VR Experience Artistic Residency
As a core part of Misahat Noon 02 project, which aims to combat all forms of racial discrimination based on color, a new experiment using virtual reality technology is being conducted. This experiment is led by a group of experts: Mr. Cherif Khalifa, an engineer specializing in artificial intelligence; Mr. Mohamed Arbi Soualhia, a specialist in virtual reality technologies; and Ms. Fatma Ghedira, a specialist in social psychology. Additionally, the dancers Ameni Chatti and Omayma Messadi participated in the experience with the assistance of the dancer and choreographer Ilyes Triki. The artistic residency concluded with the production of a dance artwork that will be showcased within the context of the experiment. By integrating artistic media with virtual reality technologies, the physiological state of the participants will be monitored through a device that records their reactions while watching a 360-degree video.
“Noon” Performance by Ahmed Guerfel (DCS x WADE into ACTIVISM)
"Misahat Noon" is an artistic initiative undertaken by "Danseurs Citoyens Sud" representing a year-long collaborative effort. The primary objective of this endeavor is to combat and shed light on the pervasive issue of violence against women. As part of its commitment to this cause, "Danseurs Citoyens Sud" actively participated in "WADEintoACTIVISM," a 16-day performing arts festival curated and produced by WADE, focusing on the urgent need to take action against gender-based violence and discrimination. Within the festival, two performances entitled "Noon" unfolded at the Art On Site studio in NYC on November 25th, 2023. Spearheaded by the artist Ahmed Guerfel, who serves as the Executive Director of "Danseurs Citoyens Sud". These performances integrated dance, visuals, and sound. Through these artistic mediums, "Noon" portrayed the critical and often challenging situations faced by Tunisian females in their homeland. The profound narrative aimed to not only uncover the harsh realities but also to inspire awareness, empathy, and a collective call to action against gender-based violence. Going beyond mere representation, "Noon" provided a critical examination of the application of policies designed to protect women and uphold principles of justice and tangible equality. Hence, the performances served as a powerful medium to depict and critique the effectiveness
HER NAME IS SARRA – Performance MAY 24th in SFAX
The piece honors the initiative, "Say her Name" keeping the memory of Refka Cherni, and all women who have been silenced by violence---- we will continue to say their names. Title - HER NAME IS SARRAChoreographed by Heather Harrington in collaboration with the dancers; Sara Zaltni, Salah Magtouf, Sami Hamami, Yassine Belgacem, Eslam Hammadi, Nadia Tlich, Ali Belwafi, Dali Rtimi, and Jacem Said Artistic Director - Ahmed Guerfel Music - Aymen GoubaaCostumes Mohamed Amine Hamouda Made possible by Dancers Citizens South with the support of the US Embassy.Harrington wants to thank both Dancers Citizens South for making this piece possible through their tireless work and devotion to the idea that art and creativity matters in making society free and just, and to the dancers who gave themselves, their spirit and body wholeheartedly to this piece. The piece lives because these creative young people bring it to life. All of this creation happened in 5 days, crossing language barriers, age, culture, dance styles; ending in "Her Name is Sara." The performance took place in May 24th 2023 at 7PM in Municipal Theater of Sfax. #DCS#USEmbassy#MISAHAT
HER NAME IS SARRA – Performance APRIL 27th in TUNIS
The piece honors the initiative, "Say her Name" keeping the memory of Refka Cherni, and all women who have been silenced by violence---- we will continue to say their names. Title - HER NAME IS SARRAChoreographed by Heather Harrington in collaboration with the dancers; Sara Zaltni, Salah Magtouf, Sami Hamami, Yassine Belgacem, Eslam Hammadi, Nadia Tlich, Ali Belwafi, Dali Rtimi, and Jacem Said Artistic Director - Ahmed Guerfel Music - Aymen GoubaaCostumes Mohamed Amine Hamouda Made possible by Dancers Citizens South with the support of the US Embassy.Harrington wants to thank both Dancers Citizens South for making this piece possible through their tireless work and devotion to the idea that art and creativity matters in making society free and just, and to the dancers who gave themselves, their spirit and body wholeheartedly to this piece. The piece lives because these creative young people bring it to life. All of this creation happened in 5 days, crossing language barriers, age, culture, dance styles; ending in "Her Name is Sara." The performance took place in April 27th 2023 at 7PM in 4ème ART. #DCS#USEmbassy#MISAHAT
Misahat Noon – Artistic Bootcamp
Experience the power of art and activism with MISAHAT NOON, the unforgettable artistic boot camp that brought together young dancers from different regions of Tunisia to the Magrebian Youth Complex in Tataouine from January 4th to 11th, 2023. This activity aimed to empower young people to use their talents to make a difference in the world. Led by American choreographer and contemporary dancer Heather Harrington, participants participated in workshops and rehearsals aimed at exploring different aspects of violence against women and raising awareness about women's rights, drawing inspiration from the revolutionary movement of Martha Graham. Throughout the week, the participants not only honed their dance skills, but also had the opportunity to expand their knowledge in other performing art fields. They were introduced to music producing with sound engineers Aymen Goubaa & Arij Jaouachi and learned about human rights history with rights activist Badr Baabou. The bootcamp brought together young people from all regions of Tunisia, providing them with a platform to not only showcase their talents, but also to come together and learn from one another. The diverse group of participants brought their unique perspectives and experiences to the table, making for a truly enriching and meaningful experience.
Empowering Women: Virtual Reality in Challenging Societal Norms
The role of women in society has been a topic of much discussion and debate in recent years. Despite progress in some areas, women still face many barriers to achieving equal representation and opportunities in various fields. Virtual reality (VR) technology has the potential to be a powerful tool in challenging these societal norms and empowering women. Our organization during the project of Misahat Noon funded by US Embassy in Tunisia, worked on exploring this potential in an innovative and immersive way. We selected one female dancer from the dance school and filmed her performing various dance styles, including modern, contemporary, hip hop, and belly dance. The footage was converted into a VR experience by a virtual reality expert and sound effects were added by a sound engineer. 40 diverse candidates were then selected to live the VR experience, while their physical and psychological reactions were measured using various tools. their physical reactions were measured using a machine that played the same role as a polysomnography machine, recording breathing rate, airflow, oxygen levels, and heart rate. Meanwhile, facial recognition software was used to observe participants' moods, impulses, and emotions. The data collected from these observations was analyzed to generate reports on the