“I end up dancing in a circle of little children, all of us mirroring each other’s dance moves. As we jump up and down I notice shy eye contact from some, while other kids impulsively reach out to hold my hand.”
-Leora Sapon-Shevin, performing artist
Tour Context
In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 Hurricane, struck The Bahamas. The impacted included massive power outages, loss of homes, and destruction of roads, in addition to the costs to human lives. Over 60% of Grand Bahama Island was submerged, and airports remained closed until mid November. Thousands of Bahamians continue to live in temporary housing, such as tents.
Tour Overview
Bahamian culture is a one of laughter, dance, and celebration. However, following Hurricane Dorian, many communities are experiencing first and secondary trauma. This tour takes place during the holiday season as a way to offer the gift of laughter and create a space for Bahamians to gather in joy.
The Team
This tour requires artists who can think on their feet. Since the Bahamas is still recovering from the effects of the hurricane, we wanted to make sure the team had artists who were comfortable street performers. Clay Mazing has performed with CWB in Lebanon, Haiti, Palestine, and the Balkans.
CWB is thrilled to welcome Meredith Gordon, aka Squeeze the Clown. Meredith is a founding member of Humorology Atlanta and is a coach for Circus Arts Institute.
He is a 2019 recipient of the Tanne Award which recognizes outstanding achievement by an artist.
Leora Sapon-Shevin joins CWB from Tucson Arizona, where she is an educator and actor. She is an alumna of Dell’Arte’s professional training program and holds and MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College.
