Shiroi Hana and Art for Japan~27th March 2011

22^nd March 2011

Shiroi Hana [White Flowers] and Art for Japan

Performance dedicated for Japan tsunami relief by the Bornfree Art School

The March 11^th Earthquake and Tsunami has counted a death toll of 8928 according to the Japanese Police as is today. The number of the missing is up to 12,000. A total 3,19,000 people have taken refuge in 2,100 evacuation centers in 16 prefectures since more than 3 lahks housings were completely destroyed. 23,000 people were forced to evacuate from the threat of radioactive fallout from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

The Bornfree Art School will be performing Shiroi Hana (White Flower), 25 minute dance-theater about Hiroshima-Nagasaki atomic bombing, for the remembrance of tsunami tragedy in Japan. The Bornfree is a special school and performing group of artists which dedicate for the cause of working and street children. In 2008, the Bornfree had travelled to Japan and performed in Fukushima, Chiba and Tokyo, the earthquake hit areas. The school has been interacting with more than 5000 Japanese people and supported so far and we firmly believe that it is time for us to show our solidarity. 

Shiroi Hana~

Shiroi Hana was performed in the first Global conference for the Article 9, aiming to an abolition of armies in Tokyo in 2008. This production has been performed all over in India for the occasion of Peacebycycle, a peace cycle rally from Bangalore to the Wagha Border for the friendship of India and Pakistan.

We are performing on the occasion of World’s Theater Day on the 27^th of March 2011 at 4 pm at the Kala Soudha, Hannumanthnagar. Eleven Japanese women from the Team Peace Challenger will be visiting us and witnessing this occasion. They will report us the latest situation of the victims. We are aiming to collect money, blankets and clothes for the victims. The TPC will take a responsibility to reach money and things to the victims safely.

Titile; Shiroi Hana~White Flowers (25 minutes)

Time; 27^th March 2011 at 6pm, Kala Soudha, Hannumanthnagar ( near Anjayanappa Temple / Ramakrishana Ashram)

Script, Direction, Music and Film; John Devaraj

Choreography; Mioi Nakayama, Reshma Ravikanth, Anand Dhanakoti

I’m Homeless and Art for Japan~ Exhibition

John Devaraj, the Artistic Director of the Bornfree will be opening the gallery by the photographic and painting exhibition “I’m Homeless and Art for Japan” dedicated to tsunami victims for this occasion. I’m HOMELESS is the photographic exhibition of homeless across Japan, Cambodia, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic and India. Art for Japan is a series of paintings as a response to the Japan Tsunami to raise hope, relief and reconstruction. The inauguration will be at 4pm at the basement of K H Kalasoudha. All contributions will be handed over to them to forward it to the relief operations underway.

We are looking forward to your presence and contribution. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

John Devaraj                                Mioi Nakayama

The Bornfree Art School

21, 2^nd Cross, GH Layout, 3^rd Block East Jayanagar Bangalore 560011

Ph;9886306366 / 9886011830

johndevaraj@gmail.com, mioinakayama@bornfreeart.org

In solidarity

Dear Friends,

People of India have been showing consoles and solidarity for the victims of Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan. Yesterday the Bornfree Art School had organized the candle night to show solidarity for them. We were reported in every newspaper and tv. 

The Bornfree Art School had performed in Tokyo, Chiba and Fukushima in the year of 2008 for the occasion of Article 9 Peace conference. We have been supported by the tremendous number of Japanese people around 5000, therefore, we feel it very essential and necessary to show solidarity and remember this tragedy. We pray for those who are victimized. We hope Japan will recover as soon as possible and see the strengthen of the people.

Heiwa Zou Resha~Call for Artists and organizers

Heiwa Zou Resha {Peace Elephant Train}

Director; John Devaraj

Set in the beginning of the Second World War, it is about the plight of the zoo animals that have no way of protesting against an unnecessary war. When bombs are falling on Japan and there is no food for people. The Curator of the Nagoya Zoo is pleading for food for his animals in the Zoo. Instead of getting supplies, he is asked to shoot down the animals. He is questioned ‘Who is more important, human beings or animals? Indeed this is such a diabolical question. The lion, bears and cheetah are shot dead, two elephants die of starvation; and the curator is struggling to save the last two elephants. In 1945, two atomic bombs were thrown on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan was completely destroyed.

