In early 2009, the dance4life International Foun-dation has decided to radically transform the logo of the project. The updated shape of the “4” and the new colors make it more functional and universal.

a sheet of paper in the form of a comics speech bub-ble shaped like the renewed “4”.

The new dance4life brand was developed by De-

sign Bridge Company, which is known worldwide - it was due to the company that such global brands as Lipton, Nescafe, UEFA Champions League and KFC, started life anew. Now it is our turn to be updated.

“Within the framework of our activities we travel around the world. This helps us to see the opportu-nities and challenges faced by many nations. HIV is still a major threat to young people throughout the world. We are proud that we can help delivering the dance4life message in the best possible way by our ability to create a brand» - said Frank Nas, Design Bridge Managing Director.

dance4life Project: with renewed vigor and a new form

Newsletter, July-September

All new features of the brand were tested by the dance4life Russia team in the first stage of the re-branding, which took place at the meeting of the FOCUS-MEDIA Board of Trustees. Specially for this memorable event we ordered a five-kilogram cake in the form of renewed “4”, with mascarpone inside and marzipan icing outside, which did not leave anybody indifferent. The participants were asked to spray the new brand on T-shirts using graffiti cans and specially made stencils. One of the trustees of the project - Katherine von Gechmen-Waldeck - with pleasure painted a T-shirt for Alexei Vorobyov, her protégé and dance4life Ambassador. Also, everybody could write his/her comments on the new brand on

Scaling thinking, total winning

In July 2009, the “FOCUS-MEDIA” Foundation was invited to speak at the “SELIGER 2009” All-Russia Youth Forum, organized by the Federal Youth Agency, as an expert organi-zation to support youth initiatives and implement special programs on health within the “Technology of Good” ses-sion. The dance4life team, together with experts from Vologda, Gatchina and Mi-churinsk, organized the “Life Skills” train-ing course and non-professional dancers competition, which was attended by the young people from at least ten regions of Russia. The contest was an incitement to the partici-pants to organize festivals in their own cities and to unite creative groups with local NGOs. A number of “Info-booth” actions, a quiz with prizes awarded and

evening master-classes in body percussion - all these activities have

caused a great response and lots of positive emo-

tions in the audience.

Together with the SO2DA group, the project team produced twen-ty design T-shirts in the

dance4life style which were awarded to the Forum newly wedded couples on the SELIGER stage.

The main outcome of the event was: the new re-gions were interested in the project; the huge number of participants were provided with information on HIV and STIs prevention. More than 8 thousand people learned about dance4life and more than 500 par-ticipated in the “Life Skills” lessons. In addition, the project was joined by young people representing many art trends, who actively helped us during ac-tions, flash mobs, and, in general, realized their crea-tive ideas in the dance4life project.

As part of the dance4life Ambassador’s mission, DJ FEEL first recorded the Russia’s dance4life move-ment hymn - dance4life Russia. The Anthem. - to-gether with Vladimir Pozner. Then he shot a relevant video. The video was included in his album “The Con-cert”. The well-known St. Petersburg music clip-maker Serge Grekov was director of the clip. The scenery was represented by the St. Petersburg streets, and the actors were dancers of different genres, as well as passers-by, pretty girls of the city and the DJ’s dog - Fleura. The shooting props included three kilograms of ice cream and four liters of milk. The plot is simple: the central figures of the clip - DJ FEEL himself and Vladimir Pozner – are walking around the city and enjoy the views: dance competitions, urban-dance, dancing children ...

Not so long ago, in this March, the well-known su-permodel Doutzen Kroes (the Netherlands) joined the dance4life project. First, Doutzen learned information about the project, contacted the existing dance4life ambassadors, met with the international team, but only after her visit to Moscow she took a final decision to support the project. After Doutzen had met with Russia’s team and studied the national freestyle, she was inspired to make her next visit to the village Ki-

damali, Tanzania, where she contacted HIV-posi-tive folks, who revealed their status and now, to-gether with their peers, conduct lessons on pre-venting HIV.

