STTD
STORYTELLING THROUGH DANCE
Theater production
Storytelling Through Dance (STTD) is a community engagement project that takes the shape of a community theater production.
On the surface, is a project that combines dance, theater, and music to educate community through a theater production. Underneath, the project creates leadership development opportunities for community members as it pairs up experienced artists with novice ones. On a deeper level yet, it looks to create transformational moments for participants, as they work through self limiting beliefs.
The project builds a space for community members to gain leadership skills, explore self limiting beliefs, occupy spaces they do not naturally see themselves in, and build a better world.
The embedded leadership component of rehearsals are accentuated by guest community and organization leaders who give information pertinent to the production’s social justice issues.
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Community members participate by: coordinating music, and sound, choreographing dances, dancing, acting, singing, helping build sets, driving participants, etc.
Experience?
If you have two left feet, we are looking for you!
We are interested in people who want to create change in the community. That is why we welcome people with little or no experience. We all can contribute something, and we can all learn from each other!
Barrio choreography features dancers with little or no experience, alongside seasoned dancers and choreographers who act as mentors. Barrio has been intentional in the selection of spaces to do performances and plans to be more directive in finding ways to ease the transition of segregated community groups into a more proactive civic participation.
Our process begins in December, as Barrio facilitates conversations with community focus groups. Barrio's community engagement model is to never assume, but always consult the community about their experiences. The goal of the focus group discussions is to determine issues that affect the community in order to shape the story around that issue.
Once the issue is picked, the writer begins shaping the story with the help of Barrio members. The writing process goes on until February when the title is revealed and the group calls for Community Auditions.
Nobody is turned away at the auditions, as these serve more like an informational session.
One of these days, we are going to fly
In the beginning of 2019, Barrio received a letter from the Oodi Library in Finland inviting Barrio to perform the last three years of Storytelling Through Dance in 2020 in Helsinki, Finland. The trip was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you love to do art, and want to show it, network, meet new people, and have your art purchased by someone from our community, then this is the show to be a part of!
Do you have what it takes?
To be a superhero?
The stories for the first three STTD plays focused on fairy tales.
Where the Trees Walk tells the story of Rousseau, a child who is taken away from her parents when arriving at the compound after running away from their war torn country.
Rosa Dances with Wolves follows Rosa, a young woman who is kidnapped by a band of wolves to help pay her grandma's debt.
...But We're Still Here! is the story of Adela who is dealing with wage theft at work and her daughter, Candela, who was sexually assaulted by her partner.
The next five years of Storytelling Through Dance will focus on the story of "Bituin", a young woman who discovers she has hidden powers in a world where Superheroes help maintain world harmony.
The first play explores themes of power, gun violence and the choices that create our most hopeful heroes and vengeful archenemies.
The second play, currently in development, will deal with the theme of loss, and letting go. Rehearsals are to begin in March 2024, and the first presentation is tentatively scheduled for July 27, 2024.
The play is one of the largest events of the year for Barrio, and its production pulls in many more elements than just fiction, rehearsals, and a performance. It is building on efforts years in the making, aiming to elevate participants and the imagination of the community.
2021 But We are Still Here! Presentation
