петък, 18 януари 2013 г.

“YOU CAN’T PREACH DEMOCRACY TO STARVING PEOPLE”

“YOU CAN’T PREACH DEMOCRACY TO STARVING PEOPLE”



Prof. Jay Halio is presently a visiting Fulbright lecturer at Sofia University. From 1955 to 1968 he taught American and British literature at the University of California, Davis and from 1968 to 2003-at the University of Delaware where he is now Professor Emeritus of English. He was also director of the University of Delaware Press. He has written over 30 books and over 100 articles and reviews many of which are well-recognized in the academic community worldwide. He was interviewed for “SPOT ON” magazine by Ksenia Kisselincheva

“Why is teaching great literature important in the age of IT and genetic revolutions?”

“It is important for many reasons, mainly because through such literature we get to know about ourselves as human beings and the world we live. The impetuous scientific discoveries will not change that but may help to expand our reach.”

“Would you comment post-modernism in literary criticism and practice?

“Post-modernism may mean a great number of things. Literature never stands still, or if it does, it dies. So post-modern fiction, poetry and drama extend the frontiers of literature. However, “the death of the author” is, in my view a ridiculous approach. Deconstruction is also a fad that is disappearing lately.

“What are your preferred approaches to literary texts?”

“I was trained in the close sensitive reading of texts of the New Criticism school. I feel that it is one of the best ways to illuminate the hidden treasures of modern and older authors, of both Saul Bellow and William Shakespeare.”

“What do you think of modern interpretations of Shakespeare on the stage?

“Modern interpretations of Shakespeare have contributed a great deal to our understanding. Feminist interpretations, for instance, have made us more aware and sensitive to aspects of Shakespeare’s works that have hitherto neglected. I would like to mention a production of King Lear in Washington’s Shakespeare Theater. Cordelia was played by a deaf and mute actress. The fool spoke her lines, which she signed. It was immensely effective.

“Do you find American students different in some ways from students in other parts of the world?

“American students are not really much different from any other students whether in Argentina or Malaysia where I have taught. But they have less knowledge of the world at large and need to become more international in their outlook.”

“What is your impression of students in this country?”

“I enjoy much teaching here in Sofia. The students are very well trained and inquisitive. I don’t lecture at length, instead we have exciting discussions.

“What is, in your opinion, the effect of the overwhelming spread of mass culture today?”

“Mass culture may have a truly deadening effect on people, disabling them from seeing more deeply into the heart of our problems. It offers a simplistic outlook, which is distorting and debilitating. On the other hand, if it helps to increase literacy, then it may serve a positive function.”

“How do you view the process of EU expansion, one of the great historic events, unraveling before our eyes?”

“I am not a political scientist but I strongly hope EU expansion may put an end to centuries of conflict and warfare.”

“Terrorism is plaguing the modern world. Do you think we have found the way to deal with it?”

“I don’t think we have yet found the way to deal most effectively with it. But of one thing I’m sure - terrorism will go on until we remove more poverty in the world and give people more hope for a better future.”

“Do you think women will have a new more prominent role in political life in the 21st century?”

“Women are becoming more and more involved in politics in this century, as never before.This is doubtless a good thing, especially if mothers begin to object more strenuously to sending their sons to war or to engage in terrorism.”

“What is your vision on the controversial issue of globalization?”

“It has complex implications but, unfortunately, it widened the gap between rich and poor. Greed is at the root of this evil. I’m a life-long Democrat and I don’t mind paying taxes, if I know they go to the poorer. As George Orwell once said: “You can’t preach democracy to starving people!”

SpotOn magazine, 2004   


HEINER MULLER AT THE ARMY THEATER IN SOFIA


HEINER MULLER AT THE ARMY THEATER IN SOFIA

D-r Ksenia Kisselincheva


Provoked by the unusual interest of young spectators, the German-Bulgarian production of H.Muller’s “Hamletmachine” is performed at open doors/free entrance/ from September 26th to September 29th at the Army Theater in Sofia. The show focuses on the period between the end of the Cold War and Bulgaria’s EU accession. It is open to multiple interpretations and urges the audience to rewrite its own version of recent history…

The applause hasn’t faded away when Bernhardt, the director ushered me in a backstage room, where the actors were unwinding after the sacrificial ritual of being on stage. There was a heightened atmosphere of exchanging comments, remarks and praises about what has just happened on stage. Because the performance was evolving like a living organism, it was changing from one night to the next… Our conversation with Bernhardt was accompanied by a glass of wine, with interjections from the actors and with a lot of laughter…But, nevertheless we ‘delved into the essence of things” and had fun all the way.

