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μια performance με αφορμή το 15ο Αντιρατσιστικό Φεστιβάλ
9-10-11 Ιουλίου 2010, Άλσος Γουδή (είσοδος από Κατεχάκη)

Θέλουμε να τους βοηθήσουμε, έχουμε δοκιμάσει τα φαγητά τους, έχουμε ψωνίσει απο τους πάγκους τους αλλά σπάνια έχουμε την δυνατότητα να τους συναντήσουμε και να τους γνωρίσουμε από κοντά, να τους γνωρίσουμε σαν πρόσωπα που έχουν μια ιστορία και μπορούν να τη διηγηθούν.

Η ομάδα ELANADISTIKANOUME και η χορογράφος της ομάδας The Modern Dance Awareness Society (Ν.Υ.), Despina-Sofia Stamos, σε συνεργασία με μετανάστες performers, δημιούργησαν στα πλαίσια του Αντιρατσιστικού Φεστιβάλ, τις συνθήκες ώστε να γίνει αυτή η συνάντηση.

Θα καλέσουν και τις 3 μέρες, 8.30-10.30μμ τους επισκέπτες του Φεστιβάλ, να συμμετέχουν σε ένα δρώμενο που θα βρεθούν στο ίδιο τραπέζι με ένα μετανάστη ο καθένας, να επικοινωνήσουν άμεσα μαζί του, να μοιραστούν κάποιες στιγμές και αν το επιθυμούν να χορέψουν μαζί του.
Συμμετέχουν:
Mohammad Anwar Hossain
Ahmet Seho
Sedat Hayta
Eddy Waziri
Alphonso Thiaby
Abdul Hussain Nazari
Kozeta Myzequari
Despina – Sofia Stamos
Αρχοντούλα Γιαννοπούλου

Ολυμπία Σωτηροπούλου

Ιωάννα Ρεβίθη

Βίκη Βασιλοπούλου

Παναγιώτης Ανδρονικίδης

MDAS created multiple performances for Rubulad this year including, mother goose gone BAD, bunnies hopalong and a revisit of product x.

we were also joined by Phillipa Kaye, Bianca Falco, Jill Woodward, Rob Stupay, Cecilia Fontanasi, Rachel Dutra, Jodi Bender and Geo Geller for a site specific roaming performance at the Gaga Arts Festival in Garnerville NY a few weeks ago!

At the moment, I am preparing to go to Athens for a performance installation with the lovely immigrants I had the pleasure of working with last year. This project will be a collaboration with the participants and Panagiotis Andronikidis. The performance will happen at the entrance of the 15th annual anti-racist festival of Athens on July 9, 10 and 11th. We are still raising money to make this happen.

I am also working on 1:1 please remove shoes for October which will be made possible by chashama and a grant from the LMCC! Hooray institutional support!

two chances next week to catch us

Monday September 21^st —Chashama gala benefit 6-9 and after party 9-11pm

in the new public art alley- Anita’s Way on 42^nd St. between 6^th and Broadway.

Despina Stamos and Toby Billowitz in Cabbage Salad and blindate every half hour.

super exciting!

join us

****Thursday, September 24^th—

at 7:30-8 and again after the Rembetika, Smyrneika and Entehna music performance in  the historic Queens Theater in The Park

as we explore the latest development of 1:1 please remove shoes.

1:1 please remove shoes is an interactive, multi-media performance installation that conjures the visual, the kinetic and while sourcing the experiential- It is conceived as a self sourcing environment where the dance is informed by the space and its inhabitants- spectators influence performers-a self referencing loop inviting the spectator to engage.

http://www.facebook.com/queenstheatre

Thursday, September 24

EROS TAXIMI

An evening of uniquely arranged Rembetika, Smyrneika and Entehna music.

8PM, Tickets $25

1:1 PLEASE REMOVE SHOES

Choreographer: mdas, the modern dance awareness society, founded by Despina Sophia Stamos

Pre- and Post-Show Performances 7:30PM and 9:30PM, Free event

Hope to see you there!

xoxo

despina

eddy and doudou

passTRESpass has been a wonderful whirlwind, the marketplace as a space for exchange, learning and listening- I am still reeling from the experience. 

our cast grew immensely during our time together- each individual honing their offering until the final performance. their solos brought tears to my eyes. one of our Afghans originally needed to hide in the dark part of the room–he was so shy and suddenly in the performance it was like he was on fire, channeling his story- sharing his escape, expressing what he couldn’t express in words. another dancer- who danced during the Communist regime in Albania learned to improvise a duet with an amazing man from Senegal. each dancer found their way in the score and surprised us with their generosity and commitment. And now we wonder, what is next for them, will they get caught by the bureaucratic broom of the right wing?  Our mobility stands in contrast with their predicaments.

