Rachael here, with apologies for taking so long to get photos up of the first on-campus performance. Information for anyone reading this blog who is not here with us, a brief description: These photos were taken at a first work-in-progress performance on December 21st, on site here at Christ College campus on the last day of classes for students. The first performance reportedly had over a thousand students as audience. You will see photos of a street play performed by our CSA friends, dealing with issues of local relevance such as harassment. Then you will see photos of two different pieces put together collaboratively by both Indian and Canadian students, with instruction from Yasmine. These two pieces departed from the story of Adam and Eve to deal with some relevant women's issues.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year,
Rachael
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year,
Rachael
1 comment:
My meandering thoughts...Right's Here Project took me to India in December 2007 - having lived in India for 25 years, I knew that this experience was going to be a very special one for all involved. It was and as Andrea told me this week at Malhi - 'she came back and she was in a daze for 3 days'. This is the first time I have come back from my trip to India and feel I fit into Montreal - how strange. I remember everytime I came back, i felt a shallowness in my stomach - wanted to cry at the airport - was surprised at how quiet the city was and such intense feelings - what was different this time was that i had spent time with people in Montreal - working, playing, experiencing India together...it had been an experience like no other. I knew that there was a reference point for many of us to speak from. At times no book or film can make one feel so comfortable about 'knowing' the 'other'.
I will always cherish the moments we all shared, the comments, observations we passionately debated. So much has come out of this all - for me this was an encounter of the known and the unknown - the encounter of the local with the global...i don't think we all could have spent so much time ever being in the same city - what an experience a project can present.
As the woman with the video camera for most of this trip - i was constantly pondering the question of how do i capture all that we saw in the college, on the streets of india, in the slums and in the villages - with dignity. The camera can have this penetrating gaze - a piercing close-up which can uncomfortably feature an activity or a person...how do i engage with the subject when at times i did not even understand their language?? I remember that when we were all performing in the slums in Bangalore - there were many people who did not even bat an eye-lid - continued to stand in the grocery line for their rations or scavenged through a pile of garbage - their 'routine' remained unaffected...they could not be bothered by what we were all trying to do. How can a street play inject any meaning to a life which is bogged with daily anxieties of clean drinking water, food and clothing for them and their families. I saw young girls carrying their siblings standing around the circle - everyone was still working. Who was our main audience?? Who did we reach there - or did we just satisfy our aim of performing in a slum?? The challenge for this project is to be able to reach and engage with the audience.
Coming back to Montreal I have realised once again the importance of embracing and living life daily - sometimes i tend to get busy with things and stop living. I stop smiling at times, don't get to know my neighbours, don't spend time to just stand and stare.
India has infused me with new energy and the project has helped me to understand the urgency of many issues - i know that most of us have been left with a purpose and found a meaning to this all...we shall continue....cheers, dipti
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