“Passages” is an homage to our ‘extra’ordinary lives. Through three different tableaux, Activate Entertainment will explore how the mundane is magical and envision the world from a changed perspective. In order to bring the work closer to the community, the performance company will utilize stories of the local community and the individual artists involved in the project and start with the following as a basis:

• “Childhood Reimagined." How can we make people feel like kids again? This piece will explore the innocence of childhood, and revisit what is was like to be a kid. The goal is to inspire young audiences to dream while provoking wonder in mature audiences.

• “Change as the Only Constant.” We fight for the mundane, for the same things, for normality when the door to change is the key to growth.

• “The Paths We Walk in.” Every day we follow in someone else footsteps. Someone will also follow in our footsteps, how are our paths related and what happens when we make ourselves aware of the lives of those around us?

The artistic process will consist of three weeks of research and planning with one week of in-person rehearsals. Research time will be spent observing and engaging with various communities across Greensboro. Artists will listen to people’s stories, their lives, and use this as inspiration to create. The unique rehearsal process involves collective creation, with a method of creating that involves sparking inspiration in a group of artists and observing the moments that happen naturally and authentically, rather than imposing a choreography or a set of movements. This allows for each artist to retain and put forth their voice. Out of this we will find connections between each artist, who they are and how they relate. With this project, we will connect artists with the community, breaking down barriers, telling diverse stories, and moving the public with unique and profound performances.

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In-park activation will begin May 1st with preliminary research, community interviews and engagements, artistic direction, and rehearsals. Community members are invited to participate to the fullest degree in the artistic process of this work. Three 15-minute pop up performances will occur over the course of the residency with one final 45-minute performance combining all of the work in the finished piece in early September. The schedule for formal community engagements is as follows:

• June 3 & 4: Pop-Up Performance 1 - Childhood Reimagined

• July 8 & 9: Pop-Up Performance 2 - Change as the Only Constant

• August 5 & 6: Pop-Up Performance 3 - The Paths We Walk In

• September 3: Final Performance - Passages, An Homage to Our Extraordinary Lives