She is a tourist looking for new emotions, who has found out the right way to get rid of stress. And only excess energy and volition to learn is required. Do not miss the advice of psychologist from Holland, who has found the right answer in a dancing room in Tirana. Nr. 1 advice: Learn Pogonishte!! And all Albanian dances, especially dances from Përmet. It always works with Bianca!
Almost every year, without exception, Bianca De Jong repeats the same holidays’ itinerary, as if it was a ritual or tradition, its rules could not be broken by her. Unlike ordinary tourists, divided between the coast and mountain, Dutch Amsterdam has no such dilemma. Her adventure aims elsewhere. Of course, not anywhere. Although her destination changes almost every summer, mainly in the Balkans Basin, it is primary for her to know new folklores. Especially body language part of them. Differently said: “a popular dances tourist”. And the 51 – year – old – woman from the land of tulips with a tall physic and a connected body has the required energy to face an experience like this. What’s more, after a stressful period in her everyday routine, it was just what she needed. Few, not to say nobody, chooses to spend two weeks of their summer holidays closed in a dancing room, in the third floor of Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Even less learning “Dance of bells“, “Dance of Librazhdi“ or “Dance of Kukësi“. For 51 – year – old, who has chosen this original way to enjoy the holidays “ala – Albanian“, this is not a sacrifice. Contrary! Learning Albanian dances is Bianca’s latest adventure, which has just begun. “It is the second year I return to Albania, to learn your popular dances. Until now I have learned choreography with motifs mainly from the south, but I still have much to learn”. And the volition to learn does not lack, but even the knowledge about folklore and the very critic eye, which helps her, analyze the female portrait. “I am really impressed from their diversity and features of movement. I was surprised by the female figure, which is very elegant in one region, but showing an admirable force in another. And it was just what strokes me more, without forgetting the wonderful sounds of the clarinet, which is an instrument I adore”, says the amateur of dances, who could easily be a professional. “I have studied ethnic dances since my early childhood. At age 13, for two years, I have been in a group of spectacles, who performed folklore festivals. At that time, these activities were considered modern in the Dutch youth. For me it was more than that. When I turned 17, I had studied much about Balkan dances, that they proposed me to give lectures. And that was what I did”. However, when it was time to go to university, the girl from a town in the middle of Amsterdam and Rotterdam took a practice decision; to study Psychology. “Dancing was very important for me, but to me it seemed impossible to feed myself with it. So I chose a safe job. It has been years that I am a children psychologist, but my spiritual salvations remain popular dances, mainly from the Balkans. When I dance, I transform into another person. I do not think about other stresses of life, contrary! There I turn into a passionate and loose woman”. To be convinced to her metamorphosis, it is enough to watch her as she leads the dance “Down to the meadows” on top of her fingers, full of elegance and with a perfect mimic. Harmony in dance movement, clearly distinguishes her from the other amateur dancers. Because this unusual tourist, looking for popular creativity is not the only one. A group of 20 people mainly from Sweden, Netherlands, and Germany has come with her in Tirana. Just like Bianca, they travel every year in the Balkans, from one country in another. Therefore, as soon as they heard on the existence of a seminar about Albanian popular dance and creativity, they did not hesitate to sign themselves up, not letting that opportunity to escape. Initiative of this activity, which is organized for the second time in the capital city, has been taken by a Dutchman called Cees Hillebrand, who, after had studied for years Albanian motifs, decided to share his experience with people who had the same passion. A very great passion, which grows up its dose every year, in Bianca’s case.
Dressed with casual creepers, Mrs. De Jong goes 2 times a day in the dancing room, where she passes the greatest part of the day. And without worrying about what happens behind that door. At last, she has been taught this routine since her childhood. “I have been in contact with your motifs since I was a teenager, when a group from Kosovo performed a festival at us. But during the lessons I learned the dances from south, which are my favorite. Especially Përmet dances. However I might change my mind after I learn others “ says the 51 – year – old, who has learned 7 dances for only 2 days, as she waits eagerness to be part of a regional festival in Lepush, somewhere over Shkodra city. “It is a very important activity for me, mainly because it saves the tradition, something that does not happen in my country”. But her enthusiasm becomes greater when she remembers the lectures about popular dressing or the impatience to learn the polyphonic song of Labëria. However, until that day comes, Bianca De Jong’s curiosity sometimes gets out of the dancing room. She does not let any chance to know Tirana and the people around. With its people, known or bystander, she has created a good relationship, which she has not found in any of her Balkan journeys, pursuant to dance …
