Enjoy the »interplay« journals recent issue !

Issue December 2011: This issue of Interplay celebrates, documents and reflects on the 10th International IPTN conference—Social Dialogue in a World of Upheaval—that took place in Frankfurt am Main in November 2011.

Leading the Issue is the paper presented by principle conference moderator and leading German playback scholar Heinrich Dauber that focuses on the tensions between giving and receiving in Playback, values echoed in the ethical stance of the critically thoughtful words from Jo Salas‘ conference letter that are also reproduced inside.

---

photo: Markus Huehn

Over 400 people from 33 countries attended the conference that was housed across three venues centred around the River Main in central Frankfurt. Such a large-scale event demanded excellence in organization and hosting and received significant support from the greater Frankfurt area, the state of Hesse and the large German Speaking Playback community. This issue of Interplay and the IPTN community internationally wish to thank and congratulate the committee, led with such strong vision and competence by Marlies Arping. Inside you will find short reflections by Marlies and other committee members including Daniel Feldhendler, Marianna Tobler, and also Janet Salas, recently relocated to New Zealand – who attended with such grace to the translation needs of the large multilingual delegation across the 4 days.

Alongside these are reflections from many of those who attended including expressions in relation to homegroups, workshops, performances and the overall conference experience from Marc Rolland (France), Sabrina Francis and P Suresh Kumar (India), Elizabeth Couture (Canada), Hannah Fox (USA), Anastasya Vorobyova (Russia), Ivana Munca (Austria), Sarah Halley (USA), Markus Huhn (Germany), Hiroko Yanagawa (Japan) and Endel and Liis (Estonia). Other reflections are extended to include commentary including those of Susan Metz (USA), Fe Day (New Zealand), Jaap Oostra (The Netherlands) and Bev Hosking (New Zealand); while others again tell stories that capture key moments like those of Aman- da Brown (UK). Many simply aim to express gratitude like those of Olga Sanachina (Russia), Synne & Jan Platander (Norway) Veronica Nýdrlová (Czech Republic), Isnoel Yanes (Cuba) and Kayo Munakata (Japan).

The Special Conference section concludes with a comment by Jonathan Fox who addressed the plenary on the final day with a range of short reflective passages that were inspired by or in response to questions submitted by delegates, or indeed by his own conference experiences. Organisers and participants from Common Good, the post conference playback event in Assisi, Italy, report on their experiences.

This issue also features IPTN Board business including the introduction of the new IPTN Board members, the announcement of incoming President Jeurgen Schoo and the recognition and farewell of out-going President Aviva Apel-Rosethal, and members Yas, Aniko and Markus. The IPTN Board Report and Financial Report are also published. In the spirit of the conference this issue features pieces that grapple with notions of diversity, inclusion, aesthetics and evaluation. This dialogue will continue next issue. Submit your responses, comments and reflections.