During the democratization process, thousands of children from Tokyo and all over Japan are asking for the elephants to be brought to their cities; which is impossible. The railway authorities respond by introducing a special train, from Tokyo to Nagoya called the Elephant train.

From India with love

Jawaharlal Nehru the then prime minister of India heard about this story and made a magnanimous gift to the children of Japan. He gave a baby Elephant, Indira as a present who walked the earth on the side of Japan for many years. Children of Asia will walk with India to Japan with the Heiwa Zou Resha………

Highlights of the Show;

1.      Wars and Children; Children are the first victims of war followed by women. There are 134 million working children in India. Every tenth Indian is a working child. Everything we use in our daily lives are products of child labour. India will surge forward only when we can spend all the money spent on defense towards education.

The narrative will also follow a chronology of events before, during and after the war bringing it to the contemporary world of nuclear wars and offer the Kempo Kyujo as the solution.

2.      Mother Nature; the story has a direct link to zoos and the protection of wild life in the wild and zoological gardens. It is very compelling and seeks the urgent sensitization of the world on the very delicate balance of life and the saving of endangered species The Tiger foremost now reduced to 1114 in India!

3.      Fantasy~Dance-theater in the fusion styles; this fantastic musical~ballet~ mime, and puppet theater about animals, mother earth war, peace, and need to protect our children will be performed in a circus~dance form with high energy. HZR encompasses high fantasy images, vibrant music, giant puppets, and a whole lot of fun involving the audiences. It will be put into lyrics and use every contemporary musical style combining modern rap, jazz, blues and heady reggae, using African, Indian drums, Zamponia, Andean flutes. The dance form will be contemporary, ballet, jazz, using elements of Kalaripayattu, Indian traditional martial art form, samba, native American dance forms.

Produced by the Bornfree Art School

The Bornfree Art School is a special school for working, street and bonded labour children. It aims to bring children of the streets back to the main stream of education and society through learning dance, music, theater, sculpting, painting, and film-making. The Bornfree is a social movement and has been producing a culture of liberation of children since 2005. 15 children has documented photographic proof of child labour rampant in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa in 2006. Photographs were submitted and discussed suo moto case to the United Nations and the Minister of Labour, Government of India in the parliament. The Bornfree also has been wokring on peace issues in order to bring out peace and friendship between India and Pakistan. The World Largest Love Letter ( as huge as the Chinaswamy Cricket stadium) written and painted by John Devaraj and children of the Bornfree had travelled all over India and crossed the Wagha Border. 100 million children of both countries had signed. In 2008, 35 members have achieved the Peacebycycle, 3000km-historic peace rally from Bangalore to the Wagha Border. We have collected 7000 peace and friendship letters from children of India to children of Pakistan. The school has been performing theatrical pieces about the issue of working children, peace, gender discrimination etc. Please look at www.bornfreeart.org and bornfreeart.blogspot.com

We want to raise the question of peace through fun and fantasy without even words. It will become a popular show as it involves animals and critical questions are raised through animals and fun.

Performance

by former working, street and bonded labour children

We are training children who come from the streets and working backgrounds, orphanage children and they are the main actors and dancers in the show.

Call for Artists and Organizers

Heiwa Zou Resha has to be supported, organized and performed by artists, students, and well-wishers. For the production, we need

1.      Actors

2.      Dancers; can dance in any style

3.      Choreographers; can choreograph dance pieces

4.      Musicians; who can perform lively at the show

5.      Costumers; costume design and manage costumes during the show

6.      Properteers; manage properties of the performance during the show

7.      Mask-Makers / Puppeteers

8.      Photographers; who can document the process and the show

9.      Backstage Supporters

10.  Coordinators; who can coordinate with artists and various children’s organizations

11.  Technicians ( Sound and Lights)

12.  Fundraisers; who can approach cooperates and individuals

Heiwa Zou Resha Tentative Schedule

Ø  October 2010~January 2011; Creation of Music / Recording

Ø  Rehearsal;

