionale della Comunità Filippina in Tuscany', 'Sin Fronteras', 'Libera Associazione dello Sri Lanka in Tuscany', 'Centro Età Libera Il Tabernacolo "Zero-Zero Firenze 5 onlus", the church "San Donato in Polverosa", "Il Colle", "Novoli Bene Comune", "Rete di Solidarietà Q5", "La Scena Muta" and "La Nuova Pippolese".
The next Bridges date in Florence is already fixed. The Bridges Carnival will take place on 22 February. Information about the events in Florence can be found on Facebook @Bridges-project-europeo-aics-accommodate-solidarity-florence and at www.bridges-project.eu.