In the Summer B semester of 2023, the School of Theatre and Dance, supported by the Office of the Provost, College of the Arts, CAME and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies, hosted a remarkable residency program. The renowned Puerto Rican theatre collective Y no había luz and the gifted New Orleanian choreographer Jarrell Hamilton were invited to collaborate with our students, faculty, and staff. Together, they embarked on a creative journey to produce new work exploring the theme of “Artists as Responders” and affirming the arts as vital to our collective endurance.
This inspirational collaboration was not only about creating art but also about documenting the process. The resulting video captures the essence of these interactions and will now become an integral part of the Spanish in the Community course, offering students a unique educational resource that bridges art and social engagement.
The success of this residency has also paved the way for the inception of an exciting new summer program, Creativity and Community: Social Justice through Theater in Puerto Rico, set to run from May 11th to June 1st, 2024. This initiative will continue to build upon the foundation laid by our visiting artists, Yari Helfeld and Joel Guzmán, whose work “La Mar” has been a source of inspiration for many.
As we anticipate the start of this new program, we invite you to reflect on the powerful imagery captured by Pedro Iván Bonilla and the stories woven by our visiting artists and collaborators. It is a testament to the transformative power of art in our lives and the communities we build together. The visual experience is further enhanced by the scenic design of Kaitlin Hannah, the imaginative costume design by Jade Zhang, and the evocative lighting design crafted by Mario Gonzalez.
Stay tuned for more details on this upcoming program, which promises to be a deep dive into the transformative realm of theatre and community engagement.