Nineteen members of Omaruru youth group are finally taking a well-deserved rest after completing the first OYO Regional tour of 2008.
In just six days the group performed eleven shows to several audiences across the Otjozondjupa region. They also facilitated four screenings of OYO’s new film on teenage pregnancy — Five minutes of pleasure — and ran workshop sessions with AIDS Awareness Club members from five schools, as a well as the Osire Refugee Camp Aids Task Force.
“In many respects what community members see in the performances is just the tip of the iceberg,” explained OYO production assistant, Charmaine Jeja. “The 40 minute show of drama, dance and song was the product of some four weeks of rehearsals this year, not to mention those weeks that we spent working with the group last year.”
Fortunately, it appeared that time had been well spent with the group. In each of their performances they conveyed powerful messages without compromising their art. Highlights included a drama on the importance of HIV treatment, the life song, and a dance called “It Only Happened Once,”which was devised by the group themselves.
The group was also fortunate enough to have received expert training form Gerry Turvey – a contemporary dance instructor from the UK — who taught them the dance Your Life is Vital in January. This dance was literally brand new, having been created by Gerry and OYO staff members only a week before at the OYO staff training.
Every year, OYO organises four regional tours, each involving a different youth group. When the last of these tours ends, normally in July, work commences on the National Tour. Featuring 80 of the best performers from the regional tours the national tour gives committed young people from different youth groups the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from each another creating an impressive show. It also gives OYO a chance to assess the impact we have made on the youth groups.
So far the members of the Omaruru group are confident that they will be able to make the National tour. We are too.
