Tuesday, November 27, 2018
The Art of Healing at Youth Empowerment Performance Project
F Newsmagazine: Choreographer Bonsai Bermúdez sits on the floor to watch dancer Zizi Phillips descend from a set of stairs at the Blue Parrot, an event space for underrepresented artists in Chicago. Backlit by midday sun, Phillips tilts her face up and relevés. Her lips curl upward in a slight smile. Her eyes shine with a sanguine gleam. She transcends space.
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It's always very comforting to hear about how theater is providing a safe space for those who don't otherwise get to have one. I thought the part about the rehearsal process was interesting, and how members are allowed to react their lives in any way, but then those more negative reactions are shifted to more positive, artistic ones. Acknowledging the tough stuff is, in my opinion, just one of the parts of healing. It's not just performance art that this group provides, but visual and aural art as well; YEPP basically makes sure that everyone that comes through them finds an accurate way of expressing themselves. Another part of this article that stuck out to me was in the very beginning, when a choreographer of YEPP was talking about a sort of battle with the performing arts industry. Especially the part when he said that it was full of egos, and that's why he had to leave for a time. Having been living for the performing arts, and going to school for it, I personally relate to his statement. Egos get in the way of more safe spaces, and make it unwelcoming for most people. That's why it makes me very happy to see YEPP working to sort of eliminate this stigma to provide healthy resources for the people it is helping; making it welcome for all.
I think that the work the Youth Empowerment Performance Project is doing is incredibly important. My lifetime goal is to actually open up my own non-profit, similar to this one, for young kids to have access to all forms of art. My mom studied art therapy in college and I strongly believe art is one of the best ways to cope with grieve and find a way to heal. The fact that there is a place specifically for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness is extremely amazing in my eyes. It’s so important for young people to have a safe place like this especially after (in many cases) becoming homeless due to being disowned by their families after coming out. A community of supportive, loving people is so important, especially as many teens suffer from depression/suicidal thoughts, and the way families respond to their LGBTQ+ children coming out can play a huge role in their mental health.
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