SITE-LINES: The Amazon
August 3 - 24, 2022
SITE-LINES: The Amazon will immerse theatre-makers deep within the Amazon Jungle of Ecuador on a 21-day adventure during which the artistic team will collaborate with our local Shuar partners to co-create a stunning theatrical experience for the entire community — capping off an unforgettable dramatic adventure.
Lush Amazonian rainforests and a flowing river of creativity await our team of theatre-makers as we head into uncharted territory.
Through workshops with local master artists, cultural lectures, exploration of the landscape, and an intensive process of devising new work, artists on this project will exchange deeply with the indigenous Shuar tribe of the Amazon Jungle. Working hand in hand with our partner community, SITE-LINES theatre-makers will craft and present plays for a festive one-day-only event specifically designed to reach the greater community on the streets of downtown Gualaquiza in Ecuador.
The SITE-LINES experience is an opportunity to:
Collaborate with professional artists and community members to co-create new devised theatre pieces
Amplify often unheard voices
Connect intimately with a unique culture and landscape
Workshop with local experts and artists
Engage with local community through arts education
Perform original pieces outdoors and on-site in the heart of the greater community
The breakdown:
Acclimate in Cuenca
Our process begins with virtual training sessions — including workshops from DAT’s Resident Playwright and teaching artist development from DAT’s Director of Creative Learning.
However, the adventure gets real when you step off the plane and get lost in an artistic mecca with a bustling city life: Cuenca, the city of four rivers and one of Ecuador’s three UNESCO world heritage sites. There you’ll take in the colorful street mural scene, dramatic cathedrals, splendid colonial architecture, famous archeological exhibits including Incan ruins from the ancient city of Tomebamba, a charming flower market, and some of the best restaurants in the country.
Diving right in, you’ll continue your training and orientation on the ground — and in the evening we’ll take in a show from one of Cuenca’s innovative theatre companies.
Engage with the community
Trekking into the Amazon rainforest, we soon arrive in Gualaquiza, which will serve as our homebase for this project.
Amidst ancient trees, winding rivers, and suspension bridges, our team of theatre-makers will:
Connect with DAT’s partners in the indigenous Shuar community
Lead a series of devised theatre and storytelling workshops with local youth as well as adults
Explore exciting creative ideas and techniques with a local master street theatre artist.
All this to prepare for the intensive work ahead…
Listen deep in the jungle
After several successful projects with various Shuar communities, DAT has received a direct request from Shuar leaders to continue our mission to help amplify their voices through theatre.
During their thousands of years of existence, the Shuar have fought to defend their land and way of life. Whether it was gold-seeking armies of Incas or Spaniards, they have endured. These days, however, the Shuar are fighting an uphill battle to save their culture and lands from the ever-encroaching powers of the petroleum and mining industries.
Our team will be joined by Shuar leadership as we step away from the business of daily community life and head even deeper into the Amazon rainforest — traveling by bus, plane, and canoe to finally arrive at our jungle lodging. From here, we’ll explore and connect with the untouched landscape before us — witnessing the abundance and diversity of both plant and wildlife. During this retreat deep in the Amazon, artists can expect to slow down and take the time to listen and learn from our Shuar partner — an incredible leader, activist, artist and storyteller — as well as from other local Shuar people. All together, we’ll select the most crucial story to tell during this project and develop our devising structure accordingly.
Rehearse in the Amazon
Upon returning to Gualaquiza, our team will re-engage with our partner community as well as their theatre student collaborators to develop and rehearse a series of short, devised pieces — vignettes that come together to tell a much larger story.
At the end of this intensive development time, we’ll share a private preview performance for the local tribal audience at which time we’ll receive invaluable feedback on each piece from a wide range of Shuar community members.
Perform in the City Center
Finally, you, the rest of our team, and all of the student actors (and their supporters) will descend upon Gualaquiza to proudly present a free public performance of their story for the greater community — in big and bold street theatre style that no one will want to miss.
This one-day-only event will celebrate the spirit of cross-cultural collaboration and amplify the voice of the Shuar. Not only within the city, but this event will undoubtedly garner both local and national press — helping to raise the profile of our collaborators’ voice, story, and larger social cause.
Note: This event will also be recorded and streamed.
