Description
Migrant ImagiNations is a multi-media performance art work about migrants, immigrants, and sojourners, and the forging of ethnic and racial identities in global context. Migrant ImagiNations is conceived of as an open-ended presentation that incorporates migration stories from the communities where it is presented. Visually, the work is a collage of movement, monologues, props, and visual text. Central images are suitcases, maps, and the primary colors of non-Western nations. Scene sequences, stage properties, dance choreography, and some text elements are fixed, but local stories are integrated into the frame of the performance. The open structure allows for dialogue with local communities, before, during, and after performances. Public discussions, facilitated by a dramaturg, focus on the difficulties faced by immigrants and migrants–language barriers, government paperwork, labor laws, loss of familiar surroundings and treasured belongings, and prejudice. Since December 1998, Migrant ImagiNations has received developmental support from Connecticut College (New London CT), University Settlement (New York, NY), Joyce Soho (New York, NY) and the University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS).