Up with People Cast B 1980-81

Up with People is a global education organization which aims to bring the world together through service and music. The unique combination of international travel, service learning, leadership development and performing arts offers students an unparalleled experience and a pathway to make a difference in the world, one community at a time.

Since 1965, Up with People has provided young people from around the world a unique international education experience unmatched by any other program. More than 21,000 young leaders from 100+ countries have traveled abroad with Up with People and are now part of our global alumni network.

www.upwithpeople.org

In July 1980, a group of 105 student performers from 14 different countries began an extraordinary year traveling the world together as a performing troupe known as Cast B of Up with People 1980-81. Three decades later, this video endeavours to capture, preserve and share the history of that year "on the road" together.

Thirty years ago, one of the original songs we performed during our 2-hour variety show prophetically posed the following questions:

Do you think about living in the Year 2000?
Do you think about what it could be?
Like robots and androids doing our work
And feeling young at 93.
Will you take your honey to the Moon
For a little vacation spree?
Or maybe we'll dance to digital music
At a disco under the Sea.

Will TV take the place of talking?
Will Lovers still hold hands?
Will we enjoy things like walking?
Will laughter all be canned?
Will the world be one big collective heaven?
Or a giant shopping mall?
Or maybe we'll find what works for some folks,
Just won't work for all.

One Day, next century
When now is yesterday.
Two thousand plus one.
It's just a few years away.
It's just a few short years away.

--Three decades ago, just as we dedicated our show "to the future," this video compilation is dedicated to my fellow cast-mates, to our host families that gave us some of the best experiences of our lives, to the cast-mates we have lost along the way and to the life-lasting bonds and friendships that continue to carry us into the future.

The philosophical question may still linger whether or not we changed the world during our year "on the road" but there can be no question that the world certainly changed each of us.

Michael Scott Curnes
Alumnus, Cast B 1980-81
Up with People

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