Dancing with Distance (& worrying in between) by Naomi Tessler

Commissioned by Diane Ulster

Inspired by the confession…

Artist Statement

Naomi Tessler, M.A. is the Founder, Artistic Director, Playwright-in-residence and lead facilitator of Branch Out Theatre. She has been working with communities globally for 16 years, using theatre to... inspire positive change!

She is a graduate of the Masters of Arts program in Educational Theatre for Colleges and Communities, New York University and currently facilitates and develops Branch Out Theatre workshops and productions with organizations and groups in Ottawa, Toronto and across Canada.

She is passionate about using theatre as a tool for encouraging self-empowerment, conflict resolution, social justice and well-being. As a facilitator, Naomi has an extensive background in Theatre of the Oppressed, Playback Theatre, acting, physical theatre, storytelling, directing and playwriting and strives to share these tools with those she works and collaborates with.

In addition to being a dynamic workshop facilitator and educator, Naomi also works as an actor, director, commissioned playwright, poet, singer and Reiki Master. She believes in uniting communities through theatre to build bridges and break through barriers.

 
 
A monologue response to the following Covid-19 confession for Convergence Theatre's project Covid Confessions: " I am not leaving the house because I have a cough and I don't want to spread it. I want to help others but cannot run errands and have very low energy. Instead I call my 78 year old mother and criticize her actions that put her in jeopardy of catching COVID-19. Yelling "do you want to die" is not helping but neither is standing in her apartment hallway chatting with her elderly neighbours. Today we will try a lunchtime video dance party to Shania Twain's "Man, I Feel Like A Woman". This video will appear on: www.convergencetheatre.com