Submitted by Nick Stavrides on Mon, 10/06/2008 - 20:20.
I had the opportunity and good luck, thanks to my wife, to shoot this year’s (PTW) Performing The World conference. From over fourty countries participants came to show how it’s possible to use performance as a tool to shape our educational systems and build bridges between strained relationships.
One story, of many amazing stories and workshops, I witnessed yesterday in Brooklyn. It was a story of an artist and activist who went to Brazil a few years ago to help build a native sculpture. He told us that the Brazilian Military Police later destroyed the sculpture and then turned their attention to hunting down and killing those responsible for building the sculpture. He went underground for five months and eluded authorities. Cut to last year while attending PTW ‘07 where the Brazilian Military Police performed with a group of youths to bridge the terrible riff in their community. After the performance he spoke with two officers who one told him they where there and took part in the destruction of the sculpture. Upon realizing who the artist was the other officer broke down and confessed that he was given the task of finding and killing him. This is an example of how powerful performing can help us to get along and learn from each other. I know it touched me.
This was an experience I will ponder on and grow with for a long time to come. I knew nothing about the conference when my wife stumbled across the craigslist ad looking for camera crew, I’m very thankful she did.
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