🇪🇺 TEEN European Digital Community: Cherry Blossom Presence from Cherkasy, Ukraine

Cherry Blossom Presence

I am passionate about creativity in all its forms — music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. I enjoy exploring how artistic expression can help people connect, reflect, and experience joy and presence. I love learning from others, exchanging ideas, and collaborating on projects that combine creativity with curiosity and personal growth. I’m especially interested in self-expression, experimentation, and collective experiences, and I enjoy working in diverse groups where stories, movement, sound, and emotion can meet.

The soil / the need

When I first got closer to theatre, I was not looking for the stage itself. I was looking for a space where emotions were allowed — where uncertainty, fear, curiosity, and vulnerability could exist without judgment. I needed to understand myself better and communicate things I could not yet put into words. Theatre offered both a practical and emotional language, and through movement, voice, and role-play, I found a way to explore identity, relationships, and belonging.

The first seed

A friend.

Tell us about that first spark

Yes — I remember clearly when theatre stopped being “just an activity” and became essential. During one of my first group exercises, we were asked to express an inner emotion through movement and silence only. I felt uncomfortable at first, unsure what was right or wrong, but then something shifted. I realized I didn’t need to perform for approval — I just needed to be honest. After the exercise, there was a shared silence in the group, and I felt deeply connected to people I barely knew. That was when I understood that theatre is not only about acting, but about listening.

Roots (people & experiences that shaped your path)

What has mattered most are the small everyday experiences of being in a theatre group: rehearsals after long days, moments of confusion when something didn’t work, and the slow satisfaction of understanding a scene or exercise over time. I learned patience with myself and with others. The people I worked with — peers with different rhythms and personalities — helped me appreciate diversity in process and presence.

The trunk (what keeps you in theatre)

What keeps me connected is theatre’s ability to remain alive and unpredictable. Every return to it is different, shaped by the people, the moment, and life itself. It never feels finished or mastered — there is always something new to discover, question, or try.

Branches (future / desire)

I imagine theatre as a steady companion rather than a fixed destination. I don’t see it only as a profession or final goal, but as a practice I can return to throughout life. I hope it continues to challenge me, deepen my self-awareness, and strengthen my ability to work with others across differences. More than outcomes, I want theatre to remain a space for growth, reflection, and connection.

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Why?

A cherry blossom tree. It is valued not for strength or productivity, but for presence and momentary beauty. Cherry blossoms invite people to slow down, notice the present, and share a brief moment together. I relate to that — I believe temporary experiences can still leave lasting impressions.