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Photos: Romanian children with Down syndrome shine on stage

Under communism in Romania, children with disabilities were shunned by society, often locked away in institutions or kept at home and deprived of schooling and social interactions. That has changed dramatically since communism fell in 1989, progress highlighted by recent art and culture shows in Bucharest that have given children with Down syndrome starring roles.

Updated on: Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM IST

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A boy with Down syndrome leans against a wall before performing in a dance show in Bucharest, Romania. During Romania’s communist era, children with disabilities were shunned, often kept in institutions or at home, deprived of schooling and social interactions. Recent art shows in which children with Down syndrome had starring roles illustrate social change since communism fell in 1989. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

A boy with Down syndrome leans against a wall before performing in a dance show in Bucharest, Romania. During Romania’s communist era, children with disabilities were shunned, often kept in institutions or at home, deprived of schooling and social interactions. Recent art shows in which children with Down syndrome had starring roles illustrate social change since communism fell in 1989. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

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Children with Down syndrome are silhouetted during a fashion show dubbed “heART Couture”, an event in Bucharest where kids with the genetic disorders staged a fashion show parading their own creations. They also performed with a ballet ensemble on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in early December. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

Children with Down syndrome are silhouetted during a fashion show dubbed “heART Couture”, an event in Bucharest where kids with the genetic disorders staged a fashion show parading their own creations. They also performed with a ballet ensemble on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in early December. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

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A child with Down syndrome in a skirt displaying drawings at the “heART Couture” show. “The two shows were their chance to shine, to feel important and talented, to feel they bring a contribution to the world we live in,” Georgeta Bucur, who leads the Down Plus Association which promotes the inclusion in Romanian society of people with Down syndrome, told AP. (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

A child with Down syndrome in a skirt displaying drawings at the “heART Couture” show. “The two shows were their chance to shine, to feel important and talented, to feel they bring a contribution to the world we live in,” Georgeta Bucur, who leads the Down Plus Association which promotes the inclusion in Romanian society of people with Down syndrome, told AP. (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

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A child gets a hug while presenting ponchos during the “heART Couture” show. During the fashion show, most children showed portraits of wide-eyed characters, and messages written in English focused on love and family. Some has their images produced by a professional designer who created images interpreting the kids’ suggestions. (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

A child gets a hug while presenting ponchos during the “heART Couture” show. During the fashion show, most children showed portraits of wide-eyed characters, and messages written in English focused on love and family. Some has their images produced by a professional designer who created images interpreting the kids’ suggestions. (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

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Youngsters with Down syndrome wait before performing in a dance show. Since the pair of events, there have been others in the Romanian capital. Bucur emphasised the positive impact such events have on children with Down syndrome, though she said that societal prejudice against them still exists. She also stressed the love and warmth the children give to those around them. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

Youngsters with Down syndrome wait before performing in a dance show. Since the pair of events, there have been others in the Romanian capital. Bucur emphasised the positive impact such events have on children with Down syndrome, though she said that societal prejudice against them still exists. She also stressed the love and warmth the children give to those around them. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

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A boy with Down syndrome plays with the strings of his hat in the changing room during a dance show. “Spending even a little time together with them will make anyone change their views,” Bucur said. Being born with either a mental or physical disability in pre-1989 Romania was almost a sentence. The unluckiest ones were surrendered to state care immediately after birth, which usually meant a lifetime inside institutions. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

A boy with Down syndrome plays with the strings of his hat in the changing room during a dance show. “Spending even a little time together with them will make anyone change their views,” Bucur said. Being born with either a mental or physical disability in pre-1989 Romania was almost a sentence. The unluckiest ones were surrendered to state care immediately after birth, which usually meant a lifetime inside institutions. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

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Children with Down syndrome perform in a dance show. Most of the older facilities were outside cities and sometimes housed more than 350 people, with children and adults often together. UNICEF has said these institutions did not offer minimally decent living standards. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

Children with Down syndrome perform in a dance show. Most of the older facilities were outside cities and sometimes housed more than 350 people, with children and adults often together. UNICEF has said these institutions did not offer minimally decent living standards. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

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A ballerina of the Arabesque Children’s Ballet Ensemble, seen through a hole in the stage curtains performs during a show featuring children with Down syndrome. The two-hour show featured ethnic and classical dances, with children and adults wearing traditional Romanian folk costumes. (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

A ballerina of the Arabesque Children’s Ballet Ensemble, seen through a hole in the stage curtains performs during a show featuring children with Down syndrome. The two-hour show featured ethnic and classical dances, with children and adults wearing traditional Romanian folk costumes. (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

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Boys with Down syndrome pose next to ballerinas of the Arabesque Children’s Ballet Ensemble. “People with Down offer everyone sincere and unconditional love,” Bucur said. “Living alongside them makes one overcome the focus on materialism, enjoy the small things in life and care for one another.” (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Updated on Jan 07, 2020 10:37 PM

Boys with Down syndrome pose next to ballerinas of the Arabesque Children’s Ballet Ensemble. “People with Down offer everyone sincere and unconditional love,” Bucur said. “Living alongside them makes one overcome the focus on materialism, enjoy the small things in life and care for one another.” (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

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