Less than six months later, one more show business star - Will.i.am - and the Black Eyed Peas group demonstrated their support for dance4life at the world opening of the 10th Sensation Festival in Am-sterdam, presenting an unscheduled show together with Fedde le Grand, dance4life Ambassador.

As to the Russian Ambassadors, Pavel Datsyuk, the legendary hockey player has given his prior con-sent to participate in the project. Pavel, who is Red Wings’ player (Canada), came to Moscow to discuss a preliminary plan of cooperation. The FOCUS-MEDIA Foundation is going to ask the Dance4life Interna-tional Foundation about including Pavel in the ranks of the International dance4life Ambassadors.

Pavel Datsyuk will be the first dance4life Ambas-sador among sportsmen!

Doutzen Kroes, Will.i.am, Pavel Datsyuk. What unites them?

DJ FEEl released a video on MTV

As part of the St. Petersburg performance of the world-famous DJ Tiesto and the best DJ of Russia in 2007 and 2008, according to the DJ.RU version, - DJ FEEL - and the Moscow music festival of electronic music “TSEKH” (SHOP), the dance4life team organ-ized a number of preventive events, with the support of the ROSDANCE Company and RECORD Radio.

During the open-air event on Krestovsky Island in St. Petersburg, the Moscow dance4life team, to-gether with St. - Petersburg and Gatchina dance4life volunteers, in addition to performances on stage, distributed informational materials, organized flash mobs and a fundraising event.

In Moscow Crocus Expo - the largest exhibition complex in Russia - tens of thousands of quality dance music fans and the most current electronic DJs of the world gathered at the legendary event with a unique concept - SHOP.

Over the years the festival has become something more than just a dance event. The technical equip-ment is compared well with that of the best shows of the world, the stage performances are created by the best directors and producers, performances and installations are exclusive.

The main heroes of the “TSEKH-2009” festival were: international dance4life Ambassador DJ Tiesto and Russia’s Ambassador DJ FEEL.

Dance4life, ROSDANCE and RADIO RECORD develop youth music festivals WITHOUT drugs

In the SHOP - dance4life video was broadcast on all monitors. In the SHOP - the best dance4life dancers danced on the stage. In the SHOP - more than 1 000 people participated in the dance4life quiz. In the SHOP - hundreds of people painted the dance4life logo on their bodies. In the SHOP - more than 1 000 people made dona-tions to the dance4life development in Russia. In the SHOP - thousands of people were awarded with more than 3 000 condoms, 1 000 bracelets, 500 badges and 100 T-shirts with the new brand.

News rain from regional partners

Izhevsk At the end of the vaca-

tions, from 28 to 31 of August, 2009, there was a Republican session of volunteers on the “Peer to Peer” program in Udmurtia. About 250 boys and girls from all over the country gathered to share experiences and plan volunteer activities in Udmurtia.

The most vivid and memorable event of the session was the launch of the International dance4life Project! There was an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding. With a genuine interest the participants were discussing the problems of HIV in-fection, the youth were concerned about, and to-gether performed the energetic project dance.

In the days following the launch the project team and the guys from the “Light” volunteer teaching unit held “Life Skills” lessons for the participants and to-gether with the volunteers of the republic identified the ways of further realization of social projects.

The end of the summer gave a strong start to vol-unteering in Udmurtia!

Orenburg The dance4life rebranding has agitated Oren-

burg. An event was organized as part of the All-Russia

action “Youth Train”. The event involved 130 volun-teers.

The highlight of the program was: celebrities, participants of the “House 2” project - Olga Buzova and Yevgeny Kuzin. They showed great interest in the project, learned the dance and, together with the volunteers, participated throughout the event.

At the evening concert at the “Orenburgie” Center, participated by Vlad Topalov, “T9” group and “ChP” group, with the audience of more than 2 000 people, Olga and Eugeny, staying on the stage, said they liked a great deal in Orenburg, but most of all they were struck by the dance4life project. They kept repeating: “dance4life”!

It was impossible to trace the large number of sto-ries in the media about the project that day.

