This experimental piece is performed in eight languages: Chinese, Filipino, Irish, Italian, French, Lebanese Arabic, Japanese, and English. In this piece, six performers seek to build language from breath to the onset of sound and to evolve it from communication to expressing linguistic rhythms through improvisational somatic movement and spoken word. The performers also intend to explore language as a basis of identity. This exploration creates a space to voice linguistic identity through the use of Michèle Lalonde’s famous revolutionary 1968 poem Speak White. This poem has been translated from its original French/English version into the eight languages. Through the process of translation, each performer has (re)discovered his or her linguistic identity.
Poster by Bahaa Harnouche
Directed and Created by Josh Clendenin
Performers:
Bahaa Harnouche (French/ Lebanese Arabic/ English)
Chee-Hann Wu (Chinese/ Japanese/ English)
Daunia Del Ben (Italian/ English)
Jemima Balbastro (Filipino/ English)
Josh Clendenin (French/ Irish/ English)
Makram Ayache (Lebanese Arabic/ English)
Gracious Support and supervision:
Lin Snelling, Donia Mounsef, Camille Renarhd, and Pam Shaw.
Photos by Angela Ferraira
Video by Camille Renarhd
Speak White by Michèle Lalonde recording performed in French by Bahaa Harnouche
Speak White by Michèle Lalonde recording performed in Taiwanese Chinese by Chee-Hann Wu
Speak White by Michèle Lalonde recording performed in Italian by Daunia Del Ben
Speak White by Michèle Lalonde recording performed in Tagalog (Filipino) by Jemima Balbastro
Speak White by Michèle Lalonde recording performed in Japanese by Chee-Hann Wu
Speak White by Michèle Lalonde recording performed in Lebanese Arabic by Bahaa Harnouche
Josh Clendenin 