CHIBOW researcher, Oskars Gruziņš, discovers a one-of-a-kind photo of immeasurable importance to the
On March 25th, the people of the Baltic countries commemorated one of the most tragic moments in their history. 70 years ago, on March 25th 1949, tens of thousands of innocent people were loaded into freight trains meant for animals and were forcefully deported to forced-settlements and GULAG prison camps in the depths of the Soviet Union. In one day, nearly 100 thousand people were deported from the three Baltic countries, of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. In Latvia, on this one day, the communist regime deported more than 42 thousand people, or 2.5% of its population; many of whom would never return. Yet, as this was a secret operation, it was strictly forbidden to photograph the event and
In 2014, Darrel was invited by the Austrian Embassy, to work with the Kosovo National Ballet. Upon arrival in Pristina, and after speaking to some of the dancers, he realised that he had to change course, and use the wartime survival stories from their child-hood. He created YOUR STORIES, MY STORY as a dance piece with documentary character. There was no choice. This was the beginning of a new chapter in his artistic and personal life: the development of docu dance theatre. Approaching the various themes related to war, in particular gender-based violence, he wondered whether the children resulting from war-time rape; but here his queries were met with stony silence. The very people who had