Lipetsk The project volunteers planted a flower bed of red

flowers shaped like the ribbon of solidarity with peo-ple living with HIV.

On the Youth Service Day, an event present-ing the project rebranding was held: the volunteers performed a dance in T-shirts with the old logo, and then, unexpectedly took the shirts off and appeared before the audience in the new brand.

Volgograd Sensation! The dance4life project won the hearts

of the participants of the “Orlenok” (Eaglet) All-Russia Children Center in Tuapse District. Over 1500 boys and girls from 50 regions of our country took part in a bright event of the last of the summer. The guys learned the project non-stop: first, they were struck by a bright presentation of the project, then the project team visited specialized sessions: “Explore Russia,” “Young Rescue”, “Team of the 21st Century”, held in August 2009, and afterwards they were training the dance, taking the “Life Skills” course, and, finally, the guys real-ized their social projects on the day “Be a dance4life Volunteer”. In the evening they had a mega-party - the final dance4life event at Star Square. For two hours the children danced, fulfilled the tasks and, in conclusion, performed the dance4life final dance! “Orlenok” gave us lots of emotions, joy and smiles!

Rostov-on-Don At the initiative of the Y-PEER Network, a “Peer

to Peer” interregional festival of youth theaters was held in Rostov Region, September 22 to 26, 2009.

Rostov dance4life team took part in organizing and implementing this important event. Visitors from 11 regions of the country, including dance4life participants from Ulan-Ude, Balakovo, Chelyabinsk, Barnaul, Tomsk and Gorny Altai came to the Don land. The subjects of theatrical performances were: HIV infection, drugs, reproductive health.

Rostov volunteers also performed a play at the Festival to show the problem of drug use and friendship of young people.

The experience of participation in the festival showed that the use of theater in pushing back HIV is encouraging to students. After each performance the audience actively participated in the debate, trying to answer the questions facing them and figure out what led the characters to particular situations.

“Our dance4life team has got unique experience in preventing HIV and promoting healthy lifestyle. We are leaving the festival with great inspiration. In Rostov, we will make new performances to help youth be healthy and happy”- said Ksenia Skogoreva, dance4life volunteer.

A series of Dance Saturdays was held last summer in the Rostov-on-Don parks.

This project was initiated in the Republic of Buryatia in 2008. Now, at the initiative of the Rostov dance4life

team, Dance Saturdays have come to the south of the country. The purpose of the project is to raise the awareness of youth about HIV and AIDS issues and the dance4life international movement. In support of dance4life, many dance groups performed and healthy lifestyle contests, with prizes and gifts being awarded, were organized on Dance Saturdays. Thanks to the support provided by the AIDS Center, information booths were installed, where everyone could test his/her knowledge on HIV and AIDS and get professional advice and small gifts.

The Dance Saturdays Project was also supported by the Youth Department of Rostov-on-Don City Ad-ministration and the «Make a Connection» Program.

What inspired you to participate in the project and why have you become an Ambassador?

I have become Ambassador for the dance4life project because I think it necessary to speak on the issues of HIV and other dangerous social diseases. When I was a teenager and studied at school, no one told me anything about the problem. So I was not aware of the need to properly take care of myself, be able to say ‘no’ and necessarily use a condom. To be able to say ‘no’ is very important for every self-es-teemed young woman. That is the information I want to convey to the audience of the project. After all, dance4life is notable for its addressing young people, and it is young people that are primarily affected by HIV. Furthermore, the project is interesting in that peo-ple are provided with information and united through the dance - it is very important because dull lectures and numbers are not always exciting for either adults or young people. It’s great that this project works.

Do you love to dance and do you think dance music is a weapon to combat HIV?

I like all kinds of music, depending on my mood. More often it is light, calm music; as to the text – it must bear deep meaning. I love to dance very much. Moreover, I conduct a club for women with HIV. To-gether we tried to express our feelings and urgent problems through dance, with the help of a profes-sional choreographer invited. We “danced the prob-lems through”. Unfortunately, not all people are able to speak aloud about their problems, not all have been taught this ability. It is much easier to do this through dance. Dance helps both express one’s pain and deep feelings and unite different people.

Would you participate in projects related to HIV, if you were not infected?

I think that if I knew about HIV-infection as much as I know now, I would participate. Before I learned about my diagnosis, I was a very active person, in-volved in all school creative activities. At that time, there were no volunteer movements or teams in the village I lived in; we organized and realized all kinds of creative activities ourselves, we danced. Later, when I trained to be a hairdresser, I became interested in science – psychology and social assistance in partic-ular. I want to help people in word and deed, as they had once helped me. I feel that God has a reason to give me this trial and I believe that this is my destiny

- make the world cleaner, kinder, lighter. I believe that each of us can do it. Because each of us has some-thing inside, that can help us change the society.

What are your work and life plans in the near future?

As to my life plans, of course they are related to my children. I have two of them: daughter Eva-Mar-ia and the younger boy Adam.

Concerning my work plans, I would really like to present a TV or radio broadcast discussing the issues of women’s health and rights - women in general, not even associated with HIV infection. According to statistics by regions, the primary and secondary prevention in Russia covers mainly urban areas. The coverage of villages is less than 1%; for comparison, overseas, in America for example, the coverage is 80%. People usually listen to radio, watch TV to a lesser extent - in the morning and on weekends. We want to find a radio station that operates in every village and make a live broadcast, with experts to be invited. We want to make an interesting broad-cast in a single format for radio and television. And also, with regard to my plans, I certainly hope to win the trial and take care of my brother, whom the guardianship department is now trying to put in an orphanage after our mother’s death. Why, I am his sister, willing and able to educate and support him. The fact is that there is a resolution of May 1, 1996, in the RF legislation saying that people registered as in-fected can not take care, patronage or adopt chil-dren before they are struck off the register. I believe that this resolution directly discriminates against HIV-positive people and people who have hepa-titis or infectious disease. It is ridiculous that people

Special Heading: interview4life with Svetlana Izambayeva

FOCUS-MEDIA Foundation16 Polessky proezd, building 1, office 221

125367 Moscow, Russia

Tel.: 276-11-23/24/25/26

www.dance4life.ru

with infectious diseases may have children, who are healthy, but can not take care or adopt a child. And what about those who can not have children and would like to take a child from the orphanage? They, too, can be loving and beloved parents. And they can bring so much happiness to children who are deprived of parental love.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I try to spend all my free time with my family – chil-dren and husband. Walking with the family is happi-ness. Generally, to be a mom is a great joy! I spend a lot of time answering letters of girls who ask questions, seek advice or support. I enjoy it, especially when I get feedback, when people write with gratitude that I have helped them - either by answer or my own ex-ample.

What is happening now in terms of your work?

I am now actively developing two actually paral-lel directions. First, I develop women’s group of mu-tual aid. With the help of dance, through art, through an active life position, we can teach people, who have learned that they have HIV, to live with dignity, to live a full life. After you have learned you have

HIV, you need to learn to live again. Second is the development of nationwide women’s movement. When the movement is established, and it WILL be established by all means, we will lobby the interests of all women whose rights are violated. They will be not only women with HIV infection. We will build ca-pacities to help women self-develop and reveal their status, otherwise their will be only quantitative, rather than qualitative, indicators. Svetlana cannot be “re-produced” to represent every city of Russia. In many Russian cities, there are many girls, strong and crea-tive but reserved for some reasons, who need help to regain themselves.

I’m sure there will be anything if God wants it.

What is your motto and credo? From my childhood I have been very fond of

Mayakovsky’s poem about the poet’s conversation with the Sun, where there are the words “... shine al-ways, shine everywhere, shine and nothing else mat-ters, that’s my slogan and the Sun’s.” My name is Sveta (the name is originated from the Russian word ‘свет’ – light, shine) – and that’s my credo. Shining. Shining with love, optimism and kindness. When you shine, people beside you begin to glow, too. When you smile, people smile in response. You give your love - people feel it. You share information with peo-ple, and people themselves begin to reach for new knowledge. That’s my motto and credo!