CCB Magazine

Nachgefragt is a new small interview format we developed. Here, actors report on their time after the consultation, their current status and their goals. With the interviews we get feedback and give insight. In part 3 of our series we introduce Alicia Paeske.

Kreativ Kultur Berlin:Hello Alica. Please introduce yourself briefly.

Alica Paeske:I am Alica Paeske, 26, professional dancer, choreographer, dance coach, model and cultural and media educator. I am also the founder of sPERANTO. sPERANTO supports young people from socially deprived areas in their personal development through dance and music in Germany, Ecuador and worldwide.
 

Kreativ Kultur Berlin:How did you start?

Alica Paeske:I have been dancing since I was eleven years old. Dancing has always given me a lot of self-confidence, especially in my early years: Through dancing I was able to express my feelings better, to process my experiences. My career path then began when I turned 18: since then I have worked professionally as an independent artist, model, dancer and choreographer. Finally, during my studies in cultural and media education, my first sPERANTO pilot project took place, and I also wrote my bachelor's thesis about sPERANTO. In the beginning, many people in my environment simply didn't understand that sPERANTO is not just mere dance instruction. Because in addition to the artistic demands, we also use the potential of dance to positively shape one's own life as well as to strengthen people and community. Today, I bring all of this experience to sPERANTO.
 

Kreativ Kultur Berlin:In what way?

Alica Paeske:I pass on my knowledge to young people who have not yet received sufficient support. The focus of my work is on personality and community strengthening through dance and music.

I wanted to take the next step: to expand my team, to launch new sPERANTO projects in Berlin and internationally, to intensify networking with other players from youth leisure and cultural institutions, and also to establish contacts with founders and dance networks

Kreativ Kultur Berlin:You were in our consultation in April 2017, at what point were you at that time?

Alica Paeske:I wanted to take the next step: to expand my team, to launch new sPERANTO projects in Berlin and internationally, to intensify networking with other actors from youth leisure and cultural institutions, and also to establish contacts with founders and dance networks. That's why I had questions about different legal forms and how to apply for public funding and foundations. Advice from experts in the creative industries seemed plausible to me. The Kreativwirtschaftsberatung was recommended to me by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK).
 

Kreativ Kultur Berlin:Were we able to help you?

Alica Paeske:I found Melanie's orientation consultation very competent and helpful. All my questions were answered and I even received an email with useful links and tips afterwards. This is also how I became aware of the Social Impact Lab in Kreuzberg and the scholarship program "Startery Professional". I applied there, and even got the scholarship after an online and jury voting! I also learned about various funding opportunities through Melanie's advice. After a successful application, the sPERANTO project could finally be funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Paritätischer Dienst for six months in Berlin-Tempelhof. I really recommend this orientation consultation to anyone from the creative industries.
 

Kreativ Kultur Berlin:What's on your business card today?

Alica Paeske:My business card as an artist says "dancer, choreographer, model". As an artist I am represented by dance and model agencies, I work with companies, photographers, designers, musicians and other dancers. But I have a second business card for sPERANTO, this one is a sticker with logo and website. With this I reach out to young people from socially deprived areas and cooperate with youth recreational and cultural institutions, schools, public funding agencies, foundations and CSR departments worldwide. The next business card for sPERANTO would then probably say "Founder sPERANTO, cultural and media educator, dance coach and social entrepreneur".

Photo: Alica Paeske

Kreativ Kultur Berlin:On a scale of 1 to "Woohoo": How successful would you describe your work?

Alica Paeske:Success for me is when I can enjoy the path I'm on because I'm happy doing it, supporting others and making them happy. Success for me is when the eyes of the young people I work with start to shine and the young people suddenly believe in themselves. Success means when parents come to me with tears in their eyes and confide in me that they now understand why their child was able to change so positively and they suddenly hardly recognize their own child. And success also means when I feel free and connected to myself, the world and the people around me, when I dance and am in the flow. With eight sPERANTO projects carried out in three different cities in Germany and in Quito, Ecuador, with about 100 young people involved, three awards and scholarships in 2017, with diverse cooperation partners and successes as a professional dancer, choreographer and model it may well be a "Woohoo" :).
 

Kreativ Kultur Berlin:Alica, where else are you going?

Alica Paeske:In five years, I would like to have founded two more social enterprises and establish sPERANTO in more countries. My goal is to intensify the exchange between young people from the sPERANTO projects across city and country borders. I also want to reach and empower even more young people to follow their dreams and visions. I want a community to emerge that supports each other across cultural and social backgrounds - and that positively influences society. I also want to continue working as an artist and draw strength from that for myself.
 

Kreativ Kultur Berlin: Anything you'd like to get off your chest in closing?

Alica Paeske:Yes, believe in your visions and dreams and follow them courageously. My motto is "just do it", the experience comes by itself, along the way. You will have to accept setbacks and rejections, but you must not take them personally. In fact, you grow from them. And sometimes a single "yes" is enough. Enjoy the journey, take time for the most important things and shape everything in your own way. Then it will work out.

More information of Alica and her business: www.ap-speranto.com

The interview was conducted by Peter Kessel | Kreativwirtschaftsberatung Berlin