Monday to Sunday; At National College, Jayangar 6:30~8:30 pm ( Adults’ and Children’s sections)

Tuesday and Saturday; At Diviya Shanthi, Lingalargipuram 4:30~6:00 pm ( Children’s sections only)

Ø  Puppet-Making; at the Bornfree Studio, Narayan Nagar, off Kanakapura Rd

Ø  April; Intensive Trainings for artists

Ø  May; the 1^st Show in Bangalore, Chennai and other cities

Ø  August; Performance at Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and other 5 cities of Japan

Budget

		Particular	Details	Rs.
1	Production Cost	music recording	music studio rental (3 days )	50000
2			Editing Charge; 10 days	30000
3		music CD making ( incl. labeling, printing )	1000 copies	30000
4		Video DVD with the cover and printing	1000 copies	50000
5		Costumes	materials, stitching, designing charges, costumes guard robes, boxes ; 73 kinds of costumes ( approx.Rs.1000 per costume )	50000
6		Masks	rubber masks; Nos.50 X 2000	100000
7		property making	material cost, design and making cost etc	80000
8		music system	speaker, DVD player	7000
9	Rehearsal	rental charge	place rental charge Rs.100 X 100 days	10000
10		refreshments	30 people X 90 days X Rs.20	54000
11	Publicity	Book making	1000 copies, color, laminated	50000
12		poster printing	1000 copies, color	20000
13		flier printing	2000 copies	15000
14		Banner		10000
15	Logistics	transportation	bus pass / petrol ; Rs.50 X 30 X 100 days	150000
16		communication	Rs. 7000 X 3 months	21000
17		Coordinator	Rs.10,000 X 5 months	50000
18		Miscellaneous		3000
	TOTAL			780000

We request you to support the Heiwa Zou Resha, which will result in liberating children from toil. We request you to bring like-mind friends and families to make this production successful.

John Devaraj

Artistic Director

Bornfree Art School

Ph; 9886306366, 9886011830

www.bornfreeart.org

bornfreeart.blogspot.com

Heiwa Zou Resha~Peace Elephant Train Commenced!

ZOU RESHA-Elephant Train has started chugging ! It is a new theatrical dance production by the Bornfree Art School. It is based on the true story about the preciousness of animals's lives and peace during and after the Second World War in Japan and India.

In 1938, the four elephants were shifted to the Nagoya Zoo from Kinoshita Circus and they were so famous for performing in the zoo. By the time, Japan had started to occupy the Asian countries whereas the lives for the people were also under the threat by the bombing by the US Army. The Zoos were ordered to kill animals especially, ferocious ones like bears, cheetahs and elephants. Animals also had less amount of food and day by day the tension between the Army and Zoo rose up. The curator, Mr. Kitao tried to steal food for the army horses for the dear elephants. At the end of August 1945, after the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan was destroyed completely.

The  process of democratization, Japan had children's parliaments everywhere. Children of Tokyo had voiced that they wanted an elephant in the Tokyo Zoo! They learnt that they can see two elephants who survived in the wartime are still living in Nagoya. So, they went and pleaded to give them an elephant! But the elephant was too weak and thin to be shifted! One of children cried out....

The officials of Japan Railway got to know that children of Tokyo wanted to see an elephant, so they had arranged the express special train called "The Elephant Train"!

The then Prime Minister, Nehru got to know that children of Japan wanted an elephant having seen letters written by them. Nehru said, "Let's gift a baby elephant, and she shall be called Indira"! Two curators from Mysore had accompanied along with a baby elephant to Japan. On the way, children of Asia traveled with Indira and got on the Peace Elephant Train....

Bornfree Art School will present "Zou Resha-Elephant Train" in February 2011. It will be the puppet show with the style of contemporary dance, jazz, ballet, Indian classical dance and kalaripayattu (Indian martial arts) combined with gymnastic techniques performed by the professional and amatuer dancers, musicians, street and working children.

This is a collaborative production with Aichi Chorus for Children's Happiness and Peace, Nagoya. Mr. Fujimura and Ms. Yamaguchi along with other three members had visited us and helped John Devaraj conceptualize the Zou Resha in November 2010. Today it is the 1st day of music recording where more than 20 musicians have gathered.

