More Fire.
The Zambian Experience
Samantha Hutter Lucas - May 2019
The Zambian Experience, Words in ActionLast winter, I had the opportunity to participate in an Alternative Breaks Service Trip in Providence, Rhode Island. On this trip, we had the opportunity to partner with Providence City Arts for Youth in which we helped to bring the arts to these underprivileged children. In addition to this, last summer I had the opportunity to participate in a BOAL Demo in Pittsburgh which introduced me to devised theater. Curious about broadening my world-view and challenging my artistic views, I knew his project was something I wanted to take part in and experience as I was passionate about Barefeet Theatre's mission, values, and heart. This trip has broadened my world-view and overall perspective of humanity providing me with the opportunity to experience the African culture, exquisite sights, mesmerizing wildlife, and educationally empowering storytelling. I feel so blessed to have collaborated with such a wonderful group of genuine humans to devise a bilingual piece of beautiful, whole-hearted theater. (Not to mention, I was even able to learn some Nyanja and Bemba.) I hope you enjoy clicking through my experience!
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About Me
Samantha is a 21-year-old Junior Music Theatre Major at Baldwin Wallace University. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Samantha received her education at North Allegheny School and attended Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Academy in the evenings. In addition to this, Samantha has studied ballet under Kwang-Suk-Choi of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Samantha’s summer’s consisted of dance intensives at Point Park University as well as theater at Interlochen Arts Academy. Samantha enjoys biking, hiking (or really anything outdoors), journaling, yoga, and spending time with her friends and family! Favorite Bands: Lake Street Dive, Sara Bareilles Degree/Alma Mater: Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre Baldwin Wallace University (2021) “There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not yours to determine how good it is; nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is ever pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction; a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” –Martha Graham to Agnes De Mille |
Barefeet's StoryBarefeet was founded in Zambia 2006 by a group of Zambian artists, former street children, and Irish artists who met by chance. By working creatively and collaboratively together they began delivering theatre workshops which sought to empower and protect vulnerable children living on the streets of Lusaka. The workshops proved a great success and the founders soon realized the growing need for these vulnerable children to receive support, nurture, protection and guidance. From this Barefeet Theatre was born.
Since then, the Barefeet Theatre has grown organically into a vibrant, exciting and ground breaking non-governmental organization (NGO) that uses play, creativity and empowerment to give vulnerable children in Zambia a chance at a better life. Barefeet now works with 40+ partner Children Centers in communities across Lusaka, as well as in other provinces across Zambia. Many of the Barefeet members themselves have lived on the streets and grown up in the very Children Centers with which Barefeet now works. They are the true spirit of the organization, the living evidence that vulnerable children against whom all odds are stacked, can grow into inspirational leaders and role models. By providing outreach programs for children living on the streets of Zambia, they elevate their lives and give them life skills to carve a better future for themselves. Through theatre, performance, psychosocial support, creativity and self-expression Barefeet works to address the needs of the children they work with. |
Mission: “To enhance the lives of vulnerable children and young people in Zambia, by providing creative opportunities to learn, express themselves, and achieve their full potential."
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