This is Heiner Muller’s most profound text about the return of Hamlet, the emigrant to a hostile environment. It has been conceived under the impact of Benot Besson’s “Hamlet”. It employs all kinds of theatrical means, blending inter-medial expression, pantomime, pseudo-monologue, scenic images and audiovisual effects etc.

“I noticed there were variations in the show from one evening to the next. Is improvisation implied in the actors’ performance?”
“Certainly. There is a certain structure which keeps the play together, but there is also room for improvisation, very often in response to a different audience.”
 
“How about the change of parts, one and the same actor takes on several parts. What is the theatrical meaning of it?”

“It implies there are multiple interpretations of character, different conceptions of Hamlet or Ophelia. The “Hamletmachine” projects in five scenes the conflict between the sexes. Actors give up one part for another, sexes interchange and overlap, meanings clash and coexist. The discussion about Hamlet’s personality is given yet another dimension- the self-analysis of H. Muller himself. Ten years before the fall of the Berlin wall, the play predicts the collapse of all ideologies and poses the problem of the identity of the main characters.”

“You seem to have incorporated some hot references to our transition- do you tend to do it when performing in different countries?”

“Definitely. It adds new dimensions to the living body of the text and it tunes in to the acquired attitude of the audience to popular TV shows. Merging German and Bulgarian theatrical traditions and the interplay between them broadens the implications of Muller’s text.”

 “The actors deliver their monologues simultaneously, without listening to each other. Is this a suggestion of failure of communication, of inability to empathize with each other?”

 “That’s right. There is no proper dramatic dialogue. There are only parallel monologues, addressed to the audience, which is a big partner in the game.”

Sofia Echo weekly, 2010

     

неделя, 13 януари 2013 г.

BRITISH EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE VISITING SOFIA

BRITISH EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE VISITING SOFIA
Dr. Ksenia Kisselincheva

 

Thanks to the cooperation of the British Council, the vanguard Claude Ensemble performed in Sofia on June 11th with one of its most successful shows, called “Greed”. The audience enjoyed every moment of it and responded in a sensitive and appreciative manner. The production combined in a subtle, emotionally intense way live music with striking visual techniques, breaking through the limitations of traditional genres. The company was set up by director Suzy Wilson and composer Paul Clark and made its start on the fringe of the Edinburgh Festival nine years ago. So far they have done over seven productions, performed on many prestigious stages like Purcell Hall, the Royal opera, The Victoria and Albert Museum and La Mamma in New York. The ensemble has also won the acclaim of both audience and critics at a number of international festivals like The British Festival of Visual Art, Performance Studies International 2000 in Arizona etc. It mounts its productions thanks to the sponsorship of the Battersea Art Centre and the Royal National Theatre. Among its more significant achievement are “The Feast During the Plague”, “Metamorphoses”, “The Silver Swan” and “Greed”.

 

Here is what director Suzy Wilson shared for the Spot On magazine: “This show developed slowly over a year and it is the most narrative of all our pieces. But it has got the main principles of all our work - live music, visual theatre and dancing. The story is told in a tragicomic vein and is greatly inspired by the silent movies of Chaplin and Buster Keaton. We have been touring Sri Lanka, Ireland, Bulgaria and then we go back to the Battersea Art Centre in London. It could be defined as Off West End in terms of experimental theatre.

 

“Where are you going next?”

“Next on the map is Thailand.”

“Which are the main influences, shaping your innovative style of expression?”

 

“One of the strongest influences is the physical theatre of Jacques le Coq. The philosophy that everything moves and the body carries meaning beyond words. Especially, when combined with the suggestiveness of music, whether classical or pop. I love the Bulgarian “Mysterious Voices” as well as Bartok and Stravinsky. I have also been influenced by sculpture, photography and the theatre of Pina Balsh …”

 

“Greed” is performed by two actors – Sarah Cameron and Marcello Magney. I met them backstage and they were still tense and thrilled by the electricity between them and the spectators. It is curious that Sarah was first trained as a sculptor and then studied with Jacques le Coq in Paris. She was particular about making certain clarifications about their unusual style. “What we do is not strictly miming, we shift scenes and objects in fluid continuity.” Actually, Sarah has done a wide specter of work. She has worked for a long time with the Young Vic Company where she starred in “Twelfth Night”. She played Adriana in “Comedy of Errors”, staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Apart from this, she tried her hand in installation performances, TV and film.

 

“What was the most difficult bit in preparing this show?”

 

“The technique of being very precise with the music. You have to discover what action will go with what music. It’s quite intense and takes a long time.”

 

“What are your immediate future projects?”

 

“When I get back from Thailand I would like to do my own piece of  performance art.”

 

“Do you prefer team or individual work?”

 

“Both. For the last 13 years I have been a performer with companies. We learnt a lot from each other. We were like family, arguing and laughing, while doing the hard work.”

 

The other performer in the show is Marcello Magney who is co‑founder the Theatre de Complicite company in London. After having a two year training with le Coq, he has been dedicated to their work day and night for ten years. In 1992-1993 he decided to try the world outside. He did roles at the Globe and The National Theatre. “It was quite challenging to work for the Claude Ensemble. What we do is not strictly pantomime. There you have to finish the action, while we pick up and drop objects, they appear and then disappear in a fluid continuity. It is more suggestive than pantomime, leaves greater scope to the imagination of the spectator. So, we try to follow a thin line where miming overlaps into dancing and bits of realistic acting.”

 

“What is your next project?”

 

“To go to Tokyo and do the English version of a play, called “Red Daemon”, which has a Japanese and Thai version as well. Also, I hope to bring round the world a one-man show about Arlequino who in my interpretation is not so mannered but is rather simple and down-to-earth.”

 

This was a memorable theatrical event which broadened the sensibility of our audience and made it part of the best in visual theatre.                  


SpotOn Magazine, 2005


неделя, 6 януари 2013 г.

AS A CHILD I DREAMED TO BE A CELEBRITY

AS A CHILD I DREAMED TO BE A CELEBRITY
Dr. Xenia Kisselincheva

         As soon as I stepped past the threshold I found myself in a totally different world. The bustle and hustle of the city center vanished and I was enveloped in the peaceful cool ambience of Scotty’s boutique hotel. It was a discreet oasis of elegance and comfort in the midst of rattling trams, zooming cars and the howl of security alarms, going off. A well-groomed young man beamed a smile at me and greeted me with studied courtesy…
      Here I am sitting in one of the rooms – it has been designed with the exquisite simplicity of a Japanese interior. I find out that it has been conceived by Dim Dukov himself, the owner of the first boutique hotel in Sofia. There he is, sitting across the table from me, speaking with a charming nasal twang. He makes a really friendly host - I am not in the least intimidated by his glamorous status of a celebrity. He treats me as an equal and he comments on his public image with a tongue in the cheek, with a please, don’t-take-it-too-seriously attitude.
“So, you were among the few who came back to Bulgaria by the end of 1989 when many were leaving the country to look for a better life. Then everyone was exhilarated by a feeling of newly-gained freedom…
“What were the reasons behind your decision to return here?”
“It was quite a challenge to start a business in the services in those unstable times when the country was making its first precarious steps towards democracy. At first, I took over the hairdresser’s salon at the Sheraton Sofia Balkan. Hairstyling is an art form for me - there is a touch of creative improvisation which might surprise the stylist himself. In no time, I was surrounded by beautiful women-models, actresses, media stars, business managers. All of them wanted to be distinctly individual and striking in their looks. As the saying goes “l’honeur oblige”, so I had to ride on the spur of my wildest imagination to come up with their expectations.”
“What did you do next?”
“Next I opened a chain of hairdressing salons, a pizza restaurant on Vitosha boulevard, a luxury flower shop and a chain of night clubs.”
“How did it occur to you to develop this project in the hospitality business?”
“Actually, I have been working in this line of business for more than 5 years in Australia. But it was a challenge to make use of my Western experience in an environment where a solid tradition in the services was missing. I was struck by the idea of creating a boutique hotel of 16 rooms in a historically enhanced location. So, as I already mentioned, I put my recognizable imprint on the interior design, while my sister who is an architect cooperated on the technical aspects of the plan. It took me about a year to refurbish the building-it was in a very bad condition – hundreds of things needed fixing or replacement. Finally, the renovation was completed and we opened it on the 1st of February this year. And I must say that after only 4-5 months we already enjoy a steady clientele of foreign businessmen and tourists.”
“What do you intend of doing further to improve the quality of the services?”
“So far, we offer only impeccable room service. In the nearest future we plan to pull down a nearby building and to rebuild it completely. There will be an exclusive restaurant, a lobby bar, a fitness center and a few extra luxury rooms and suites.
“How about providing such facilities in the meantime?”
“Right now we provide the services of a nearby fitness club. It is quite tough competition in this line of business, so you strive to offer services and extras, not offered elsewhere. For example, free of charge Internet, satellite TV and a movie channel. Moreover, our rooms are reasonably priced for what we offer in the way of luxury and personal touch in services.”
“How do you manage to sustain your high standards of services?”
“This is one of the most complicated issues in this country. I prefer to recruit young men and women and teach them my way of doing things. Sometimes, it takes a lot of effort and a few mistakes, but I have definitely very promising results. My employees adopt my work ethic -   they work with the selfless commitment of self-employed people.”         
 “Which is the greatest luxury you offer?”
“Our rooms have no numbers. They are named after famous world cities. For instance, the most luxury room is the Cape Town room. It comes with fruit baskets and free of charge tea and coffee, free Internet and sat TV. We are ready to add any extras the guests might ask for - skiing or mountain cycling in the Vitosha mountain, cultural or religious tours, curing sessions at spas near Sofia.”
“What is your attitude to charitable activities, do you see yourself as a socially involved businessman?”
“Since I got back, I have done a lot in the way of charity. I am the founder of the “No AIDS” foundation-I think AIDS is a very serious problem worldwide. As a good Christian I sincerely believe you have to give part of what you have to others. I have also done charitable acts to children in orphanages. But I truly believe that you don’t have to do indirect advertising for your business by aiming at wide publicity. You do it because you feel like it, that’s that. But you have to educate other wealthy people to help as much as they can. To make them appreciate the special satisfaction of doing good for the less privileged.”
“What is the price of success for you?”
“There are pros and cons attached to it. On the one hand, I get annoyed with what I read about myself in the tabloid press. When you are successful, you always have enemies. But, on the other hand, I take naturally to publicity, as duck takes to water. As a child I dreamed to be a celebrity. I must say I feel quite comfortable about it. You can share your dreams and your worries with so many people at the same time thanks to the media and the dynamic social interaction of modern lifestyle.
It is a great experience and I enjoy every minute of it.”
“What do you like doing in your spare time?”
“I love traveling, watching DVD’s, reading books. My favorite author is Umberto Ecco. In winter I go skiing to Borovetz or Bansko, in summer I do all water sports on the Black sea. I like going on vacation to Greece or Turkey or to any new and exciting place.”
“How do you look at our EU admission?”
“I am a great supporter of Bulgaria’s EU membership. It will urge people to work according to Western standards. There will be tough competition for local businesses but if they are viable they will have access to new markets. It will also give a boost to tourism-services must be up to scratch. People must learn to smile more often and look on the bright side of life.”                                                                      
 
SpotOn magazine, 2004                                                                          

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LOCAL GOVERNANCE CONSULTANT

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LOCAL GOVERNANCE CONSULTANT
Xenia Kisselincheva

 “We work to achieve more accountability from officials and more citizens’participation”