We have musicians whose names are; John Devaraj, Iva from Chez Republic, Shilpa Kothakota, Arun Shiva G, Maria Ralph D, Ramachandran S, D. Charles, Steffie S.M.G, Alan B Rego, Endilong Longlongkumer, S. Sreejith, 5 children from the Bornfree.

We are looking forward to taking this production forward all over in India, Japan and Europe. Photos; http://picasaweb.google.com/bornfreeart/ZouResha#

Screening at Suchitra Film Society~18th December 2010

The Bornfree Art School 

in Collaboration with

Suchitra Film Society and Suchitra Balajagat

 presents 

Ananda ~ an Ode to Joy Haaku Lagge ~Santhoskakke

on Saturday the 18^th December 2010, at 3 pm

at the Suchitra Film Society, 

36 BV Karanth Road,9^th main, Banashankari, 2^nd stage, Bangalore

Looking forward to your participation in taking the campaign forward.

Ananda~ an Ode to joy, 

Directed by John Devaraj is a full length Kannada feature film produced and performed by freed working children of the Bornfree Art School. It profiles the lives of 20 children with over 500 child actors in it. A hundred birds and animals have lent their voices to create Ananda. The film has been shot in guerrilla style combining documentary and reenacting personal histories. Ananda raises a critical question of the issue of 134 million working children in India. Poverty and Illiteracy directly related to the defense and military expenses of India. Do we need the ‘Ahimsa’ of Mahatma Gandhi or the ‘Himsa’ of a war culture?  

Does India needs Pens or Guns? 

‘Ananda’ is aimed at the children and youth, as those who will bring about the urgently needed social transformation to produce a culture of peace against the dominant war culture of the world, which shamelessly toils  246 million children.

Children's Ode to Joy~the First Screening in India

One day before Children's Day, Ananda~an ode to joy has been released in India, having awaited eagerly. It was one-year long work by John Devaraj, who has directed the future film, focusing on peace and war culture through the issue of child labour. The 20 Bornfree kids have enacted their own life history. Above 30 media has come to report about the film and voice out their experiences. Many of the BF children have not seen the complete movie and finally they watched! They have enjoyed every scene that they saw. Kiran, 15 says the best part is the whole part.. We have also exhibited series of photographs of all scenes taken by Frida Shanthi. Frida says that first time she has felt that she was an artist, having seen her own photographs exhibited.Venkatesh says that he likes the scene where Durga is sharing a small amount of food with street children. Gowri says that she likes that Gayathri acts as her mother, who dies from the suffering of giving a birth to Gowri. Anand says that he learned a lot from the process of making a film and appreciates that all children acted so well. He also says that we all should keep on dreaming and acting.

On the 14th, November, we had the first public screening at Ragigudda Slum, J.P. Nagar with 200 slum residents. Ragi Gudda was the location where this film was shot at the very beginning. The Ragi Gudda is a very famous slum in Bangalore where the agitation by the residents have been set on fire when the Government tried to force them to leave their homes. Anand, Subramani and Murgesh come from this slum. The scene where Anand's father beats his child and wife has been shot in Anand's house and in this slum.


The Bornfree is now all set to screen this film wherever possible. Please do let us know if you are interested in screening this film in your premises; colleges, schools, cooperates, etc. Contact us by email; mioinakayama@bornfreeart.org or phone; 9886011830/9886306366. The film is to raise a question whether we want a gun or pen.....

Ananda~Press Conference~the first release of the film in India

We are pleased to announce that a biographical film about working and street children called "Ananda~an Ode to Joy" will be ever first released here in Bangalore. Children of the Bornfree will be present at the conference to talk about the film experiences and wishes about children of India before India Children's Day. Come and join us.

Date; 13th November, 2010

Time; 10:30 am onwards~

Venue: the Renukamba Theater, 18th Cross Malleswaram

Ananda~an Ode to Joy~Screening in Hiroshima

Ananda~an ode to Joy will be screened in Hiroshima.

