Freedom From and Freedom To

• • 3ARTS MATCH
  • 106% contributed

STRETCH GOAL!!! My heart is extremely full due to the incredible generosity of the community, we’ve fulfilled our first goal!  With the remaining time, I’m working towards a final goal of $7,000. This will increase the pay to artists, cover travel costs for artists traveling from out of town, merchandise, documentation and dinner for artists. Your continued support is so appreciated!

Freedom From and Freedom To is an exploration and celebration of artistic circumstances. Movement and sound improvisors from all around Chicago and beyond gather in front of a live audience, where they are grouped by chance. We fuse diverse artistic backgrounds and practices to create unique and fleeting worlds. With your support, there will be two iterations on April 11th and August 22nd.

About This Project

Freedom From and Freedom To (FFFT) is an improvisational, cross-medium performance event that invites an ensemble of movers and sound-makers to perform while integrating elements of chance and audience participation. During the performance, the audience is called upon to randomly draw combinations of dancers and musicians who perform together. Random sets usually produce unfamiliar combinations. The series asks the artists to consider themes of freedom from various limitations and boundaries, and to consider what could be if these limits were obliterated, as well as holding space for vulnerability and sensitivity. All good improvisations require these qualities, and the performers must think of “yes and” rather than “that’s enough”.  The aim of FFFT has always been to create a space where different people can come together and bring all parts of themselves to the table without sanctioning or fear–where gifts can flow together in a space of consensual and mutual play, respect, and care.

Freedom From and Freedom To has existed for 6 years, and in that time has overwhelmingly featured large groups of Chicago artists. From jazz musicians to experimental dancers, to interdisciplinary vocalists, FFFT has fostered a lively creative community in Chicago, and we are excited to extend our reach by inviting more performers to the stage. We are planning towards two upcoming events on April 11th and August 22nd of this year at Elastic Arts. These events will include about 25 performers per night, with some traveling to Chicago from Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. We’re so excited to welcome these artists to FFFT and would love your support in making it all possible! By supporting this campaign, you are helping me provide a major boost to all the artist's fees, pay for lodging, pay for documentation, obtain merchandise (shirts and bags), and provide pre-show dinners for the performers. 

The excitement and interest for FFFT keeps growing, introducing new disciplines and thus more exciting combinations of improvisation. Supporting this campaign will help me to continue reaching out to new artists, expanding the FFFT community. This funding will directly support the artists so they can co-create in a nurturing communal environment that allows them to take new risks and navigate boundaries in improvisational performance, strengthening the Chicago arts ecosystem. Now more than ever, we need acts of freedom, sensitivity, and vulnerability infused into the dance scene.

Thank yous

Contribute any amount or choose from the levels below.

• $15
  Social media shoutout and acknowledgement on website ($15.00 is tax deductible.)
• $25
  Above + Handwritten FFFT thank you note ($20.00 is tax deductible.)
• $50
  Above + FFFT t-shirt ($25.00 is tax deductible.)
• $100
  Above + FFFT canvas bag ($55.00 is tax deductible.)
• $175
  Above + Signed graphic poster ($110.00 is tax deductible.)
• $250
  Above + two (2) tickets to the show ($160.00 is tax deductible.)
• $500
  Above + Tea time conversation with Cristal about the process of FFFT ($360.00 is tax deductible.)

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Cristal Sabbagh

Make a Wave Artist

 

Cristal Sabbagh’s interdisciplinary practice includes traditional portraiture, ceramics, and performance. While movement is the spine of her practice and the core that all her other work emanates from, intentional spontaneity, reverence, and bliss are threads woven throughout.

Sabbagh’s performance …

View Cristal Sabbagh's profile

• 3 updates
• 92 supporters

• Update 1: Week 1 update!

  Posted on March 01, 2026

  

   

  My heart is so full from all of the amazing support so far for Freedom From and Freedom To!  Thank you to all of the supporters that have contributed, and in just 3 days we've reached the 35% mark!!  A big shout out to: Lia Kohl, Nick Turner, Rin Peisert, Scott Rubin, Jayve Montgomery, Lucy Riner, Kinnari Vora, Bashi Rose, Solomon Bowser, Tim Schmoll, Shalaka Kulkarni, Adam Zanolini, Allen Moore, Paul Rothschild, Tuli Bera, Dan Galat, Sara Slawnik, Frances Smith, Bill Harris, Ben Billington, Brandon Holmes, Elizabeth Perez, Sharkey Zalek, Vangeline, Mary Anna Pomonis, David and Kelly Aronoff, Janice Misurell-Mitchell, Yaw Agyeman, Chloe Hamilton, Coco Elysses, Aaliyah Christina, Josh Goldsmith, Julian Otis, Jeffrey Sanderson, Tim Myers, Marianne Johnson, Drew Tamez-Hull, Nejla Yatkin, Alisa Baum, and the anonymous!

  I have some announcements about the upcoming April 11th show, at Elastic Arts, starting at 7pm.  I am beyond thrilled to have phenomenal performers commune with you all! Come enjoy some of the best improvising musicians and dancers from Chicago & I'm welcoming Sasha Masakowski from Los Angeles. This show will be live and also on Elastic’s twitch channel, for those that can’t join us.

