Issue 5 - Moment by Moment

	EDITORIAL Sondra Blanchard is an actor, teaching artist, playwright, improvisor, clown, and mother. All in no particular order. Residing in Colorado, USA, Sondra is adjunct faculty in the theatre department at several universities including Naropa and University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. She is the artistic director of Public Works Theatre Company, and collaborates with local companies including Band of Toughs and The Catamounts. She has toured original work nationally with Enchantment Theater Company, the east with Bloomsberg Theatre Ensemble, and the pacific northwest with New Pickle Circus. This year Sondra was a Fulbright fellow in Thessaloniki, Greece at Aristotle University. She was also a recipient of a Henson Foundation grant to further develop her newest play, Wanda & the Wave.
CROSSROADS A play in 5 moments
	Isabella Zborka I was born in December 1993 in Vienna. I study comparative literature and philosophy and I spent in spring 2014 one semester in Thessaloniki, where I had the chance to meet the members of the creative writing class at School of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and get to know their work.
	Carlos Alberto Hernández Navarrete I was born in Mexico City, I have a B.A. in Administration by the Autonomous University of Mexico and a Diploma in corporate Communication. I started my professional career in 2009 as a finance and sales trainee in Kraft Foods Mexico. In 2012, I joined a finance company as HR specialist where I developed corporate programs to encourage culture and talent development. In 2013, I worked for the American Farm School in Thessaloniki, Greece teaching Spanish and Latin American culture. During the same period, I worked as a volunteer for the theatrical group Endynami, I participated in its workshops, presentations and exhibitions for the Bienale Museum of Athens and Thessaloniki. I’m currently working as a culture specialist in Walmart Mexico and Central America and studying Mexican paper sculpturing, narrative and theater in ALIAC Cultural Center in Mexico City. Now I am back in Vienna and try to figure out what adventure is coming next!
HAPPINESS
	Alexia Ioannidou I was born in 1993 in Stuttgart, Germany, and I am currently a student of English Language and Literature at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. I have also studied for a year at the University of Cologne, Germany, via the Erasmus Program. As part of my B.A. studies, I have attended the International Conference “The Viewing of Politics and the Politics of Viewing: Theatre Challenges in the Age of Globalized Communities,” numerous seminars and creative writing workshops organized by “Transparent Windows,” the official Book Club of School of English. I have also participated in the 10^th Thessaloniki Book Fair as both audience and volunteer for the events organized by the British Council. I have interviewed, along with other students, the author Suzy Joinson. Finally, as part of Sondra Blanchard’s creative writing course, I have fully engaged in the writing, directing, choreographing and acting process of the play “Happiness.”
	Maria Zezou I hold a B.A. in English Language and Literature from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. I took part in the Erasmus exchange program and studied in Nottingham Trent University (UK) as well, as part of my undergraduate studies. Apart from English, I speak French and Italian. Furthermore, I completed my teaching practice in Greek state schools. I’ve attended a number of creative writing programs and workshops, as well as literary seminars, symposiums and conferences. I’ve also participated in a collaborative playwriting workshop as part of the creative writing course offered by School of English, Aristotle University, and performed in an improvised play called “Happiness,” using a technique called “Moment Work.”
	Anna Exadaktylou My name is Annie Exadaktylou, I graduated from Aristotle University in 2014, and in 2015 I completed my M.A. in Business Translation with Interpreting (Surrey University). Right now I am living and working in Thessaloniki as a freelancer. I’m drawn to experiential teaching and volunteerism.
HOPES AND DREAMS
	Stavroula Asprogeni I’m a 22 year-old student from Thessaloniki, who currently studies English Language and Literature at Aristotle University. I enjoy drawing and classical dance, reading books, theatre, traveling and visiting museums. I’ve participated in the Collaborative Playwriting Workshop of the School of English and had one of the most productive experiences in my student life, co-creating amongst friends a series of moments entitled “Hopes and Dreams.”
	Eleftheria Kantzeli I’ve recently graduated from School of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. I greatly enjoyed participating in the creative writing workshop organized by Sondra Blanchard. I consider my collaboration with the other members of the group for the composition and staging of our play “Hopes and Dreams” a really inspiring experience.
	Ourania Panaveli Born in 1992 in Arta, Greece. She is an undergraduate student in the department of English Language and Literature of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has a passion for theater. Her participation in the creative writing workshop by Mrs. Sondra Blanchard was a unique experience and helped her appreciate the importance of teamwork and the value of freely express yourself artistically. By being a part of 'Hopes and Dreams' team, she had the chance to engage with the creation, the directing, the setting and the performing of a theatrical piece through the idea of Moment Work. She was also a member of a creative project about Urban Environments in Transition with the title ‘Youth Artistic Expression in Thessaloniki’. She could be characterized by her wavering between realism and romanticism.
	Christina Papoutsi I was born in 1992 in Thessaloniki, Greece, and just recently I graduated from the School of English at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. During my undergraduate studies, I have had the experience of a six-month teaching practice. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to work on a research paper on linguistics with the title “Language Contact: English vs. Romance.” Also I have been involved with the creative project with the title “Youth Artistic Expression in Thessaloniki” as part of the “Urban Environments in Transition” School of English project initiative. Finally, I have attended a creative writing workshop by Sondra Blanchard, who has touched upon the theatrical practice of Moment Work. As a member of the “Hopes and Dreams” team, I have participated in the creation and performance of this play that focuses on Moment Work techniques. I love theatre and travelling around the world.
	Marianna Patsagoura I was born in 1992 in Thessaloniki, Greece. I have studied English Language and Literature at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. I graduated in July 2014. During my undergraduate studies, I participated in a six-month EFL teaching practice and completed a research paper on theoretical linguistics with the title “Gender and Language Change: The State of Art and a Case Study.” Finally, I attended the creative writing-theater workshop conducted by Sondra Blanchard. I was part of the “Hopes and Dreams” group, and responsible for the creation, production and performance of the particular theatrical piece based on Moment Work. I am currently working as an EFL teacher in a private English school in Greece.
	Gerasimina Pavlou My name is Mina Pavlou and I am 23 years old. I hold a B.A. in English Language and Literature from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. I am a passionate teacher of English who dreams of a great teaching career. I am an optimist, I believe in a better world and future. I love travelling and learning about new cultures. The Creative Writing Workshop I have attended as part of my B.A. studies has been a great experience for me and my colleagues. Through this we have managed to combine scattered ideas, hopes and dreams and turn them into short surrealistic theatrical performances. Seven different girls who share the same passions, questions, and fears provide their own interpretation of life and it is through this play that they ask the audience to understand their suppressed idealism.
	Magdalena Thysiadou I studied English Language and Literature at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Currently I’m doing my M.A. in the University of Zürich, Switzerland. Among my interests are creative writing, film studies and acting. My participation in the Creative Writing Workshop that took place in Schoo of English, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, in 2014 was a unique experience that introduced me to the magnificent world of theatre. That was actually the main reason why I’ve decided to further pursue my engagement with this kind of art.