The July Training — Latvia

Greetings from The July Training where we learnt about inclusion, expression, failure, clowning, and so much more in the midst of Latvian fields and woods!

During these 7 days, we stayed in tents and enjoyed every activity and learning process outside, which created an extraordinary environment. Our trainers Linda and Marco planned a wonderful program during which we learnt by discussing and sharing, creating and moving, and performing and observing.

The aim of the training course was to explore ways of expression through creativity, emotions, and authentic human contact. We delved into everything; from drawing and mapping our inner landscape, contact improvisation and a lot of movement, connection to nature, to performing and clowning. We prepared various performances with authentic movement, closely connected to emotions, and even a theatre of imagery and theatre of the oppressed. Furthermore, each morning, we started with 10 Minutes of Failure where we practiced any activity that we were bad at and throughout this experience, we realized the high value of being able to try, fail, and try again and to see failure as something we wanted to achieve in order to learn. 

As for the last day, we were able to practice our clowning, moving, and failing skills at the annual Wine Festival happening in Sabile, which takes pride in their most northern vineyard in Europe, even listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Moreover, I cannot omit the fact that at this training, the food was absolutely delicious. We enjoyed fully balanced vegetarian meals with most of the recipes having a great story behind them and also being a representation of Latvian cuisine. We had the opportunity to try typical Aukstā Zupa (cold beetroot soup), Rupjmaize (a traditional dark bread made from rye), and a lot of kartupeļi (potatoes) as Latvians consider them a staple food and themselves as big potato lovers.

Throughout this week, we dived deep into our inner selves, we shared movement with each other, we performed and found our inner clowns, we stepped out of our comfort zones. And we connected it all to youth work and how to apply these techniques to build a safe, nourishing, and impactful environment for them.

Thanks to Radi Vidi Pats and the trainers who created such an inspirational project and to the participants for very coactive and synergic group full of sharing experience and creating together.

#ErasmusPlusLV#TheJulyTraining#JSPA

Terezie M.