To All Relations - Sacred Moon Songs

"To All Relations: Sacred Moon Songs" was a theater performance evolving from the stories, relationships and spiritual experiences shared in the TO ALL RELATIONS residency workshops with members of the Muslim, Mexican, Japanese, and African American communities. From the middle passage of Africans, relocation of Japanese, repatriation of Mexicans, to the deportation of American Muslims since 9/11, this cross-cultural odyssey cast a light of hope in a world of chaos.

"To All Relations: Sacred Moon Songs" strived to strengthen ties between community groups such as Great Leap, Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and Senshin Buddhist Temple; as well as engage participants in the betterment of the diverse communities in which they work and live.

Phase 1 began in Fall 2003. It included free community workshops, childrens' poetry workshops with the "Arts for City Youth" program, and and a performance of Sacred Moon Songs at the "Breaking The Fast" event on November 15. For many of the participants, it was the first time they had ever performed in front of an audience! Over 250 people attended!

Phase 2 is now complete. Spring community workshops continued, with participants developing their own solo pieces as well as ensemble pieces. They presented a work-in-progress performance of "To All Relations: Sacred Moon Songs" on May 8, 2004 including a Q&A Feedback Session and Story Sharing Circles. These stories are being incorporated into Phase 3 of Sacred Moon Songs...

Phase 3 "To All Relations: Sacred Moon Songs" concluded with final performances at East West Players' David Henry Hwang Theater from July 30-August 1, 2004. Click here for Photos!

Other SMS Links:
Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR)
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, Leadership for a Changing World - Ford Foundation, California Community Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Theatre Communications Group,Japanese American Community Services, The Aaroe Associates Charitable Foundation, FIA Insurance Services, Hitachi, Ltd., Meissner Manufacturing Co., Inc., Friends of Great Leap, and more.

Phase 2.0 of this project is also made possible, in part, by a grant from the CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES as part of its statewide California Stories Initiative. The COUNCIL is an independent non-profit organization and a state affiliate of the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES. For more information on the Council and the California Stories Initiative, visit www.californiastories.org.

Help support this residency, and make a tax-deductible donation to Great Leap today!