July 4 and 5 at 9pm  pre-show installation at 8:30

Kypseli Municipal Agora- Fokinionos Negri 42

entrance is free

This work will be performed in conjunction with the performance installation created by Aliki Germanou

                                                                                                                                                                                                “ fates”

performed by Niki Hatzivasiliathou, Maria Daskalaki and Efi Alevisou

and Dimitri Halazis’s  “Entaphsiasmos”

passTRESpass is

instigated by Despina Sophia Stamos in collaboration with Wen-shuan Yang, Panagiotis Andronikidis, Jill Woodward, Alice Klugherz and the performers: Lauretta Macauley, Marie Sankoh, Fatima Sankoh, Tapha Diaw, Doudou Gueye, Papa Loum, Kozeta Myzequari, Abdoul Houssain Nazari, Diarno Sanghott, Gloria Strutioth, Alphonso Thiaby, Eddy Waziri, Mirza Yousefi and the generous assistance of Konstantina Panagou, Dimitrios Chalatsis

music composed by Vassilis Mitropoulos

viola duet performed by Edward Malave and Lena Tsaklagkanou

sound collage created by Wen-Shuan Yang

video collage created by Jill Woodward

costumes and props Alice Klugherz

this project was conceived as a collaboration of many artists, activists and community members.

A purpose of the work is to pose questions regarding how we negotiate boundaries on the different levels; human relationships, physical space, and cultural practices. As we are confronted with each other’s cultures, how can we successfully co-exist and flourish? What do we carry with us? What do we leave behind and how does that effect our environment?

Enormous thanks to the Kypseli Market community, the African Womens’ Organization,  Eugenia Tzitzilaki, all the participating artists and all the generous donors who have made this show possible!

 Lauretta Macauley – Originally from Sierra Leone, Lauretta left her home and family in order to escape the conditions of deprivation that were present under the single party rule of Siaka Stevens. She has been living in Greece since 1982. Lauretta has worked for many years with elderly Greeks. In 2006 she co-founded the United African Women of Greece, an organization that fights for the rights of African immigrants.

Marie and Fatima Sankoh’s parents escaped conditions in Sierra Leone to provide a decent life for their children. Both girls were born in Athens and excel in school. Officially they are not citizens of Greece or Sierra Leone.

Tapha Diaw,  Doudou Gueye,  Papa Loum and Alphonso Thiaby are from Senegal. Doudou has observed that people from economically deprived countries are called immigrants whereas all others are considered tourists. Papa is in favor of a world with no borders and no papers. Alphonso has been sponsored by a Greek employer. He has lived in Athens for four years and speaks fluent Greek.

Abdoul Houssain Nazari and Mirza Yousefi are from Afganistan. As a child, Abdoul lost his mother when his house was bombed, escaped a massacre, and lived in Iran for 11 years. He’s been separated from his family since his escape . He and Mirza work hard in construction.

Kozeta Myzequari left Albania when the Iron Curtain collapsed, as her economic and social world crumbled. She has lived here for 19 years and her Greek is fluent.

 Diarno Sanghott is from Mauritania where about 20% of the population live on less than US$ 1.25 per day. He is interested in integrating into Greek society.

Gloria Strutioth was born here in Greece. Her family is from Albania. She and Marie Sankoh are best friends.

Eddy Waziri is from Tanzania. He believes in equal rights for all people.

the immigrants situation was the topic of much discussion in the news. locals were complaining about the situation downtown and the government has responded by making an “operation broom” as they call it. they are arresting and detaining people regardless of their legality. there is talk of making a refugee/immigrant camp out of old army barracks. we are crossing our fingers that our friends have not been caught in the sweep.

the work of the men and women we have been working with has been about dehumanization and the lack of human rights that the new refugees suffer from. more news soon! we will upload more pics when we get to an internet cafe! xoxo hope all is well! d

We spent our first week in Athens doing outreach to recruit performers for our project. We had already primed the pump before leaving New York but of course we have to make our case in person. We attended a meeting of the United African Women’s Organization and also connected with Konstantina who teaches Greek language to immigrants. Our first sessions with the immigrants and local artists start tonight. By the way, look for passTRESpass 2009 on Facebook.