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Maršo - Chechen refugees dancing

Near the border of Chechnya and Ingushetia stood a refugee camp "Sputnik", full of people who fled the war in Chechnya. In 2000, Vacha Těmirchanov, reknowned choreographer before the war and now a refugee too, founded a children folklore dance group "Maršo" in the camp. Practicing in tents, without much finances, the children from the camp were nevertheless glad for a chance to do something in the bleak reality of a refugee camp. In 2002, Czech humanitarian agency "Berkat" learned during their projects in North Caucasus of Maršo, and decided to organize them a tour in the Czech republic. The children before had not performed abroad, and were delighted at the idea and practiced even more. January 2003, after long preparations prolonged by major floods, they arrived in Prague. Touring Prague, Brno, Zlín and Ostrava, the children had tremendous success, not only as exotic refugees but as great dancers. Making contact with local children, the project allowed for everybody to learn more about different cultures and the public to see that the Chechens are not just "all terrorists" as the Russian media proclaimed frequently. I was the the project's photographer. Sadly, Sputnik camp was forcibly disbanded in late 2004 in an effort of Russian government to show the world that with refugee camps gone, the situation in Chechnya can be said as "stabilised". Some people returned to rebuild the ruins back home (many without ever receiving the promised rebuilding finances), some left to find other means of staying in Ingushetia, fearing the return to a country that by no means was stabilised. But Vacha Těmirchanov is still training children somewhere there... will they be able to return?
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]
 [© František Vlček, 2000-2005]



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