Ananda~an Ode to Joy is a non-fiction biographical movie about working children, acted by former working and street children of Bornfree Art School. Anand is a boy who wishes to study, but his father forces him to work. He drops out of the school, starts roaming on the streets. Out of hunger, he steals bread, money, fianlly BULLETS from the factory! He is arrested by the police, but he qeustions "I have stolen bullets out of hunger, and i am called a robber! But listen, who on this earth is the most guilty of producing guns and bullets and make money?" His journey starts with this question.............Guns vs Pens. Come and watch it! Details; mioinakayama.blogspot.com

Time: 12, September 2010 at Shinshyugakuryou, Nishiku Hiroshima
        13:00~16:30

Ananda will be screened in India on the 14th of November 2010 for the first time.

Show red card to child labour on you tube

Dear friend
Bornfree Art school 

appeals to 

Show Red card to child labour

watch and pass on our latest just a minute film 

Show red card to child on youtube, watch it and pass it on!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSs-caQ3kA

Show Red Card to Child Labour

Show Red card to Child labour

11th June~11th July 2010

This is the time when the world’s greatest sporting cultural spectacle will take place. The World Football Cup~FIFA will begin from the 11^th June 2010 at Johannesburg, South Africa. Whereas the world is paying the highest attention to the fever of football matches, tinny hands are still used to stitch footballs. While there are existing laws for the prevention of child labour, its impact and control has yet to be seen. That is because civil society has not accepted child labour as crime. The FIFA and football provides the necessary condition for the urgently needed campaign impetus. Hence, we have conceived the idea of conducting Show Red Card to Child Labour Football Tournament as a parallax to the FIFA World Cup days.

Who is organizing?

The Bornfree Art School is organizing this campaign. The BF is a movement for the liberation of working children from toil. We have done the History Expedition to record the history of working children, wrote the World’s Largest Love Letter to children of Pakistan in 2006. We undertook the Peacebycycle, cycling 2800kms from Bangalore to the Wagha Border, collecting 7000 peace messages from Indian children to the children of Pakistan. The Bornfree Football Club, which is consisted of street and working children, will initiate and organize the RED CARD tournament

What is gonna happen?

11^th June; Inauguration at the same time of the first football match of the FIFA World Cup. There will be a dream parade of children with masks and puppets on the theme of celebrating childhood {Liberation Parade}.

12^th June; International Day against Child Labour;

Starting with a procession from Bal Bhavan to Kanteerava Stadium, football match, film screening, cultural events and Children’s Parliament will be organized. Debate on the issue of child labor, implementation on the RIGHT TO EDUCATION. Invitations are open to school children, youth, educationist, journalists, and more.

11^th June to 11^th July; Football Tournament

The tournament will be conducted in the North ~South ~West ~ East school play grounds in the city in the preliminary league rounds, in order to wide spread the campaign against child labour. The final knockout will take place in the Bangalore Central District. All teams are invited.

1^st to 30^th June; Cultural Festivals; Call for Participation

Invitations are open to school children, youth, all artists to express and exhibit on the theme of child labour under the below sections of arts. Deadline is 30^th of June. The results will be announced on the 11^th of July at the Closing Ceremony. Each winner will be given awards and mementos.

1．Film Festival; John Abraham Award for the best video film / Shafi Syed Award for best documentary                                                      

2．Sculpture and Painting Festival; Child of Michael Angelo award for best sculptor /

   Kathe Kollwitz award for best painter

3．Photography Festival; La Frida Bornfree Award for best photographer

4．Dace Festival; Marta Graham award for best group / Pina Bosch award for best story

5．Song / Music Festival; Bob Marley award for best band / Michel Jackson for best individual performance.                                        

6．Mime Festival; Sir Charles Chaplin award for best group / Marcel Marceau award for best individual actor

7．Essay and Poetry Festival; Anna Frank Award for best literary work

11^th July; Closing Ceremony; this one-month match is going to be closed along with the global campaign called One GOAL final match. Works of winners of each festival will be displayed / performed / screened. 

To participate....

Please contact us for more details by 

Email; bornfreeart@gmail.com, johndevaraj@gmail.com, narendranathv@gmail.com, sandeepviswanaath@gmail.com mioinakayama@gmail.com

Phones; 9886306366, 9886011830, 9740128128, 08022183275

http://www.bornfreeart.org, http://bornfreeart.blogspot.com