Oasis

• • 3ARTS MATCH SUPPORTED BY THE JOYCE FOUNDATION
  • 100% contributed

This new evening-length dance work is inspired by a Middle Eastern love story and the juxtaposition of desert and oasis, with the real world meaning that the "real" and the "fantastic" exist in the same stream of thought.

About This Project

Oasis is a new evening length multi-media dance theatre work conceived and choreographed by Nejla Yatkin for 7 dancers (Shay Bares, Sevin Ceviker, Ahmaud Culver, Rachel Holmes, Jean- Rene Homehr, Fadi Khoury, and Karina Lesko). The original music is composed by Iranian American composer Shamou, video design by Patrick Lovejoy, and animation by Iga Puchalska and Julien Smasal. This new dance is centered on juxtaposition between the desert and the oasis. Similar to mystical realism in literature, the piece exists in multiple realities - magical elements blend seamlessly with the real world meaning that the "real" and the "fantastic" exist in the same stream of thought.

Through the prism of desert/oasis and magical/real, the piece explores issues of identity, veiling, torture, and spirituality, moving through what is familiar; what is imagined or mythical, what is actual; what is out of the Middle East and what is inside it.

The work will use a well-known Middle Eastern love story of Layla & Majnoon, known as the Romeo and Juliet of the Middle East as a binding element in the form of a Persian/Turkish shadow play. As conceived, the story has an allegorical meaning of humanity’s separation from its soul and thereafter the constant search for it. The story is layered through movement, poetic imagery, shadow play, humor, fragmented text and a tea ceremony. Some elements will be recognizable; others will be distorted thus challenging the audience to directly confront issues named above in a new light while still experiencing the humanity inherent in these aspects of society.

Oasis will premier in the summer of 2013 with a tour to Peru, Bates Dance festival and the Ailey Citigroup Theatre in New York. The performance in New York is in part made possible through the support of the Moon and the Stars Project of the American Turkish Society in New York. We need your help to raise the matching funds to fully produce the New York Performance and to keep the ticket prices affordable so more audiences have access to the theatre.

Please help me make this work a reality. Thank you.

Thank yous

Contribute any amount or choose from the levels below.

• $50
  A signed poster from the cast ($0.00 is tax deductible.)
• $100
  A signed poster and a DVD of a preview performance of Oasis ($0.00 is tax deductible.)
• $200
  All of the above and your name will be printed in the program ($0.00 is tax deductible.)
• $500
  All of the above and be named as producer in the program, and the newly produced DVD of the New York premier ($0.00 is tax deductible.)
• $1000
  All of the above plus a hand crafted Dance sculpture made out of wire originally designed by Nejla Yatkin ($0.00 is tax deductible.)
• $2000
  All of the above and a Mandala painting originally drawn by the cast in a collective effort ($0.00 is tax deductible.)

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Nejla Yatkin

Described by the New York Times as "a magician, telling tales and creating worlds" and "a fierce and supple performer," Chicago-based choreographer Nejla Yatkin travels around the globe inspiring empathic connection between people and their environments. She creates solos, choreographs …

View Nejla Yatkin's profile

• 6 updates
• 23 supporters

• Update 1: Thank you.

  Posted on May 08, 2013

   
  Update 2: Thank you for all your help in making this project a reality. We have reached 75% of our goal so far.

  Posted on May 08, 2013

   
  Update 3: Thank you for all the incoming support. We love you all for believing in us. Thank you, Thank you....

  Posted on May 09, 2013

   
  Update 4: Thank you, Thank you 92% of our goal reached. Who is going to help us with the remaining 8% We will only receive the amount if we reach the goal in the next 3 days?

  Posted on May 10, 2013

   
  Update 5: Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers in the world! Thank you for your support... we have one more day to reach our goal and 6% to go. Please, help us reach our goal :)

  Posted on May 12, 2013

   
  Update 6: Thank you to all your support. We are almost there and we are so moved by your generosity and most of all believing in the power of art. Love, Peace and Art

  Posted on May 13, 2013

   

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