Large stage for 85 children

By Martina Hafner

These days, dozens of children romp through the Deutsche Oper, often so loud that the walls shake. 85 students between the ages of 7 and 13 are preparing for their big performance.

On Monday, July 3, 2023, they will show the play “Stolpern und Amazement” on the main stage. The whole thing is part of the State Ballet’s education program entitled “Tanz ist KLASSE!” Children from four Berlin elementary schools have been practicing for a year, and one group is supervised by ex-ballerina Kathlyn Pope. She calls into the studio: “Are you all warm? No? Then run two laps, go!” 27 children from the Nürtingen elementary school from different grade levels rush off, run in circles, laughing, noisily.

The theme they dance in the piece is called “Transitions”. Kathlyn Pope wrote down what the children came up with: “Things came up like: ‘from corn to popcorn’ or ‘from tree to apple’,” explains the dance teacher and choreographer. “Then I chose the right music and developed a piece with the children,” Pope continues.

You can clearly see the tree in the ballet hall, the children are piling up, little Paula (11) is standing on top and throwing down fruit with waving arms. The girl says, “It’s pretty shaky up there sometimes, but I trust my classmates to hold me.”

The eager commitment of the children already has a touching effect in the hall, even if it gets loud from time to time. That’s why Kathlyn Pope works a lot with image comparisons: “Stand as close together as sardines in a can! Wiggle like an octopus! Make a heart with your arms!”

Most of the children have no ballet experience, but they are very curious: “Can you show how you really dance? Here in the opera?” several kids shout at her. Pope briefly demonstrates a witch pose, the kids cheer!

A fairly grown-up student also plays along: Albanian-born Mario Sula (25) from Neukölln tells his story as a refugee off-screen on stage. His fate forms the central theme of the play: “I’m doing the 9th grade now so that I can start an apprenticeship. My high school diploma from my home country is not recognized here,” says Mario. He has a little duet with Paula and a small globe, the other students applaud here too.

You seem very proud to be on stage. 12-year-old Aymen says: “I’ve never been to the opera, taking part here, you don’t experience that every day!” told me that a lot of people would come to the performance.”

And Luise (10), a girl with red hair, adds: “I’m happy that I can be the center of attention here for once, I can rarely do that at school.” In the play, she’s allowed to swing a hockey stick like a sword , because the children also deal with serious topics such as war and peace.

Shortly before the premiere, the tension increases, says dance teacher Pope: “Now they are slowly realizing that things are getting serious. I’m quite satisfied and I hope that before the performance we’ll get the things right that aren’t working!