When I arrived at Marilynn Davis’s office, I was told that she got caught in a traffic congestion and that she would be late for our meeting. I was invited to sit at her desk and I could contemplate at leisure details round the room, while looking through the Local Government Initiative leaflet. I glimpsed several photos at her desk of a few cute three to five year olds, all smiles and monkeyshines. It turned out they were “the babies” of Marilynn’s babies, i.e. her grown-up two sons and a daughter. When she was back home for Christmas, she divided her time between the three of them - between Chicago and Indianapolis.
Marilynn grew up in a small town, 80 kilometers south of Chicago, bearing the poetic Indian name of Kenkakey, which means “beautiful flowing waters”. She was raised as a devout Methodist, but she gave freedom to her children to choose their religion-so both her sons are Catholic, while her daughter is Protestant.  As soon as she raised her children and she had a bit more time on her hands, Ms Davis became involved with the League of Women Voters. This gave her an impetus to go back to university and she did an advanced degree in public administration. Ever since, that is over 20 years, she has been working   in local government management of cities and counties in different states. Alongside with this she has been running her own consultancy business. Before coming to Bulgaria, she took various assignments in other post communist countries like Bosnia, Romania and Hungary. Though it was at times quite tough and risky, Marilynn finds the experience so valuable both in a professional and an existential way, after her pervasive interaction with a variety of European cultures.

“Where was your latest assignment, before you came to Bulgaria?”

“It was in Eastern Hungary, where I was resident advisor for over three years. There I worked with the municipalities of 70 cities, we did a few projects, similar to those in Bulgaria, like budget revision and economic development planning.”

“Could you tell me more of your participation in the Local Government Initiative Project you are working on now?”

“The LGI project is a program, funded by the US agency for International Development. In order to achieve its major objectives, we have been working with various local government organizations like the National Association for Municipalities, the Foundation for Local Government, the Trakia Association, the Regional Association of the Black sea etc. We also look for the support of NGO’s, involved in local government reform. What is most needed is technical support and expertise. The portion of the project I work for is focused on building the municipalities’ capacity to manage their staff in the services area. We have a broad range of training programs for staff and municipal elective officials. This winter, for instance, we ran a series of workshops for such officials, we discussed leadership, ethics, communication skills. Apart from this we’ve been working on budget management, cost accounting, cost assessment of various services and their effective deliverance.”

“Disposal of waste and litter is a serious problem of modern fast growing cities like Sofia. Do you envisage anything in this respect?”

“Yes, we are currently working on a new methodology of disposal of waste - more specifically, the household and industrial waste that has to go out to the land fields. It is not only a matter of municipal control, but also of cost assessment, e.g. of disposal trucks, of land field management. We are working mainly with municipalities outside of Sofia, like Vidin, Svishtov, Borovo, Varshetz etc. At present, they are testing our method, adapting it to specific local conditions. Concerning this pilot project, we are also interacting with the Ministry of Environment, so that they are watching it as well. It involves the development of a training program and a consultancy base to take the method around the country.

“Do you encounter any bureaucratic resistance, any local “Catch 22” fabrications?”

“Not very much so far. The officials at the municipalities are truly enthusiastic about upgrading their skills and improving their services. The setting up of customer services centers around the country are instrumental in helping citizens to go through the bureaucratic jumble. How to get the permits they need, to understand the tax structure better. But I personally experienced some bureaucratic difficulties when I was trying to have my Bulgarian passport.”

“How do you adapt to this environment? What are the things you particularly miss away from home?”

“Like most expats, I miss the foods I grew up with like un-sugared cereals and the sweeter corn, but generally I can eat quite well here. Traveling around the country, I enjoy the benefit of tasting the local wines, which I find so varied and of superb quality. Culture is rich and exciting in Sofia. I love to go to the Opera, the ballet, the new Symphony Orchestra is a delight to listen to, I like Italian food, so I like to go to Bellinda’s, next to the military club. When I don’t work over the weekend, I love to do a bit of writing. I have three books in process. One of them is poetry, another one is a love story and the third one is a compilation of my impressions from Central and Eastern Europe, which I have been sharing over the years with my relatives and friends. Most Americans haven’t got a clue of what this part of the world is like. Living in a country is a very different thing from just visiting it. To become part of the city, of the culture, to perceive it as normal, not weird.

“How would you describe the Bulgarians to your family and friends back home?”

“As very open and gregarious people. They seem to enjoy their newly gained freedom of speech. Unlike Central Europeans who tend to be more reserved. I find them enthusiastic, though not always efficient. As far as the quality of the services they render, it can vary a lot from one place to the next. From up to scratch service to being sloppy and rude. This is to be expected from a country in transition, you can’t expect things to happen overnight...”

“I saw your name among those who sponsored the latest production of the Sofia Players who usually perform at the La Strada Theater.”

