Jazz hands!

This dance move could have been a perfect ending for the fun week the participants in the Erasmus+ LLTA had in London at the end of May. But let’s start on Monday 23^rd:

After flying to London from Madrid and Athens the previous Sunday, a little group of youngsters and adults met at the beautiful gardens of Regent’s University, in Regents Park. Some biscuits and tea were waiting for them, as well as Patricia: a French professor whose real passion is mindfulness. Thus, she was the perfect guide to introduce them to this perspective of wellbeing, help them guide-meditate, and prove how music can be of help in one’s journey towards inner peace.

In the meantime, the transnational meeting was taking place in another classroom, where goals were checked and decisions were made regarding the next LLTA in Turin, as it will be taking place at the beginning of September, when classes at the different participant institutions will be bound to start. Hence, some anticipation was required to enjoy our summer holidays with everything organized and ready.

After both sessions, everybody met at the university canteen to enjoy some snack before going for a walk around the astonishing gardens that surrounds the facilities. Flowers had already bloomed, so their many colours amazed everyone except for those with allergies. Yet, nobody complained about the visit to Sherlock Holmes famous doorstep in their way to another colourful place: the National Gallery.

Tuesday was a joyfully day, as Professor Wolf was waiting for the participants to enchant them with several rhymes. The very first question was whether anybody considered themselves a nice singer, to which only silence followed. Hence, the expectations of having a successful singing lesson were not very high. Still, through practice, division in groups and lots of repetition; at the end of the workshop all voices were perfectly merging and forming a harmonic choir. Although it started to thunder outside so…, who knows!

Yet, the rain did not stop the participants from going into an adventure at the other side of the Thames after lunch: taking a stroll by the riverbank, they got to see the London Eye and Millennium Bridge pairing; the Tate Modern; and the HSN Belfast; right before crossing the Tower Bridge to round the Tower of London, pass by the skyscrapers at The City and end up admiring St. Paul’s great dome.

Wednesday was devoted to jazz. Professor Luna, one of our hosts, had prepared a fun reading scavenger’s hunt about various musicians and London clubs. The participants did not only learn about jazz culture in England but also practice their English comprehension skills, which brought together the goal of this Erasmus: languages (no matter the type) bring us together

Later on, Professor Laffy, who is a jazz music fanatic, demonstrated how emotions can be expressed through music, this specific style being the perfect means to accomplish such task. He played different versions of the same song, after which the participants discussed which they had liked the most and why, as well as which feeling each of them evoked. Despite living surrounded by music and its culture, it was mind-opening to reflect on the emotional aspect of this art.

Thursday 26^th was intended to be an active day, so the morning coffee and biscuits that welcomed the participants every morning at Regent’s University were of need. Leigh Tredger, a drama and dance professor, had prepare a full day of activities to introduce them into Laban Movement Analysis (LMA). This is a method and language to describe, visualize, interpret, and document human movement. However, her workshop was not theoretical at all, and yet they came out of it with a clear idea of the Laban Eight Efforts: wring, press, flick, dab, glide, float, punch, and slash. They interiorized all these efforts and expressed them along their peers in one of the building’s dance studios. Every one of the participants agreed: they felt refreshed, light…, in peace.

That afternoon, with their bodies filled with new energies, they wander around the British Museum admiring art pieces from all epochs and places, soaking on its enriching culture. They were so immersed in the explanations given by the accompanying staff that a security guard had to remind them three times the way out as they were closing: nobody wanted to leave.

Finally, the last day of the LLTA arrived, but there could have not been a better ending workshop: Professor Lecumberri was there to test the participants on their British music culture; but also taste, as there were some disagreements about who was the best: The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones. Through some perfectly organized games, the participants competed in two teams, matching bands with pictures, learning about each one of them, making a timeline, and recognizing their most famous songs. There was even a little bit of sing-along at the end! The prize: some chocolates and the possibility of singing Queen’s We are the champions.

That afternoon, another British icon was waiting for them at Camden Town, as you cannot visit that crazy maze of shops without taking a picture with Amy Winehouse’s statue. The last souvenirs were bought, and some fish and chips were enjoyed at a local pub. A very British ending to this marvellous adventure in London.