Reflect in Cuenca
As our journey comes to a close, we say our goodbyes and slowly head home. Returning first to Cuenca, we’ll take a few days to decompress and celebrate our work. We’ll even have a day for you to “choose your own adventure.” You’ll have a chance to explore the town, dance in street fiestas, do a little souvenir shopping, and/or explore Incan ruins. You may even get the chance to hike in nearby Caja National Park. On your final night we’ll share a final toast to the completion of our epic journey together.
Here you’ll have time to reflect on your experience. SITE-LINES provided you a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the Amazon Rainforest, meet incredible people, pick up new skills, make a difference with your art, bond with like-minded souls, and present your work for an international community. And on top of that, this experience was also an amazing opportunity to “interview” for a future position with DAT, such as directing or designing for ACTION.
WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING?
August 3 - 24, 2022
>> Performances in Gualaquiza city center (and streaming online) on August 20, 2022
COST OF PARTICIPATION
Artist Fee:
$5600 USD >> Early Bird (Deadline May 1, 2022)
$5760 USD >> Standard Registration
DAT Alumni Artist Fee*:
$4600 USD >> Early Bird (Deadline May 1, 2022)
$4760 USD >> Standard Registration
Ecuadorian Artist Fee**:
$3600 USD >> Early Bird (Deadline May 1, 2022)
$3760 USD >> Standard Registration
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All returning DAT Alumni are qualified to receive a $1000 USD grant which brings an Alum’s cost of participation total to $4600 USD / $4760 USD.
This must be applied towards the cost of participation on the upcoming adventure, SITE-LINES: The Amazon 2022.
Email casting@dramaticadventure.com with any questions.
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Bilingual artists who are Ecuadorian citizens, based in Ecuador, will qualify for a reduced rate of $3600 USD / $3760 USD — a $2000 discount to be applied on our upcoming adventure, SITE-LINES: The Amazon 2022.
NOTE: Artists who are not currently based in Ecuador must provide their own travel to a major Ecuadorian city to qualify for this rate.
In addition to creative responsibilities as a participant, bilingual Ecuadorian artists who receive this rate will be asked to provide interpretative services throughout the journey — including, but not limited to, dialogue and collaboration with the local community, discussing travel logistics with business owners/operators, and even helping a fellow artist order a meal.
Email casting@dramaticadventure.com with any questions.
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We are more than happy to work with you and your home institution to set up an independent study, practicum, or internship for this experience.
For more details, email casting@dramaticadventure.com.
NOTE: Due to the nature of this project, there are no refunds. For a more detailed breakdown, contact maryk@dramaticadventure.com.
>> This fee covers:
Roundtrip international flights (from major hubs in the continental United States to Cuenca, Ecuador)
Lodging for all 21 nights in Ecuador
A daily food per diem (to cover all meals)
All ground transportation
All scheduled activities — including workshops with master teachers (your days are full)
Traveler’s insurance for international participants
Built-in community donation (deepening our impact)
Carbon offsetting donation (sustainable travel)
Professional photographic documentation (travel, teaching, rehearsal, and production photos)
Street theatre with quality production value
And more!
Ready for a dramatic adventure?
We are carefully selecting artists from across the United States, Ecuador, and around the world.
We are looking for talented theatre-makers who have a strong desire to devise new theatre works, connect with foreign cultures, engage local community, and empower young artists.
There are currently a total of 15 artist positions open for this experience.
Artists will be strategically placed in a cast based on their artistic sensibilities, skill sets, interests, personality, and our team needs. We will have 3-5 casts creating 3-5 short pieces. Each piece will serve as one movement in a unified outdoor performance. Each of these casts will consist of 3-4 professional theatre-makers (a mix of directors, designers, writers, performance artists, street performers, or actors) and 8-12 amateur actors from within the community. This project is particularly well suited to interdisciplinary artists and/or community-engaged artists. It should also be noted that each cast will have at least one language interpreter embedded within it.
We are searching for theatre-makers with diverse backgrounds and skill sets — experience with puppets, masks, larger-than-life costumes, clowning, circus arts, dance, or music is a major plus. We want to utilize spectacle in our storytelling!
Preference will be given to artists with experience teaching or working in a culture other than their own.
Must be ready and able to commit to the rigors of adventurous travel for the full duration of this program. Experience abroad is a plus.
Language skills are a plus, but not required.
Those who have worked with DAT in the past will have a leg up on the competition, however we are always looking to expand our network of traveling artists.
Schedule your interview today!
Take the first steps of an incredible journey with DAT. Email your resume (and website/portfolio if applicable) to casting@dramaticadventure.com and then click the button below to sign up for your online interview.