Arriving at SIBA

....(the writer wishes to remain anonymous)

OMG this is awesome ...the landscape! I have never seen anything like it!! Clear blue sky!! It looks like fairytale land under me...mountains ,lakes, forests, colorful fields and then those villages full of thousands of red roofed houses!!  WOW
I am on my way to Austria Salzburg to be exact, Mozart , Mozart-KUGELS, the yummy chocolate balls I heard about and Sound of Music revisited!!!

How I wish Mom and Sis could see this....But most of all I can't wait for my 4 week ballet workshop SIBA, in Salzburg...
I am lost in daydreaming  as the stewardess sweeps my little table off...time to put our seat belts on, we are ready to land. This is my first trip to Europe!  We cheer the pilot for our safe landing!!! I MADE IT

Now I pray all my luggage got here o.k.....I probably brought too much stuff...dressy, cold and warm weather clothes,  tights and leotards galore!!!, laptop, shoes ect.  LOL!!  My costume for a possible solo performance at the Gala show at the end of the workshop is in an extra bag and  my pride and joy!!! My Mom slaved over it all by hand....only 10 pieces are selected by our artistic director Peter B. ..Cross my heart and hope to heaven I get one solo....then, while dancing I'll have to imagine I am a principal dancer of the NYCB  

Pass control, waiting for those bags to roll by ....SIGH !! all my stuff made it!!  Now I am nervous about being picked up as promised....after 25 hours of planes and airports I feel like a spacecadette and look awful   What if  I stand there lost  with not a word of German???  My hearts beats faster...then suddenly.....   there she is!!! With a huge smile!!! our director of the workshop, NILI   " Lauren"?? "  YES!!" We hugged and I said :" how did you recognize me so fast" and she said: " I saw your beautiful face and bearing"   I loved her the minute I saw her and  suddenly felt very safe....even her name Nili is sort of cool
 

SIBA - HOW IT ALL STARTED

 SIBA celebrates this year 10 years !!!
who would believe it ?
I would like to tell you how EDAS-SIBA ballet workshops started. and invite all past SIBA students to send us little stories about their experienceat the workshop...
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We are now celebrating our 10th ballet summer workshop in Salzburg, I would like to give you a general summery here:



More then 6,000 students already experienced SIBA
     More then 2000 ballet, point, repertoire, classes...
        More then 2000 Modern dance, Musical jazz, Nacho Duato, flamenco, tango, waltz & Neo-Classical  classes
               More then 50 top dance instructors ...
                    Our students come from more then 30 countries..
                         More then 200 students got a scholarship to SIBA ballet workshop..

More then 50 students received a contract with professional companies with the help of SIBA


SIBA - Salzburg International Ballet Workshop was meant to be a full year academy, The idea to start an academy was presented to me in April 2004, by Peter Breuer, director of the Salzburg Ballet, and Yehuda Maor, his assistant at the time.

After checking the circumstances in Salzburg and the possibilities for studio space and boarding rooms, I came up with the idea that a short term ballet workshop would suit the city of culture much more then a ballet academy.
Peter said: "there are no studios in Salzburg for a short time workshop", and Yehuda said: "In Festival time you will not be able to find any rooms for students.."

Being the stubborn person that I am, I could not accept their response. This was my first visit to Salzburg, and the city reminded me of Switzerland, and boarding schools jumped right to my head. A boarding school which will have for sure some sports facilities indoors, and enough rooms for students and in summer time will be vacant. I checked with my friend Birgit, and she immediately came up with the idea of Herz Jesu Gymnasium which is so conveniently located and has all the facilities we need.

However, I did not want to create "just another ballet workshop" on top of the thousands of existing such offers, so I was looking for a new concept.  Checking totally the market online, I came up with the best idea for SIBA - a workshop that will give the students an opportunity to live and breath as a professional company for one month.

It took 1 week to build a website, 2 months later, we had 67 students registered for SIBA 2004 ballet workshop, top teachers faculty, guest star Maya Plizetskaya, and we were on the go....

In this opportunity I would like to thank the directorate of Herz Jesu Gymnasium for their ever lasting support, care, and help, which enabled the success of SIBA.
Peter Breuer and all the our wonderful teachers whom I have the pleasure of working with.

So I say a big thank you to all of you !!!!
If you want to ask questions, feel free to write to me here... I will be happy for your remarks and comments