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In an effort to enrich the cultural and artistic landscape in marginalized regions in the South of Tunisia, Danseurs Citoyens Sud worked on empowering Tunisian emerging young artists through cross-cultural collaborations. In October 2023, DCS organized, in collaboration with Company E, an art Bootcamp entitled “Current” and themed around the relationship between humans and water across various cultures. This significant topic has been tackled through different forms of performing arts at No Name artistic studio lab in Gabes,Tunisia. In this interview, our participants share feedback on the overall endeavor as well as their personal opinions regarding the bootcamp’s topic. They equally share insight into their experience with the three American artists who mentored them throughout the whole period of training. One major goal of artistic bootcamps is to raise awareness towards different social and cultural matters, create a sense of social responsibility and foster dialogue as a means of addressing issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEmmMuvuEkk

Robert J. Priore is a multifaceted artist in the world of dance, serving as a professional dancer, choreographer, and artistic director.  In 2016, he founded PrioreDance and takes pride in being a founding member of Company E in Washington. As an outstanding artist, he received grants for original works from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities. He created a nationally televised piece for the Mark Twain Prize Award Ceremony in 2018 and won the Pola Nirenska Memorial Award in 2019.  In this interview, Robert shares his perspectives regarding the art bootcamp’s theme: The relationship between humans and water across cultures and explains the importance of international collaborations to foster connections and find commonalities between different nations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xW5yQWm-78

Amikaeyla Gaston is a gifted vocalist and a creative performer with a rich musical background. As the founder and executive director of the International Cultural Arts & Healing Sciences Institute, she has dedicated herself to the world of arts and healing. Furthermore, she serves as a cultural ambassador representing the United States State Department. Her journey in the world of music and performance began at the tender age of four when she embarked on classical piano training. It didn't take long for her to captivate audiences with her immense talent, performing alongside the National Symphony and gracing the stages of theatrical and musical productions. In this interview, she gives insight into her experience as a music trainer in “Current” art bootcamp and shares valuable information about its theme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xn7JRag_AY

In the context of “CURRENT”, an artistic bootcamp aimed at embodying the relationship between humans and water across cultures through dance and music, Tara shares her experience as a professional dancer who had the opportunity to visit Gabes, mentor our participants and communicate with them through the universal language of dance. Tara Compton Parsan is renowned for her roles as a professional dancer, educator, and choreographer. Her remarkable career includes serving as a Cultural Ambassador in Arts and Cultural Diplomacy for the US Department of State across more than 20 countries worldwide in collaboration with Company E. Tara's experience as a cultural diplomat empowers her to design and implement cultural and public diplomacy programs in the performing arts, visual arts, and capacity building, even in remote regions. Furthermore, Tara's role as an educator in the professional dance realm led her to explore the educational benefits of movement, including curriculum development in the Washington, DC Public Schools. Thus, she seeks to empower youth to reach their full potential on a global scale. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4I8d5Xhyic