“Yes, I have supported financially all their productions. Also, at home I was a member on the Board of Directors of the Orlando Symphony Orchestra. I love the arts and I try to do my little bit to support them. And I love to get the feel of the history and culture of the country, where I happen to work and live. So I discovered Lyuba Tours and I often join them when I don’t do writing at the weekend.”

“That sounds cute. Could you tell more about it?”

“There is no end to the places and events she can take you to. That’s how I could go to some of the wine festivals, to the horse and donkey festival, to the Rila monastery, we got inside the medieval Hreljo tower, normally inaccessible to visitors. I won’t forget the view from the top-the towering snow-capped slopes, roof tops and yard and enveloped in this white silence you can hear the more distinctly the rumble of the monastery water fountains. Also I watched the eclipse at Kamen briag on the Black sea coast. In mid February, there is the Trifon Zarezan festival, where we will prune the vines and will decide the competition of the best home-made wine. I am looking forward to the Rose valley festival in June where we will do rose picking at sunrise and then take our baskets to the oil refinery.”
Marilynn reminds me of this much cherished age-old tradition, performed out there in the rose plantations, framed by mountain ranges. The young women would put their brightest scarves and would delicately bend over the opening rose petals.  While performing this sacred rite, they would sing songs, as old as the rose fields and as ever-young as the rising sun...”      

Sofia Western News monthly, 1999
         

                       

събота, 5 януари 2013 г.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SCHOOL HEADMASTER

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SCHOOL HEADMASTER

Xenia Kisselincheva

It was the 10th of October,1999, at the National Theater “Ivan Vazov”. I was invited to attend the celebration of the 23rd anniversary of the National Classical Lyceum under the auspices of Sofia University.  It has won itself this honorary status throughout the years, in spite all adversity and skepticism, it has not only survived, but it has been evolving. While listening to the “Young Kukuzel” male choir, which recreated the enchantment of 10th century Slavonic church music, I remembered the words of Gerguina Toncheva, the headmaster of the school. “I was blessed by fate to work for the school since its founding days, way back in 1977. My mission was to restore the classical tradition in our education, which has been imprudently cut short for thirty years by totalitarian dogmas. It has been an ongoing fierce battle, not just to survive but to develop in tune with the changing spirit of time.” Her personal life makes an indelible part of the life of the lyceum. As she likes to joke, she solves its problems, even when she is asleep. Her individual drive has been fed and boosted by the support of eminent scholars and educators, by the trust in the eyes of her present and past pupils. What other secret sources of strength does she tap, which help her prevail over her opponents and multiply her adherents? She tells me she was born on the 25th of December and for her this was a special sign - she believes she draws a lot of positive energy from her faith in God, her cult to the Holy Virgin. When her resilience is put the test, she likes to repeat to herself “If God is with me, nothing can be against me!” and she keeps on going, charging her followers with energy and determination. After the anniversary celebration was over, she needed a truck to carry all the flowers home. So much love and gratitude for what Gerguina has done for the school, for having succeeded into raising it to the status of one of the top ten classical lyceums in Europe...

At the very beginning, there was the blessing of distinguished humanitarian scholars like prof. P. Dinekov, prof. A. Milev, prof. R. Gandeva. The initial impulse came from the departments of Classical Philology and History of Sofia University which was taken over by the Ministry of Culture. “At the beginning, it was the word” but then the 23-year old history of the school was created by its teachers and pupils. The ultimate vision behind it is to provide a solid grounding in humanitarian education through streamlining the curriculum towards this objective. It implies achieving a good balance of  the study of classical languages, on the one hand, humanitarian subjects like history, literature, philosophy, etc. and the study of mandatory general subjects.

“How do you prepare them for the new high tech age? How about computer literacy and the study of modern languages?”

A well-equipped computer lab has been available for the last 15 years, initially furbished by the IBM Company. Modern languages are taught within an intensive pattern in the course of five years, in groups of ten. After the 10th grade, pupils are free to choose their specialization subjects which range from the classical languages through history of culture and philosophy to the sciences. The lyceum definitely aims at preparing the students for continuing their studies at university level. It achieves a smooth and organic transition from medium to higher level of education in more than one ways. First, many of the teachers are university lecturers. More than half of them are former alumni of the lyceum. They, themselves grow and mature professionally in their dynamic and challenging interaction with the motivated pupils and in the process of writing the textbooks. The course of specialized education is crowned by the defense of a diploloma paper before a 5-member university board. If the defense is assessed as brilliant, it secures the student admission into the university, without any entrance exams. But, as Mrs Toncheva stresses this fact should not be seen as a kind of privelege, but rather as a serious trial.

