We split the girls into pairs (mainly Haitian/Dominican), and had them do the blindfold exercise where one partner leads the other (blindfolded) around the school, giving them directions. The exercise is meant to create trust between the two and a mutual dependence. It worked. All over the schoolyard, we heard them leading each other, holding each other, laughing, smiling, and successfully completing the task.
Our next exercise was story-telling. We wrote a long list of topics up on the board (drugs, alcohol, domestic/sexual violence, prostitution, sex, pregnancy, abortion ... fun stuff!) and asked them to think of a personal story/memory and then to share it with their partner. Then we came back as a full group into a circle and asked the girls to share with us some of the stories. It started off slow, with a few silly stories about getting drunk or high. Then Valentina raised her hand and told a 5-minute story about her cousin's home abortion attempt, describing her cousin's skirt that was dripping blood and the agony her cousin suffered. That story really hit home with the other girls, because it became a forum. Almost every girl then raised her hand and the stories kept flowing from that point, ranging from more horror abortion stories (note that abortion is illegal in the DR, so girls do it on their own), rape, prostitution, drugs gone bad, just terrible stuff.
While I was so horribly sad and my heart completely went out to the girls, I was also tremendously proud of them for having the courage to stand up in this circle, raise their voice, and talk about some of the most gruesome moments of their lives. The degree of respect from the girls who were listening was also astonishing. The tension in the room was palpable, for an hour and a half it was dead quiet except for the girls, one at a time, telling their stories. It was one of the most poignant and heartbreaking experiences I have ever had.
The rest of the day was also successful. We went to Villa Taina, a local hotel that supports the Mariposa DR Foundation, and we rehearsed in an airy, beautiful loft overlooking the beach. The girls were extremely focused and we did some great work fixing the material we have. We can now be proud of the 5 minute show we have. It's not finished yet, we still have one more section and transitions to add, but we are beginning to see a performance and, most importantly, performers, take shape. We are so proud of them, especially the new leaders emerging from the group each day, some who have completely changed their attitude since the beginning of camp, girls who are now passionate about these issues, about the work. Wow.
So, all in all, today was a great day of work and discovery for the girls, but also for us. I will certainly never forget the story-telling environment we created in the morning. What a moving experience ... I was literally almost in tears by the end of it. I hope that Kelly and I can now find a way to incorporate this style of theatre into the show. For after all, theatre is, in its very essence, story-telling at its finest. And what stories these strong young women have to tell.
Any ideas about ways to incorporate such stories?
Love, Anna and Kelly
So amazing to read about this day that you'll both remember all your lives. Your presence there in DR and your openness to going where the group needs to go is absolutely transformative, both for them, and as you say, for you guys. It's incredible work you seem to be doing...wish I could be a fly on the wall...and it's clearly having a profound effect on their lives. I'm so very very proud of you two.
ReplyDeleteI will e mail and hopefully we'll be able to skype brainstorm a little too on ideas of ways to incorporate story.