Memories of Egypt:
A Case-Study of Performance as Resistance

Join us for a FREE virtual salon! As federal grant cuts are rocking the arts world, choreographer Jody Sperling shares her experience pulling off a successful three-city tour of Egypt for her company of nine artists despite last-minute funding cancellation. For almost three years, Jody and company had planned the tour with the Hakawy International Festival to bring performances and workshops celebrating human connections with nature and cultivating climate awareness to young audiences in Cairo, Alexandria, and Aswan. The program also entailed creative collaboration, with live performances by Egyptian oud player Aly Elissi orchestrated by composer Matthew Burtner. 

In this presentation, Jody shares the highs and lows of the company’s Egypt experience, including the final stop at a home for orphans in Cairo, and the sucker punch of receiving a call from the US State Department the day before departure revoking the $30K grant that was to fund the tour. 

This virtual salon format includes the opportunity for dialogue with Jody and company artists. 

Our programs are supported in part through an Eco-Artist-Residency with the New York Society for Ethical Culture.