“Are there any former pupils who have distinguished themselves in any particular area of academic or social life?”

“As I already mentioned, almost all lyceum graduates become university students, many of them are the high achievers of Sofia University and other universities throughout the country. For the last five or so years, some of them apply at the top world universities like the Vienna University, th Sorbonne, Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Boston etc. Again, they graduate from them with flying colors and often are distinguished members of faculty. It is enough to mention Dimitar Angelov, a Harvard alumnus who is doing his doctoral degree in medieval history at Oxford. Or, Velizar Savovsky, who will soon be awarded with the title of Associate Professor for his contribution to General and Comparative Linguistics. Also, some of our ex-pupils are leading figures in the media, international trade and diplomacy, others are at key positions at government institutions, the judiciary system and various foundations.”  The list of proofs of the merits and distinctions of the lyceum is a long one. Its pupils have often been the bearers of high awards at the International Cicero Competition in Arpino, Italy, yet another way to assert the school’s place among the top ten classical lyceums of Europe. It keeps actively in touch with similar schools all over Europe - exchange of information, guest lecturers and training exchange programs. The lyceum has launched the initiative of organizing a competition, entitled “Europe, the burgeoning of an idea”, whose nominees will take part in a seminar in Olympia, Greece. These bright kids are future European “movers and shakers” who are bound to mold its destiny. But, as Gerguina passionately asserted more than once in our conversation, it is a top priority of educators nowadays to shape up the moral identity of youngsters, since she believes that it is at the core of the human personality, at the core of any social activity. it should be a top priority even more in our high tech global world to prevent abusing and misusing the huge possibilities opened up by science and technology.

Guergina does not seem to resent the fact that she hardly has any time for leisure, that she often spends 10-12 hours at the school. A child is taken ill, a teacher is unexpectedly absent, someone inquires about grants, another one complains about the school canteen. Many of the problems arise on the spur of the moment and have to be urgently dealt with. Sometimes, they make ‘the stuff” of your dreams, you wake up and you realize you have been engaged in a vehement controversy with the housekeeper or the accountant.

For Ms Toncheva, each generation has its strong and weak points, it bears the mark of the changing times and educators have to bear this in mind when they try to influence them one way or another. Young people can be harsh uncompromising judges if you don’t live up to your role or to their expectations.

 Over the years, the lyceum has developed its rich traditions in extra-curriculum activities: science fiction club, UN society or the sports club, offering training in various ball games. The girls’ choir which has toured round Europe has revived the spirit of 19th century school songs. The “Young Kukuzel” boys’ choir, already mentioned, has won a number of prizes at international festivals. The pupils take part in Olympiads in literature, philosophy and Russian and they are usually among the prize winners. The school has its own two journals, the “Humanities” one is devoted to classical studies, bits of philosophy or poetry so far un-translated. Some of the diploma papers are published in book form and are used both as teaching material at the university or the lyceum. The summer excursions abroad are another laudable tradition, a way to make better sense of their classroom knowledge, being directly exposed to specimen of Europe’s cultural heritage - ancient Aegea, Greece, Italy, Austria and Germany.

Apart from her dedication to “the children” at school, whenever she has a gap, Gerguina loves to read poetry, to listen to music, especially to Bulgarian folk songs. She started humming a favorite “horo” of hers which seems to suggest to her: “Here I am, I am alive and kicking and I will be in the future” It reminds her of Zorba’s dance after he lost everything, it is the dance of the indomitable human spirit which rises like phoenix from the ashes and soars high above the frustration of mice and men, when their schemes and dreams fail. But Gerguina’s dream has not failed though she admits the times are “out of joint”, it is hard to find positive models for young people to follow. Still, she believes that the National Classical Lyceum will not only survive but will grow and change in full swing to the rhythm of the new age, which needs the sobering touch of some classical wisdom.  

Sofia Western News monthly, 1999