Built in the late 1980's, Veturitallit is a restored locomotive repair station, dedicated for youth activities with a focus on enhancing youth culture. According to their website one can engage in a wide range of activities from movie making to circus activities, using the equipment, infrastructure and workshops provided at Veturitallit. Having seen the space for the first time I was truly blown away. Coming from a country with a whole different set of priorities, welfare system and economic power, irrespective of my time spent abroad I had not seen such a well equipped, maintained and accessible space before. With a high roof, decorative walls, quirky furniture, dance floors, stages, pool (billiard/snooker) tables, changing rooms, a kitchen and much more, Veturitallit was in its own way, complete.
Before getting to the break-dancing I found two spaces within Veturitallit particularly interesting. First was the 'hip-hop library'. Though it's a deceivingly small collection of tightly stacked books across 2 bookshelves in a small room, I was told by the break-dancing lads, that it is indeed the only hip-hop library in Europe. The books covered a range of topics from hip-hop history to dance to music, and even included ones with step by step guidance to dj-ing/mixing music. Second space was interestingly the kitchen. While a platter of sweets and snacks were laid out on the table, a coffee machine, microwave, oven, hob and a fridge, were tied together with a sink and some storage space. The fridge and cupboards were stocked with food and utensils so essentially anyone who walked in could help themselves to some food and drinks. I appreciate by now you may be questioning the significance of this kitchen, but let me point out that unlike the fancy cooking rooms we all owe, this humble kitchen was open to anyone. On any given day this ordinary kitchen would have most likely come to the help of a cold and starving teenager, ensuring in its own extraordinary way the most basic needs were met prior to engaging in cultural revolutions.
Finally to get to the break-dancing, I should clarify at this stage I do not break dance, thus the reasoning for my visit was simply curiosity and boredom. As I sat in a corner on a little high stool by the dance floor and watched 8 guys of different shapes, ages and talents perform, the true purpose of a youth center dawned to me. While some of the dancers were exceptional, particularly 'Elmo' who I was told has some form of national ranking in break-dancing, others were learning the ropes of the art. What some lacked in experience they made up in talent, and what some lacked in talent they made up in personality. It was a wonderful collaborating of performing, teaching, learning, experimenting and simply having fun. Amidst the dancing, music, crash landings, banter and inside jokes it was almost as if for that one Sunday afternoon the world stopped, and we were all apart from it, and a part of something else. Something surreal. One boy, back from his 8 months of travels in Asia was sharing stories. Another was explaining how the music system worked. Others were perfecting that one move over and over again. Just then it hit me, this was 'culture', in its most purest form, transcending from one beat, one story, one step and one person to another. For a second I contemplated on capturing the moment on my phone but realized it would be an intrusion of the authenticity and the ambiance of the same. So I simply watched, feeling incredibly privileged to have stumbled upon this community which was break dancing its way in to a wonderfully harmonized future.
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