  Freedom From and Freedom To is a cross disciplinary event featuring improvising dancers and musicians. After the opening act audience members will select the four remaining sets by chance. I’m extremely happy to present 25 performers! Many are FFFT veterans & others are brand new to the family!

  Here is the Eventbrite link below for tickets-

  Tickets!

  Openers

  Dancers: Amanda Maraist, Nejla Yatkin

  Musicians: Sasha Masakowski, Luc Mosley, Nick Turner

  Dancers: Silvita Diaz Brown, Anniela Huidobro Castro, Isabella Limosnero, Chrissy Martin, Jacinda Ratcliffe, Cristal Sabbagh, Aurora Tabar, Nikki Telegan

  Musicians: Kim Alpert, Naydja Bruton, Oui Ennui, Mickey Farés, Nexus J, Fred Jackson Jr., Jordan Knecht, Jessica Morrison, Ruby Que, Breena Shusterman, Jefferey Thomas, Ayanna Woods

   

  Thanks again for all of the support, and we look forward to performing for y’all!

   

   

   

  Update 2: Wow,78% there!

  Posted on March 03, 2026

   

  Oh my goodness y'all, thanks so much for all of the amazing support so far!  I truly can't believe Freedom From and Freedom To is 78% funded within the first 5 days.  Having the backing of all of you touches my heart immensely!  Please continue to spread the word, because every single donation is getting the project closer to reality!

  Peace and love,

  Cristal

  Update 3: Week 2 update and Stretch Goal!

  Posted on March 08, 2026

   

  My heart is extremely full due to the incredible generosity of the community, we’ve fulfilled our first goal of $6,000!  With the remaining time, I’m working towards a final goal of $7,000.  This will increase the pay to artists for both shows, cover travel costs for artists traveling from out of town, merchandise, documentation and dinner for artists. Your continued support for Freedom From and Freeom To is so appreciated!

  A big shout out to the rest of the supporters!!: Amanda Maraist, Ramah Malebranche, Brianna Tong, Amira Sabbagh, Aaron Rodgers, Lauren Steinberg, Erin Stewart, Sidney Garrett, Chris Corsano, Corey Grabiec, Courtney Mackedanz, Eunbee Kim, Norman Long, Catherine Sullivan, Ed Clemons, Corrine Imberski, Nora Sharp, Ben Zucker, Jessica Hannah, Steve Marquette, Sam Scranton, Joanne Barrett, Keiko Johnson, Andrew Nord, Pinar Aral, Wannapa P-Eubanks, Julian Pujols Quall, Caroline Jesalva, Laura Baumeister, Aurora Tabar, Dan Schwarzlose, Emma Lawrence, Ayako Kato, Paul Giallorenzo, Ricardo Adame, Chuck Abookire, Kirsten Byers, Stephan Moore, Meg Duguid, Irene Hsiao, Jason Shanley, and the anonymous!!

• Thank you to the following for contributing to 3Arts with the recommendation that we support this project.

  • Lia Kohl

  • Nicholas Turner

  • Rin Peisert

  • Scott Rubin

  • Jayve Montgomery

  • Lucy Riner

  • Kinnari Vora

  • Bashi Rose

  • Solomon Bowser

  • timothy schmoll

  • Shalaka Kulkarni

  • Adam Zanolini

  • Allen Moore

  • Paul Rothschild

  • Tuli Bera

  • Dan Galat

  • Sara Slawnik

  • Frances Smith

  • Bill Harris

  • Ben Billington

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Brandon Holmes

  • Elizabeth Perez

  • Sharkey Zalek

  • butohinstitute Vangeline

  • Mary Anna Pomonis

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • David & Kelly Hill-Aronoff

  • Janice Misurell-Mitchell

  • Janice Misurell-Mitchell

  • Yaw Agyeman

  • Chloe Hamilton

  • Coco Elysses

  • Aaliyah Christina

  • Joshua Goldsmith

  • Julian Otis

  • Jeffrey Sanderson

  • Tim Myers

  • Marianne Johnson

  • andrew tamez-hull

  • Nejla Yatkin

  • Alisa Baum

  • Amanda Maraist

  • Ramah Malebranche

  • Brianna Tong

  • Amira Sabbagh

  • Aaron Rodgers

  • Lauren Steinberg

  • erin stewart

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Sidney Garrett

  • Chris Corsano

  • Corey Grabiec

  • Courtney Mackedanz

  • Eunbee Kim

  • Norman Long

  • Catherine Sullivan

  • Edward Clemons

  • Corinne Imberski

  • Nora Sharp

  • Benjamin Zucker

  • Jessica Hannah

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Steve Marquette

  • Sam Scranton

  • Joanne Barrett

  • Keiko Johnson

  • Andrew Nord

  • Pinar Aral

  • Wannapa P-Eubanks

  • Julián Quall

  • Caroline Jesalva

  • Laura Baumeister

  • Aurore Tabar

  • Dan Schwarzlose

  • Emma Lawrence

  • Ayako Kato

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Paul Giallorenzo

  • Ricardo Adame

  • Chuck Abookire

  • Kirsten Byers

  • Stephan Moore

  • Meg Duguid

  • Irene Hsiao

  • jason shanley

  • Helen Lee

  • Joey Meland

  • Douglas Ewart

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Brett Swinney

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