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Mechernich/Blankenheim – Bears and beans, ballet and carnival speeches – these were the keywords for two exuberant carnival parties at the Communio in Christo e.V. social welfare organisation. At the Haus Effata nursing home in Blankenheim, the in-house princess Siglinde I held court, while at the intensive and long-term care facility in Mechernich, the focus was more on an in-house ballet.

The carnival celebrations kicked off with an atmospheric carnival session in the colourfully decorated cafeteria, organised by the staff and residents of the intensive and long-term care facility. After several years of the care facility staff putting on a men's ballet for the carnival party, this session saw a new development: for the first time, staff and residents took to the stage together. In expressive costumes (in which some of them were not even recognisable to their colleagues), they danced to the Räuber hit "Oben unten" (Up Down).

"Simply fantastic"

"We had a lot of fun – even during rehearsals. We laughed endlessly," says Lilly Olek, occupational therapist in the social therapy service, who took on the organisation of the ballet group together with Franziska Geist, head of care assistants. When the decision was made to open the dance group to employees and residents from all departments, men and women alike, a large group of more than 25 people eager to dance quickly formed. Weekly rehearsals began in November with the start of the carnival season. And the performance? "It was simply fantastic!" enthuses Lilly Olek.

The visitors to the carnival session continued to have a lot to laugh about, for example during the carnival speeches by Thorsten Harth (senior purchaser at the social welfare organisation) and Christa Maus (receptionist at the "Haus Effata" nursing home). In their dialogue, they poked fun at everything and everyone – not least themselves – and earned plenty of laughs from the enthusiastic audience. The finale was a game of musical chairs accompanied by music from Friedrich Götz.

On Weiberfastnacht, Haus Effata held its traditional carnival party in honour of its own Princess Siglinde I and her entourage. The Blankenheim 1613 carnival club paid their respects with their Princess Eva I (Walber). The sabre dance of the "Jecken Böhnche", a ballet performed by residents, sketches and a costume competition, as well as a visit from two "runaway" giant teddy bears, ensured a lively atmosphere.

pp/Agentur ProfiPress